†Macarie
Bishop of Northern Europe
Pastoral encyclical at our Lord’s Nativity
Christ – The Sun of Righteousness
The Light of the Kingdom and that of the Holy Emperor
Stockholm, 2013
†Macarie,
Through the grace of God, Bishop of the Orthodox Romanians in Northern Europe,
Reverend
clergy, honorable monastics and beloved faithful, grace and mercy and
peace from Christ – the infant that today illumined and rejoiced
Bethlehem and the entire world!
Beloved brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ – the King of Kings,
The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ makes each one of us receivers of The Good News, and concomitantly witnesses of the fullness of time. The Christian is aware that he lives under the seal of history, but at the
same time bears witness that each person can offer his contribution to
the continuation of Christ’s work in the world through theexample of
his life and prayer. The Christian centuries were marked by holy people
that influenced the faith of the entire world. The church presents them
to us as models and through honoring them we extend their living
example throughout time.
As you know the year 2013 which is now drawing to a close, was dedicated to the holy Emperor Constantine and Helen by the Holy Synod at Patriarch Daniel’s initiative. This pastoral decision was taken because 1700 years have passed since Holy Emperor Constantine the Great's Edict was issued, instituting freedom of religion at Milan in the year 313.
From the histories of Eusebius of Caesarea and Lactantius we know that in ancienttimes the Emperor Constantine together with his legions honored the sun god Solinvictus, which means the invincible Sun, before his conversion.
In the year 312, before decisive battle against his rival Maxentius, on the MilvianBridge (Eagle’s Bridge), near Rome, Constantine had a miraculous vision. During the light of day, when the sun had begun to set to the West, the sign of a shining cross wasrevealed to him in the vault of the heavens above the solar sphere, accompanied with the inscription: In hoc signo vinces (in this sign you will conquer). Christ himself urged him to take refuge in the power of His Cross. Constantine followed that command and placed the protective seal of the cross upon the army’s flags and shields, then engaged in battle victoriously. His triumphal entrance into Rome, with the standards of Christ'scross, also meant an end to the nearly 300 year persecution aimed against the Christians in Imperial Rome.
In a Romanian fresco, unique in the entire art of Byzantine tradition, the Holy Emperor Constantine is presented as a timeless Victor, leading the martyred hosts of the Great Heavenly Emperor, killed during the anti-Christian persecutions of the first three centuries. This icon is of great dimension; nearly 5 meters long. It is entitled theCavalcade of the Holy Cross, and is found on the narthex’s Western Wall of the Holy Cross Church in Bukovina in Pătrăuți built by the Holy
Voivod Stephen the Great of Moldova, in the year 1487. The Archangel
Michael is found beside Emperor Constantine at the head of the holy
military martyrs, painted horseback on chestnut and white horses, heading towards the victorious sign of the Cross, luminously inscribed inthe heavens with the inscription from the vision at the Milvian Bridge: In hoc signo vinces (In this sign you will conquer).
After he met with Christ, Constantine understood that Sol invictus (the invincibleSun) which he had in the past worshiped, was not merely a heavenly star but the very Christ, the Sun of life, Who called him to fulfill a new apostolic work in the pagan world through the power of the cross. That is why in his own words Constantine called the Savior Christ, Invictus Christus (the Invincible Christ).
The hymns from the canons of Matins for the celebration of the holy EmperorConstantine and his mother Helen (who had been Christian long before her son's conversion, and who greatly sustained him in the spread of the Christian faith) wonderfully reflects this belief
"With an all luminous sign in the stars, blessed Christ – You illumined the sun – and showed yourself to be the enlightener of those in darkness, “Heading to theunsetting Sun and Lord, O Emperor Constantine, instructed by God, you were filled with light.”
Therefore Saint Constantine the Great, whom we especially honored in this liturgical year, at the glorious feast day of Christ's Nativity, now
teaches us who live in the realm of the setting sun, that today the
setting sun rises, sharing with us the un-waning light of his kingdom.
We offer up doxologies through the feast’s troparia, revealing that Christ's Nativity floods light on the human conscience, and we, together with those who once worshipped the stars, have now learned and know how to worship and serve the only true Sun of Righteousness, the Heavenly East. Darkness has been scattered, light shines eternal, and the Sun/Christ’s rays – warm our hearts.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined (Isa 9:2 NKJ: Mathew 4:16).”
“The
night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the
works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Rom 13:12 NKJ),” becoming true light bearers.
My beloved people,
Many centuries ago, the prophet Malachi foresaw that, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings (Mal 4:2 NKJ),” and the prophet Zechariah, the father of the Lord’s forerunner and baptizer, full of the Holy Spirit prophesied, “Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; (Luk 1:78 NKJ). Therefore since ancient times, the church has found itappropriate to place
Christ's Nativity feast on December 25, close to the winter solstice,
when the days begin to grow, and the nights shrink. The lengthening of
the daysindicates that Christ's victory over darkness and evil is at hand, when all things will be fulfilled in light.
In this way the pagan celebrations from this time of the year were replaced, especially the Roman celebration Dies natalis Solis Invicti - the
day of the invincible Sun’s birth, the star victorious over cold and
darkness, with the celebration of Christ's birth – the Sun of
righteousness. Together with the Savior Christ's incarnation (the light
of the world) (John 9:5), fulfilling the prophecies of the Old
Testament, true worship before the Sun that pours forth the light
beyond all lights has been ordered in the New Testament.
As
we are accustomed to do each Christmas, I bring to you again another
Carol from my native Transylvanian village to the window of your soul.
Through this tender Carol, all creation is called to awaken in order to
bask in the eastern light of our Lord Jesus Christ – the luminous Sun:
Wake up hosts to not sleep
because the Sun has risen
in the bulls’ window
and sheep's stall
and lambs’ pen
In the house of Christians.
Because He is the luminous Sun
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who from hell has brought us forth
From the tortures of hell
From the fire’s flames
Along with the ancient carols, the hymnography of Lord’s Nativity’s feast andforefeast abound in praises of the Sun – Christ, which dawns from Mary – the bright and virgin cloud.
“A
star proclaimed You to those that read the stars, O giver of light, the
Sun of righteousness, the One that entered into the womb and willed to
be born in a mannersurpassing reason…”
“the shining cloud came to dawn upon Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,
from the Mother’s womb, illuminating all the earth with divine radiance” “As another heaven, we praise Thee O Virgin, who comes to dawn upon us, from Your all-holy womb, the Sun of Righteousness, Who illumines those in the shadow of death and destruction” Becoming so amazed at your wondrous birth, the Magi, guided by the divine star, stopped and beheld the Sun that dawned from the Virginal cloud, bearing Him gifts.”
The Virgin Mother bore the Sun – Son upon her untarnished arms, full of fear and amazement she asked Him,
“O Sun, my Son! How shall I wrap Thee in swaddling clothes? How shall I hold Thee in my arms who holdest all things? How shall I look upon Thee without fear onwhom the cherubim with many eyes dare not to lift their gaze?”
And we, overwhelmed by the miraculous mystery, ask the One without corruption:
“What shall we call you O full of grace! Heaven that dawned the Sun of righteousness? Paradise that blossomed the flower of incorruption? Virgin that remained incorrupt? All holy Mother, who had in your arms the God of all? Pray to Him to save our souls.”
My beloved spiritual sons and daughters,
We offer up Thanksgiving to our Savior Christ for
all of the help that we have received this year and for the abundant
gifts that have been poured out to us through the protection and
intercessions of His All Holy Mother, of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen and of all His Saints.
At the beginning of this year, from 28 January to February 4, 2013, in Romania at the pastoral social center, The Holy Cross, at the Monastery Caraiman, the YouthCenter, St. Voivod Steven the Great of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe, organized a winter camp and a pilgrimage dedicated to the Holy Emperors Constantine and his mother Helen, to the monasteries and churches in the archdiocese of Bucharest, culminating with
a liturgical service presided by our Beatitude Patriarch Daniel in the
Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest together with the veneration of the
relics of the Holy Emperors, preserved at that house of worship, which
they protect. A part of the pilgrim group included young Romanians who work and study in the Scandinavian countries but there were also Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish youth whohad converted to orthodoxy.
The wonderful activities of these youths in the parishes of the episcopate were also crowned this year by the general youth assembly in northern Europe, organized at Copenhagen (November 30 – December 1, 2013), where we celebrated the HolyApostle Andrew,
the national holiday for Romania. The children and youth enjoyed a
special artistic program. The liturgical part extended into the cultural
aspect through the journey to the North Eastern bank of the island Seeland in Helsingor, to the ancient castle of Kronborg of the legendary Danish Prince Hamlet from William Shakespeare's play.
All of the spiritual and cultural manifestations of our diocese dedicated in the year 2013 to the Holy Emperors
Constantine and his mother Helen (icon expositions, scientific
communication sessions, conferences, catechetical gatherings, andworkshops)
were united with activities useful to the sick and lonely through
collections for mutual aid and charitable service programs in our parish
communities.
In the year 2014, our Holy Eecclesial Synod proclaimed, "the commemorative year for holy confession and holy Communion and for the Holy Brancoveni martyrs." TheBrâncoveni martyrs are also the heavenly protectors of our diocese, together with theHoly Apostle Andrew and the other holy Romanian Voivods: Stephan the Great of Moldova and Neagoe Basarab of
the Romanian country. The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe
develops its mission in monarchial countries where holy Kings are
honored, the Christianizers of Scandinavia. This tradition urges Romanians aswell to acknowledge more and to value our own holy Rulers, defenders and Confessors of the Orthodox faith.
At the first rank among them are the Holy Brâncoveni martyrs: Constantine Voivodwith his sons Constantine, Ștefan, Radu and Matei, together with their advisor IancacheVăcărescu, who were all decapitated in Constantinople 300 years ago on August 15, 1714, confessing Christ at the cost of their lives. They were not attached to anything that fades, but offered themselves sacrificially to the heavenly Groom. We today havethem as models and intercessors and therefore in the coming year at the beginning of themonth of October, the pilgrimage center the Holy Righteous Antipa of Calapodeşti ofour diocese will organize a pilgrimage to Romania following the trail of the HolyBrâncoveni martyrs, especially to their relics and their establishments in the southern part of the country. Through honoring the holy martyrs we also become conscious of
the fact that Christian living is not only an individual option, but
can also be a light throughout the ages. Following the footsteps of the
Saints, our souls rejoice receiving an example for how to live, and at
the same time being a Pilgrim is itself a witness to those around us.
May the feast day of our Lord's Nativity be for all a new beginning to fulfill whatwas understood through the encounter down through the ages with those that live and witness communion with Christ – The Light of lights and the King of kings.
Your fervent suppliant to the Lord, I wish you all every good thing.
† Bishop Macarie
Delivered at the Episcopal residency in Stockholm, Sweden, on the feast day of the Lord's Nativity in the year of salvation 2013.
