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I have the surest opportunity, this opportunity, to bring you my sincere congratulations on the approaching highly solemn holiday of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The desire of my heart and prayer to God: may He grant you and all your God-saved flock to meet and celebrate this holiday with heartfelt joy, in health of soul and body, glorifying and singing the ineffable provision of God for our salvation, as the angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”! In the meager field of our flock, your sheep wanted to find pasture for its soul, but I don’t know if it could find what it wanted; for the heat of passions dries up the plant of virtues; We ask and beseech you to pray for us to the Lord, that He may send down the dew of His grace on our hearts, melted by the heat, and even more so, my poor heart requires God’s mercy to gain humility. Shepherd your flock, according to the grace of God given to you, teaching, reproaching, instructing and admonishing on the right and true path, for which you will receive an unfading crown of glory from the Hero of Christ! Mnogohreshny I.M. December 16, 1842 You might be interested in: