Bishop Sophrony’s Nativity Epistle

Thou didst will, O Most Merciful One,
for our sake to become incarnate,
to be slain like a lamb for the sins of mankind;
therefore I beseech Thee: cleanse also my transgressions.

The purpose of the Lord’s Incarnation was to endure suffering and death in order to render the devil powerless over death and to free mankind from the fear of death. Jesus Christ, by His coming, accomplished our salvation, our transformation for the better, and our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven as its heirs. “In Him we have also obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11). “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Heb. 2:10).

God became incarnate for our sake not so that we might inherit Gehenna and eternal torments; He did not suffer on the Cross in order now to send sufferings upon us. God created man not for torment, but to reign with Him in Paradise. Yet in our misfortunes and the sorrows of daily life we often accuse the One who has done everything for eternal joy, everything for our salvation. In his fall, man managed to accuse the Lord, and this accusation we still unwittingly sustain. By our own lawless deeds we depart into darkness; God does not send us there—sadly, we ourselves go there. Yet through living, heartfelt faith, through the saving Mysteries, we can return to the right path that leads to God.

The Gospel teaches us how we ought to relate to our neighbor and how to see him—not, conversely, how the neighbor should relate to us. Often we apply the Gospel parables not to ourselves but to our neighbor; at times we even measure our own salvation by the fall of another. From our neighbor we expect a good example and correction, whereas, on the contrary, we ourselves must set the example and thereby preach Christ. “Live honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:12).

Continuing on, the Apostle Peter teaches us: “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:4–5).

Not only on this bright and joyful feast, beloved in the Lord, children of our diocese, but let us strive daily to offer our hearts to the Lord, hearts filled with love for Him and for our neighbors.

I greet all the venerable pastors, monastics, and parishioners of our diocese:

Christ is Born!

† Sophrony

Archbishop of Saint Petersburg and Northern Russia

Nativity of Christ, 2025/2026

Переведено с русского оригинала rocana.org