DECR chairman sends Christmas and New Year greetings to foreign statesmen and public figures

Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, sent Christmas greetings to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; King Felipe VI of Spain; King Philippe of Belgium; King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands; Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein; President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen; Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel; President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos Calderón; President of Poland Andrzei Duda; Head of the Bulgarian Royal Family Tsar Simeon II; Head of the Prussian Royal House Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia; and others. The text of the message is given below.

Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the feast of the Nativity of Christ and the New Year.

All the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ was a manifestation of divine love towards people, the preaching of good and humility, for “God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 Jn 4:9).

A mission has been placed upon all Christians and people of good will to strengthen peace and mutual understanding within society. This great aim can be attained only through common labours founded on steadfast faith, unshakeable hope and victorious love.

I wish you abundant aid from the Divine Infant Christ and success in your labours and ministry.

With respect,

/+Hilarion/

Metropolitan of Volokolamsk

Chairman

Department for External Church Relations

Moscow Patriarchate