On the occasion of the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord and the New Year, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church addressed an irenic letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, extending wishes for health, peace, and spiritual joy.
In his message, dated Bucharest, Nativity of the Lord 2025, Patriarch Daniel emphasized that the mystery of the Incarnation stands at the very heart of the Christian faith. As he noted, “The mystery of the Son of God, Who became man out of infinite love for humanity, is the foundation and the heart of the Christian faith.” He stressed that this divine mystery was “the purpose for which God created the world,” foretold by the prophets, proclaimed by the Apostles, defended by the Fathers of the Church, and glorified through the worship of the faithful.
Reflecting on the Gospel narrative of the Nativity, Patriarch Daniel recalled that the shepherds of Bethlehem were the first witnesses of this sacred event. Having received the angelic proclamation, they “glorified and praised God for all that they had heard and seen,” and proclaimed to the inhabitants of the city of David that “today a Savior has been born, who is Christ the Lord.”
Addressing the challenges of contemporary society, the Romanian Patriarch underlined the growing need for renewed Christian witness in a world often marked by secularization and spiritual indifference. “It is increasingly necessary,” he wrote, “to renew the calling of every Christian, clergy and laity alike, to be, like the angels and the shepherds of Bethlehem, heralds or apostles of the merciful love of Christ in the world.”
In this spirit, Patriarch Daniel highlighted the Church’s call to all believers to become “carolers, witnesses, and proclaimers of Christ the Messiah,” who came into the world to grant humanity “peace and joy, salvation, life, and eternal happiness.”
Concluding his letter, Patriarch Daniel conveyed heartfelt wishes to the Ecumenical Patriarch on the occasion of the great feasts of the Church, writing: “On the occasion of the Holy Feasts of the Nativity of the Lord, the New Year 2026, and the Baptism of the Lord, we address to Your All-Holiness wishes for health and peace, joy and abundant help from God, together with the traditional greeting: ‘Many years!’”
Source: Basilica.ro