All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · Phoenix, Arizona

Orthodox Church on the west side of Phoenix Arizona including Sun City, Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Litchfield Park, Buckeye, Tonopah, and more

  • Home
  • About
    • Clergy & Leadership
    • ASONA Mission Statement
    • New Visitor Information
    • How to Become Orthodox
    • For Orthodox Visitors
    • List of Activities for Orthodox Christians Desiring to Transfer to ASONA
  • Faith
    • Statement of Faith
    • About Orthodox Christianity
    • Saints of North America
    • Welcome Home! Evangelicals Come Home to Orthodoxy
    • What happens to those who have never heard of Jesus?
    • To Sincere Converts to the Orthodox Faith, and those who are Seeking
  • Education
    • The Correct Understanding of Being Born Again
    • Eucharist: Sacrament or Symbol?
    • Eucharistic Bread: Leavened or Unleavened?
    • LIVE Online Catechism
    • Christian Names and Patron Saints
    • Welcome to the Orthodox Church! (Videos)
  • Catechesis
    • List of Activities to Complete Prior to Baptism
      • A List of Responsibilities of a Godparent in the Orthodox Church
    • Online Catechism Lessons
    • Audio Lectures
    • Bible Survey Lessons
    • The Mystery of Confession
    • Mystagogy
  • Directions
  • Calendar
    • ASONA Calendar
    • Paschal Greetings from Around the World
    • When Someone Dies
  • Articles
  • Contact
    • Donate Now
    • GIVING Page
    • The Book of Needs
  • Great Lent
  • AZ Icon Workshop
  • New Member Class
  • Ready Page
  • Ecclesioclasm
  • Weekly Bulletin
  • Children’s Education

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for The Nativity of Christ 2017

December 27, 2017 By All Saints of North America [edit]

Light of Light, Brightness of the Father,
You have made the whole creation shine with joy!

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We glorify Christ on this blessed and glorious Feast for having come to us and for revealing the abundant and redeeming grace of God. We glorify Him for entering our humanity for our salvation. We glorify the miracle of His Incarnation and give thanks with great joy for this mighty act of God. We glorify God before all the world, because our Savior has come and the people who sat in darkness, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16)

Today, the Son of God, as Radiance sent by the Father, has come and illuminated all of Creation. As in the darkness of night when the angels appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them (Luke 2:9), Christ enters a world that has fallen into the darkness of sin and in need of the hope of light. Christ is born, and just as the shepherds we will go out glorifying and praising God for all that we have seen in the light of this holy Feast.

We glorify Him today, for as the Son of Brightness, as the Live-giving light, Christ illuminates the path to God. As the star led the wise men to Bethlehem so they could worship the newborn King, He reveals to us the way of regeneration and salvation. He is the light that guides us on our way to communion with God on our journey of faith. As He is the dawn of a new day of deliverance, we see that every valley has been lifted up, and every mountain and hill has been made low (Isaiah 40:4), and in His glory the way of the Lord has been revealed.

Christ is born, and we now see truth. He is the light of divine wisdom, and His radiance dispels the shadows of deception, fulfills the ancient prophecies, and reveals the divine plan for our redemption. All who witness His Holy Nativity glorify Him as being the ultimate light of truth and the sublime wisdom of God.

On this holy Feast we proclaim that our Lord and Savior has come. We join with the heavenly hosts in glorifying Him. As His glorious light shines in and through us, we witness to the world that Christ brings light in the darkness. His glory dispels fear and hopelessness. His radiance overcomes hatred and greed. The brilliance of His Incarnation reveals the truth of our life, existence and purpose, freeing us from sin and death. On this blessed day, may the light of Christ and His Holy Nativity shine in your hearts. May you know the assurance of His promises and the joy of His presence. As you cherish this blessed time with your brothers and sisters in the faith, and with family and friends, may His light shine through you so that others will glorify Him and see the way to truth and life eternal.

With paternal love in Christ,

† DEMETRIOS
Archbishop of America

Share the post "Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for The Nativity of Christ 2017"

  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Bookmark

Filed Under: General [post-edit]

All Saints of North America Orthodox Church

11234 W. Alabama Ave.
Youngtown, AZ 85363

(928) 910-2186

RSS Orthochristian.com

  • The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent—St. John Climacus
  • “Pinochet”
  • All His Works Are Infinitely Great: Greeting and Advice to Communicants
  • Saturday of the Commemoration of the Dead

RSS LifeSite News

  • Thousands of Pro-Life People Stand Against Abortion at Illinois March for Life
  • Here’s Why Abortion Activists Want to Conflate Abortion and Miscarriage
  • Lauren Boebert Slams Abortion: Endangered Species Get More Protection Than Unborn Babies

A Directory of Arizona Orthodox Churches

Recent Posts

  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 26, 2023
  • Children’s Lesson for Sunday, March 19, 2023
  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 19, 2023
  • Children’s Lessons for Sunday, March 12, 2023
  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 12, 2023

RSS Western American Diocese

  • 12th Annual Great Lenten Retreat, Sunday April 2, 2023, Holy Virgin Cathedral
  • NATIVITY EPISTLE  of His Eminence NICHOLAS Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

RSS Journey to Orthodoxy

  • On the Path of Love: From Islam to Christianity
  • Madagascar: Church Opens Huge Complex with Church, Schools, Orphanage, Old Folks’ Home
  • Australia: Orthodoxy Fastest Growing Church amidst General Christian Decline
  • Finding the Right Holy Hospital — For Me
  • To Sincere Converts to the Orthodox Faith, and those who are Seeking

RSS Good Guys Wear Black

  • Conservative Clergy vs Liberal Clergy?
  • On the Meaning and Power of a Priest’s Blessing
  • July 10-13, 2022 – Liturgical Practicum
  • History, Symbolism and Modern Use of Orarion
  • Priestly Priorities

Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, March 26, 2023

Orthodox Calendar



Copyright © 2023 All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · All Rights Reserved
Designed by Fr. John A. Peck · Log in