DECR chairman greets the heads of foreign states and public and state leaders in far abroad with the New Year and the Nativity of Christ

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent Christmas greetings to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the other Commonwealth realms, Ireland, President Serj Sargsian of Armenia, President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President Bronislaw Komorovski of Poland, President Boris Tadić of Serbia, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Monti of Italy and other persons. The text of his message is given below.

Accept my cordial congratulations on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ and the New Year.
The mystery of the incarnation of God, which has transfigured peoples’ lives, has been and remains the inspirational symbol of hope, for ‘the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them’ (Lk 9:56). In sharing the joy in the Saviour who has come into the world, all Christians draw from his earthly endeavour the strength for an honourable life according to love and justice. The future of countries and nations, enlightened by faith in Christ, is unthinkable without following its eternal truths which are to find their reflection in all manifestations of public life.
I wish you good health and the help of God in your labours.
With respect,

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate