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Note by Doxologia Infonews: Below you can read passages from the Christmas Encyclical of Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora for 2022. This message is the only one among all the messages of Bulgarian metropolitans, incl. of the patriarch, which clearly, categorically and unequivocally condemns the war against Ukraine, the killing of innocent Ukrainians, as well as the attack on civilian infrastructure. Cyprian uses expressions that no Bulgarian hierarch has dared to use so far. His statement about the Russian attack on February 24 of this year was also categorical and unambiguous. It is also noteworthy that the metropolitan did not forget the other hot topic that no other metropolitan dared to comment on – the coronavirus pandemic. The Metropolitan refers to the fight of doctors with this pandemic.
“Beloved in the Lord, brothers and sisters,
children of the Holy Orthodox Church,
The great and bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ touches our hearts again! Once again the Star of Bethlehem rises to warm and give good hope to our souls. The child from the manger in Bethlehem, holding the whole world in his little heart, looks at us with kindness so that we can fully feel the words of St. John the Apostle: “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
The birth of the Savior of the world is a new era in world history, the beginning of Christian spirituality and culture, a great miracle of God’s love, a clear sign that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
(…)
The Covid-19 pandemic brought together doctors, nurses, staff and all extraordinary in their ordinary everyday life brothers and sisters who quietly and faithfully gave their all to overcome the ordeal. Good will motivates us to forget our selfishness and look to the other. We to realize his pain and that he is a part of us and we are a part of him, that we are all children of God. Let us not forget this life-giving grace and carry in our hearts kindness and love, faith and hope, now and in the future.
The song of the angelic choir calls us also to have peace on earth, and now the world is at war. After the pandemic came new suffering. We have witnessed hostilities on the territory of a sovereign state, which have claimed many lives and continue to do so. Its fire does not cease to bring a lot of suffering to the civilian population of Ukraine and destroy infrastructure, work of creative work. The world community, the local churches and all the people of faith condemned this bloodshed with one voice and called for it to stop as soon as possible.On Christmas night, let us not forget the pain of the suffering Ukrainian people, let us pray for them and for the peaceful resolution of the conflict, as well as of all the confrontations on earth, so that lasting peace, Divine peace will come,” says, among other things, His Eminence.
In conclusion, he wishes everyone Merry Christmas and the holiday will be comforting to every heart that seeks justice.
A few days ago, Metropolitan Cyprian of Stara Zagora made a report on the work done in 2022.