2000 Pastoral Encyclical for Christmas (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

Pastoral Encyclical

Sacred Metropolis of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Christmas 2000

My beloved brethren,

The star that guided the Magi to find Christ in Bethlehem is a central point in the Evangelists’ accounts of the events of the incarnation of the Son and Word of God. It is an event about which much is said and many scientists and astronomers have been concerned in order to study what exactly this phenomenon was.

Saint John Chrysostom, referring to the star of the Magi, says that it was a rational power and not a simple star. Commenting on the relevant passages of the Evangelists, he says that this star does not resemble other stars. This is evident, first, from the course it followed, namely from north to south, while all the stars move from east to west. Second, from the time they saw it, since they saw it not only at night, but also during the day, which is impossible with the other stars. Third, from the fact that sometimes it was hidden and sometimes it appeared, and moreover it had no permanent course, but moved when it should have moved, and stopped when it should have stopped. That is, it resembled the pillar of cloud which stopped at the camp of the Jews or even was lifted up from the camp so that the Jews could be attacked, when necessary. Fourth, the way in which it guided the Magi was strange, since it descended low and even stood above the place where Christ was, and thus indicated to them that specific point.

From all this, Saint John Chrysostom concludes that it was not a star, but it was some invisible power that took the form of a star. Other Fathers say that it was a luminous angel who guided the Magi, and in fact this was the Archangel Gabriel, who served the mystery of the incarnation of the Son and Word of God.

Answering the question why God guided the Magi with a star and not in other ways, as we see in other cases, Saint John Chrysostom claims that God and the people He sends for the salvation of others use those things that every person loves and with which they are familiar. The Magi, as astronomers of that time, would not have paid attention if Prophets had been sent, but they paid attention only to stars, since they were constantly watching the sky. The wisdom and love of God is also shown in the fact that at the beginning He deigned to call the Magi with the sight of the star, in order to lead them higher. Therefore, after they reached the manger with the help of the star, later, since in the meantime they had ascended higher spiritually, He conversed with them through an angel. Before they worshiped Christ, He guided them with an angel, who took the form of a star, but after they worshiped, He guided them directly with an angel.

God guides us to salvation in various ways, using those things we love and those things we are accustomed to doing in our lives. Sometimes people speak to us, sometimes we are guided by conscience, sometimes the practical events of our lives indicate to us, sometimes written texts, sometimes spoken words, sometimes failures in life, etc. If a person has spiritual senses and a disposition attuned with his soul, then he can hear the voice of God at any moment.

Man is a creation of God and therefore it is natural for God, who has exclusive authority over him, to will his salvation, to resurrect the previously fallen image. What parent would not want the good of his child, would not want to see him on the right path? And when he sees his child following a wrong course, he does everything to restore him. God does this even more. He does not want to see man off the path of salvation. And for this reason he uses various ways to show him the way of sailing towards the Kingdom of God. And, of course, he is happy who can discern the invitation and love of God.

However, the story of the Magi shows us something else, namely that we must have high aspirations in our lives and not exhaust ourselves in material, ephemeral things. Outside and above us there is something higher that we must pay attention to. We are not created for this world. As long as we have our gaze turned to heaven, so much can we succeed on earth, that is, we will be able to avoid the Herods and our various enemies and we will meet Christ in the manger.

The people of our time do not have ideals, high aspirations, they have no supports, that is why in every difficulty they are disappointed, despair and panic, with unpredictable consequences for their lives and their eternal future.

Beloved brethren,

Let us pay attention to the star we have in our lives, Christ and the saints, so that our path may have an eternal end, free from difficulties and unforeseen situations.

I wish you all many years with the Grace and mercy of God.

With paternal prayers and blessings,

THE METROPOLITAN

+ HIEROTHEOS OF NAFPAKTOS AND AGIOU VLASIOU

 
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.