“May suffering not harden our hearts”. That’s the plea made by Alexis II, patriarch of Moscow and of all Russia in his message marking this year’s festivity of Christmas celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church on 6 January. In his message, the patriarch who officiated the celebration of the Christmas rite in the cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow reviews the past year. He recalls the joys that, “thanks be to God”, the Russian Orthodox Church has experienced, but also “the many sufferings” that have afflicted the country and the whole world. Alexis II speaks of “poverty and social insecurity”, recalls “the threats of terrorism, of criminality” and also cites “the diffusion of immorality, alcoholism and drugs”. The message of Alexis II also refers to the difficult international situation. “There is still anxiety he writes in the world today. The peoples have never ceased to enter into conflict with each other. Thousands of civilians in various countries have fallen victims to it. But, no matter how difficult the situation, we must never forget the words of Christ, the Saviour, that are addressed at each one of us: “Fear not, continue only to have faith!”. Alexis II then asks the faithful to “intensify their prayer for our motherland, our people and for the whole of humanity”. The year 2001, however, closed with an altogether positive balance for the Russian Orthodox Church. “The construction of new churches and the restoration of old ones emphasized the Patriarch has continued; new monasteries and theological schools have been opened and our cooperation with the State and society has been reinforced”.
