26. Праздничные приветствия

“Let us glorify Him who gives us new life” (9:91) The festive greetings of St. Philaret - for the days: 1) the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2) New Years, 3) Epiphany, 4) the Resurrection of the Savior, 5) the days of the Angel, 6) church days of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity - are filled with great joy about sacred saving events and truly Archpastoral - Fatherly wishes. 1. To the day when the Lord Jesus Christ is born “for our salvation” (9:371); when “the Heavenly Servants of God also take part in the joy... and greet the earthly with it” (2:81); when the “Childless One” brings “to us His peace and His good will” (2:46, 68), the Saint exclaims: “Glory to Christ God, who appeared in the humility of our nature, may He show us images of humility. He appeared in a den, so that we would be content not with a red cell, - in a manger, so that we would not demand a soft bed, - in swaddling clothes, so that we would love simple clothing, - in the silence of an infant, let us be, like children, simplicity and gentleness, and let us not allow our tongues to indulge in idle talk” (9:119). - He exclaims and prays: may He be a renewal, may He give “an increase of grace as reinforcement and consolation... for the benefit of good service” (2:27); “may He renew your strength and multiply your days, may He bless and direct your affairs for your peace and for the good of His Church” (14:239; 35:30), to continue “the activities pleasing to Him and His Church” (35:30). “May your consolation abound through Christ the Lord and may His abundance cover all sorrow, may it ease all labor, may the stubborn turn you right and the sharp turn your way to a smooth path” (35:32); “I ask from the Lord to you and the brethren, as to yourself, for the continuation of the ancient mercies of the Lord and the renewal of our life, so that, having put aside the old man, in the new we will serve our Master, with complete devotion to Him, in the good hope of salvation” (8: 368-369). The saint calls on everyone to glorify the Nativity of Christ: “Christ is born; praise!” (10:268); “Rejoice in the Lord and proclaim His glory, and may He give those around you an ear to hear the word of truth, an ear not only for the head, but also for the heart” (14:253). If the Bethlehem shepherds of the wordless, who saw “only the dawn of the glory of Immanuel,” returned glorifying God about everything they saw, “then how much more characteristic is it of the shepherds of words and the servants of the word to proclaim the glory of the God-man, high in His humility and descending to our humiliation in His love for mankind” (35:37-38; 2-47). And to the Right Reverend Gabriel of Ryazan the Saint writes: “Thanks be to the All-Good God, who has yet granted us participation in the great joy sent down from the highest Heavens, announced by the Angels, who has renewed the earth, as if a Savior was born to us, who is Christ the Lord. Blessed is this joy, since it unites us with its very Source: but good is that portion of it that unites us with each other in faith and love... May the Renewer of men and times renew your days in the years to come, and may the years to come continue to fill you with His light and life to spread His light and life in the multitude of those who believe in Him” (2:74). (See also: 2:92; 4:585; 7:26, 264; 9:371; 10:68; 33:431...). 2. On the New Year, the Saint praises God for the past and calls upon Heavenly blessing for the new summer: “Glory to God, who granted the completion of the past and the beginning of the New Year!” (4:354)... “God bless you with a new summer. I wish you new successes and acquisitions in grace and pleasing to God, and may the rest be added to true benefit and true consolation” (4:116)... May the New Year “be better than the previous one and make us better than the previous one, promoting God’s good destinies” (33:430). May God give “His new gifts to continue the exploits” (33:433), may the spiritual home be built and the world not become impoverished “in the days when peace is scarce” (4:564). “May God bless the new summer to you, father governor and brethren, with peace, health and protection” (9:372). “In the new summer, a new blessing from God to the vicar father and the brethren of the monasteries, for the renewal of grace-filled life, for the prosperity of the new man” (10:491). (See also: 10:70; 35:41). 3. The joy and prayerful wishes of the Saint accompany the day of Epiphany, or Epiphany: “I rejoice in your joy in contemplating the Epiphany. May the grace of God that has appeared to the world, saving all people, appear savingly to your mind and heart and life. Let us glorify Him who was glorified on the Jordan with the voice of the Father, and let us humble ourselves before Him who humbled Himself on the Jordan under the hand of a slave. Let us love, for the sake of the One who is Glorified and for the sake of the One who Humbled Himself, so that He may show us His love” (3:57). “He who has sanctified the waters through His baptism and the influx of the Holy Spirit, may He water you with the water that is above the heavens, with the dew of the Spirit” (9:373). 4. “There is no congratulation,” asserts the holy Hierarch, “as just and meaningful as congratulations on the Resurrection of Christ, the solemn beginning of Christianity. From the resurrection of Christ we also inherit our resurrection: mental resurrection from ignorance to Epiphany, moral resurrection from sin to virtue, spiritual resurrection from death to eternal life, not excluding the body, now mortal; finally, even the revival of what is best in human life, for between Christian and non-Christian peoples the difference is like between the dead and the living” (5:7). The saint indicates and emphasizes the source and greatness of the event: The Risen Lord Christ is “the source of life, peace and joy” (9:136). The Resurrection of Christ is “great power, not only when it is preached by those who lead the ignorant for salvation, but also when it is preached by those who know it to those who know it, to renew and increase the joy of salvation” (2:28). – “May the grace of the Risen Lord pour joy and peace into your hearts, and may the joy of the Lord be your strength to do good and please Him” (10:176). We must hasten to share the joy of the Resurrection: “The joy of the Resurrection of Christ is the best adornment of the present life, as well as the best foundation of hope for the future life. Therefore it is pleasant to share the treasure of this joy in mutual fellowship” (2:37). And the Saint shares: “May the joy and peace of the Risen One live with you, may they delight the sorrowful, may they calm the unpeaceful, and may peace from you come to those worthy of peace” (14:263). “Let the life and light that shone from His tomb penetrate your souls and your life, and let them enlighten you and through you” (15:37). The Easter greetings of the Saint addressed to Archbishop Gabriel of Ryazan are deeply edifying: “If for the disciples of the Lord who had not yet known the resurrection, the conversation of love and sorrow about the suffering Lord brought the benefit that He Himself approached them, taught them about the resurrection, filled their hearts with the feeling of His presence and, finally, was known to them in the breaking of bread, then for those who have already known the resurrection, how could a conversation of faith, love and joy about the risen Lord and solemnly promised to abide with us until the end be beneficial? centuries?.. I pray to the Risen One, that He, approaching you with His grace, as an ever-flowing Source of light and life, will constantly fill your understanding with the light of His truth, and your heart with the flame of His love, and through you spread pure truth and holy life among the believing people” (2:50). “With love I accept and give you kisses of peace and joy in the name of the Risen Lord. And I accept the expression of good desires from you as a blessing and edification. May the Lord increase your peace and His joy, which the world cannot give and cannot take away; and may he preserve your life and strength to continue the ministry of peace and salvation in His Holy Church” (2:66). “Let us tear ourselves away, at least for a while, from the earthly and transitory, to which we are attached sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of duty, sometimes out of will; and let us look freely and not distractedly to the Heavenly and Eternal. From the three-day tomb the Light of eternal life rises. Some see and believe; others do not see and believe: and all are blessed because they believe. May your believing soul be filled with a feeling of joy and bliss in the name of the Risen Lord; and let the life of faith that does not pass away elevate your temporary life and animate your activity” (19–2:283). “Christ is Risen!.. May He be your life, strength and joy” (33:440). (See also: 2:17, 22, 43, 67, 73, 91; 3:50; 4:124; 7:280; 9:280, 328, 403; 10:292, 387, 427, 461, 516; 13:18; 15:46; 16:31, 48; 19–2:172; 33:410...). 5. On the day of the Angel, the Saint prayerfully wishes for the constant intercession of the Heavenly Patron and further God's blessings: To Archimandrite Anthony: “Reverend Anthony from the Kyiv Lavra bless your circle of days, Father Vicar, in the Trinity Lavra” (10:354); “may he ask you... for a new blessing from the Lord, so that your days may continue in spiritual peace and in the strength of your strength, for the benefit of the monasteries and the brethren” (10:241). “May the Lord continue the summer and your service, which is of great benefit to the Lavra and brings relief to me” (10:298). To Prince S. M. Golitsyn: “Celebrating the day of St. Sergius, I cannot help but remember that Your Excellency, by the naming of his name, entrusted his prayerful patronage from birth for life. Accept my sincere joy that this day of your Angel, which by the goodness of God has shone for you many times, still shines now with the light of the blessing of Heavenly and the Providence that protects you. May the Lord grant that he will continue to return to you many times in the future with new light and new blessings” (16:77). To A. N. Muravyov: “Hello, dear Andrei Nikolaevich in the Lord, mentally and physically, on the day of your Angel, and for many days and years to come. May he preserve and grow the faith that he sowed in your heart with his grace, and may it bear the fruits of life and good deeds. By his wise Providence, may he direct the path of your life, as best for your salvation, but also as best for serving his kingdom and promoting the good of your neighbors, may your eternal good increase” (4:167). 6. The Moscow Archpastor and the feasts of the Holy Lavra of our Venerable and God-Bearing Father Sergius take close to his heart: “I congratulate you, Father Viceroy, on the holiday of your monastery. I hope for the mercy of God that you are celebrating in the world” (9:339)... Congratulations on the holiday of St. Nikon. Pray joyfully and pleasingly to God, and remember me” (9:364)... “Let us glorify the One who gives us new life,” I conclude the presentation of the Saint’s festive greetings with his own words, “and with gratitude for the gift, let us excite ourselves to walk in the renewal of life. And let us mutually pray for this for each other, as for ourselves” (9:91). You might be interested in: