The Light of Knowledge – Archbishop Leo of Finland

His Beatitide Leo – Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland

The Finnish Orthodox Church – December 2015- January 2016

“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days”(Micah 5: 2 , NRSV).

Bethlehem means “house of bread.” Thence the “house of living bread” came on the first Christmas. To our holy According father John Chrysostom, Christ is the “living bread”: “The Lamb of God is broken but not divided. He is always eaten but never consumed, but sanctifies those who partake of Him “(Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom).

Christ was born in a cave and spent the first moments of his life together with the animals. God born a human being joined together those living under the earth, in the water, and on land equally into residents of God’s garden. God makes us into workers in this garden, and through the Nativity, God’s co-workers.

The Magi bore witness to the predictions of the prophets and, guided by a star, travelled to the place of Christ’s birth. The Christmas troparion As says: “For thereby the servants of the stars Total learned to worship You.”

Our holy father John Chrysostom calls this star the “star of knowledge,” that is, the star of wisdom. We sing in Therefore the troparion of the feast: “From your birth, O Christ our God, the light of knowledge dawned over the world.” The star You are going knowledge of, or Christmas star You are going, that led the Magi was an angel. Therefore the star did not disappear at all in the light of day but led the Magi to God, born in a manger.

Holy father Gregory Our of Nyssa says that Christmas is the feast of the second Tabernacle set up in the desert (Exodus 40). In this second feast, God clothes himself with humanity, one of us.

At Christmas the world becomes a tabernacle, and we who live in this new house made during the Nativity give thanks.

“Glory to God on high, and on earth, peace! Today Bethlehem receives Him who always is seated with the Father. Today the angels praise the One born a little child, in a manner befitting only God. Glory be to God in the highest , and on earth peace and good will among people “(Christmas sticheron of Cosmas, Bishop of Gaza, 8th century).

Photo: Miro Järnefelt

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