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CWN - Christmas comes to “revive hope within us,” the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Rapael I Sako says in his Christmas message.

The Iraqi prelate, who is celebrating the 1st Christmas since his selection to lead the Chaldean Catholic Church, will formally release his message on Christmas Day, but shared the text in advance with the AsiaNews service.

At Christmas, the Patriarch said, Christians and Muslims alike are called to “come out of the state of conflict, fighting, worry, fear and poverty, to promote together for the consolidation of peace and brotherhood, justice and equality among all citizens.” He urged the people of Iraq to “deal with everyone alike respecting their rights and freedoms and diversity.”

The message of Christmas for the people of Iraq, and for all the Middle East, is the same, the Patriarch said: “No life without love, and no salvation except through unity.”

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Catholic World News

Forum 18 News

03 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)