Patriarchal Epistle

The Holy Nativity — 2006

Our beloved Brothers in the Lord, The Honorable Prelates; our spiritual sons, the elected priests and pure deacons, the sons and daughters of the Holy Church and the Assyrian nation together with all our brothers and sisters in Christ:

Prayers and blessing receive:

We have gathered this day as the sons and daughters of One Household in Christ, celebrating this Holy Feast of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, in all joy and happiness, offering our thanksgiving unto our God Heavenly Father on behalf of His paternal love and kindness toward humankind by sending His Only Son, the Savior of the World, who is The Light of the World; and that whosoever believes in Him will not be left in darkness.

We are learning from the Holy Book of the Gospel of St Luke, that as of this day the Angel of God came to the shepherds who were watching their flocks by night "and lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and the were sore afraid, and the angel said unto them ‘fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day, in the City of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord, and this shall be a sign unto you, you shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger;’ and suddenly there with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Hosts praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace and good will toward man.’" (Luke 2:8—14)