“OLVIA-PRESS”

THE BISHOP YUSTINIAN CONGRATULATED DNIESTRIANS WITH THE APPROACHING CHRISTMAS.

On the eve of the Great Holiday of Christmas,

the Bishop of Tiraspol and Dubossary addressed Dniestrians with a congratulation.

Solemnity of this greatest and unrepeatable event occurred over two thousand years in Palestine makes us feel it today in our hearts again. One may and should re-read the Gospel, relating about birth of the Gosh baby. It is possible to learn with comments of scholars who explain circumstances of that event from the scientific point of view.

For example, thinking about the nature of Bethlehem star, they say it probably was not a comet. In the Oriental symbology, the comets were the ones that were given frightening meaning: they were foreshadowing tragic events and misery. It means that the Bethlehem star could not have been a comet, because by its appearing it made magicians-astrologers joyful. Scientists say that rapprochement of two planets – Jupiter and Saturn – observed as merging of those two sky objects may have been that very rare phenomenon. Astronomers confirm that the year of birth of the Savior, such ‘merging’ really took place, moreover three times, and occurred in the constellation of Fish. Let’s remember that magicians of Orient interpret Jupiter as a royal star, and Saturn represented the Judaic country. It is interesting to mention that as far as in early Christian times, the image of fish was the symbol of Jesus Christ.

Dear children of God, however I should draw your attention at the fact that all these sky signs eventually led the Persian sages to the crib of Gosh baby: real Son of truth. That is why, all who now look for truth, wants to penetrate the understanding of events, need not stare at stars with extreme hope. They are just a creation of their great Creator, who is now laying before us in modest image of Baby, but only he is the Way, Truth, and Life. If you have books on astrology, through them because useless and appeal Christ. He will make you understand, will prompt the correct decision.

I want to tell you one more thing to you, loved by God. Undoubtedly, the way of scientific search of God is useful. However it may be very long even endless because it is impossible to learn even deeds of God – the Universe – and moreover God himself.

Meantime, the age of a human being is rather short. Many of those who celebrated Christmas together with us last year, are already dead now. Woe to those who have not found God yet in his earthly life. That is why, addressing the present arch-pastor to you, I hope that you will not percept it as a formal duty of the bishop, who should congratulate his parish. I appeal you by mind and heart to feel it lively: that what happened in Bethlehem, is a great mystery of Divine Love indeed: the personified word, God Himself, Creator of the Universe, and the Grantor of Life started living among mortal people.

Exultation and joy are pertinent these sacred days, it is worthy being joyful and congratulating each other with occasion of holiday. At the same time, let us not forget the words of old Christmas sermon of the Prelate Grigory the Theologian, who lived as far as in the forth century, “Let us honor this holiday not as a fair but in divine way, not in secular way but like in Heaven… not as a holiday of weakness but as of cure”.

Every human being wants to be better, cleaner, and more successful in affairs. Let merciful God help us fill in the blank sheet of the New Year 2003 Anno Domini only with good deeds.

I congratulate you, my dears, with the Christmas and New Year!

Yustinian,

By the grace of God, the Bishop of Tiraspol and Dubossary.