His Holiness Patriarch Alexy congratulates children at the Christmas party in the Patriarchal residence in Danilov Monastery

On 16 January 2006, Christmas party for children took place in the Patriarchal residence in Danilov Monastery in Moscow. It was sponsored by the International Orthodox educational centre of the Moscow Patriarchate. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia greeted children with the Nativity of Christ and told them about the birth of the Saviour of the world over 2000 years ago.

Children presented His Holiness with hand-made souvenirs and gave a Christmas concert. ‘We have seen today how gifted are children who performed in the concert and who made different articles with their own hands. – His Holiness said at the end of the feast. – One should not bury a talent, which the Lord has granted him, but multiply it. Every person has a gift of his own: it is either singing or dancing, either painting or handicraft, or even technical creative work. I wish you all to grow healthy and gifted and – what is even more important – good people, because all people should be good in their hearts, and be thus raised from yearly years’.