site.btaPatriarch Neophyte: May the Light of the Nativity Envelop Our Hearts

December 24 (BTA) - Officiating at a Christmas Eve liturgy at Sofia's St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Friday, the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Neophyte, said: "By emulating the Lord, we will become worthy of welcoming Him with joy on the day of His light-giving Nativity. May the peace and the love of the infant God Jesus Christ be with all of us and may the light of the Nativity envelop our hearts. May our traditional Christmas Eve dinner be blessed."

Neophyte went on to say: "Nowadays, just like He did at the time of the Apostles, God draws people to His Church every day for salvation. The mystery of salvation is forever rooted in the God-Men because the Word became flesh and came to live among us, full of grace and truth. The Son of God became the Son of Man to make us, the children of the human race, children of God, by embracing us with His infinite love and paying for our sins."

His Holiness called upon believers to be worthy of God's benevolence and to emulate God's love of man and God's mercy. "The Saviour came into our midst and showed us the way of light, peace and love," he noted.

Standing in the centre of the church, Neophyte read out from Matthew's story about the Nativity of Jesus.

The liturgy was attended by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and his wife as well as many members of the public. VE

Photo: BTA