The Mystery of Christmas: "The Foundation of Truth and Justice"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:2)
On the threshold of the year 1998 and the glorious birth and revelation of our Lord–Jesus Christ–our hearts are once again filled with spiritual joy and future expectations for brighter hopes and goodwill.
As we welcome the New Year–once again we celebrate the "Great and Wonderful Mystery" of the Birth of Christ that was revealed to mankind and endowed the world with the gift of the peace and love.
First the humble shepherds and later the wise men were deemed worthy of seeing the infant king. The shepherds bowed and professed that the infant–bundled in the manger–was indeed "The Creator of Heaven and Earth."
In their search for the truth–the three wise men knew that "the State of Jacob will Rise" and that the eternal king–would come from the Hebrew nation. The same bright star guided them to Jerusalem. On arrival there–they asked: "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we have seen His Star in the East and we have come to worship Him."
Their question stirred the whole city of Jerusalem and–even Herod’s palace was shaken. However–despite the King’s dishonest and deceitful meeting with the magi and his misleading directives–they were guided by the same star–went to Bethlehem and saw the newborn infant and their faces glittered with joy. They knew that they had found the born Savior–they realized that He was the way and saw the truth they were seeking and they were filled with new hope.
"Where is He?"
This was the call that echoed throughout the world prior to Christ’s arrival. Men had distanced themselves from God. They were lost people. The magi–with their search for the truth–the slaves with their cries for freedom–and the sick for a cure–were asking–"Where is He–where is God–whom we should believe?"
The answer came with the birth of the Prince of Peace and Love–the Sun of Justice.
The Anointed God was born in the Manger of Bethlehem–to illuminate mankind. He came to this world to grant salvation to His people–to free the slaves–to elevate the poor and the homelessness–to wipe out the tears of the bereaved–the heal the sick and to raise the sinner and the fallen.
And those who sought Him with their lives and through the eyes of their souls–followed and saw the shining star–certainly found the Savior King.
Surely–a great many of us are still searching. Many of us see Him–while other remain indifferent. Dear Fellow-Armenia’s, With the rest of the world we–sons and daughters of the Armenian Apostolic Church also relive the wonderful mystery of the Holy Nativity and the Revelation of our Lord–remaining true to the faith of our forefathers. Are we guided by the same start to seek and see the Infant King?
Where is He?
He is with us when His life appears in our entity. A life that proves that we are humble in our hearts–gentle in our souls–obedient in observing God’s commandmen’s–good in our works and–in our daily life fulfill God’s will. Then–and only then–do we prove that we have found Him and do follow Him–whom the magi adored centuries ago.
On the occasion–of the 1998 New Year and the Feast of the Revelations–I convey my congratulations to our brothers and sisters in our Fatherland and Artsakh–the Prelacy clergy–laymen–parishes–the faithful and all organizations and bodies.
May these festive days fill our hearts with the faith and belief of the good shepherds.
May the Infant Christ guide and illumine us–lead the life of the Armenian people along the path of truth and in search of justice–for the rebuilding of fatherland–for the impregnability of the freedom loving Artsakh and for the consolidation of the Diaspora.
As a message of faith–peace and love–may the good tidings–heralded by the angels–rekindle and renew our religious and family life with the presence and guidance of the Infant King. Christ is Born and Revealed Blessed is the Revelation of Christ. Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian Prelate Christmas 1998