"Let us have peaceful Christ-like spirit for salvation," Patriarch Daniil says

On Christmas Eve and before the upcoming year 2026, His Holiness Daniil - Patriarch of Bulgaria and Metropolitan of Sofia, called for Christ's love between people, reconciliation between those who are at war, healing of the suffering, trust in Christian virtues as a way to overcome contemporary crises and uncertainty.

"With reverence and amazement we stand before the great mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God. Today a wonderful and glorious mystery is being performed. Nature is being renewed and God becomes man. The invisible God takes on a human form, the Infinite is wrapped in swaddling clothes. He whose throne is heaven is laid in a manger. The sinless One clothes himself with human nature damaged by sin, in order to sanctify it and restore it to its heavenly purity.

God came and found us, lost in the abyss of unbelief and vanity, despair, weakness, enmity, and destruction. God became man and healed man. He showed us who we are – Christ's people, God's children, heavenly men. He also showed us the path that alone leads to Him, so that we may be His children – the path of humble, sincere, and sacrificial love. 'A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,' Patriarch Daniel quoted in his message the words of Christ from the Gospel of John.

"In the days of anxiety and uncertainty, wars and disunity in which we live, let us always strive to discover the image of Christ in the face of our brothers and sisters, because Christ is with us. Let us love them with the love of Christ, because He gave us such an example. Let us forgive them, as Christ forgives our countless transgressions. Let us show mercy, as He shows His infinite generosity towards us. Let us acquire the peaceful spirit of Christ for our salvation and thus serve for the salvation of many," the Bulgarian Patriarch also said and sent everyone wishes for a peaceful and healthy New Year 2026.


Editor: Miglena Ivanova

Photos: Bulgarian Patriarchate, BTA