Dear Friends,

On the occasion of the festival of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and of the beginning of the third millennium we express to you our very warmest greetings. We remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word who from the beginning was with God. He is God himself who came to bear witness to the light. He is the true light himself, which enlightens every human being.

As we stand on the threshold of the third millennium we pray that the Holy Spirit will aid us as we stride ahead to attain to the "measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) And may we realize his will which he expressed in prayer to his Father: "May they all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you. May they be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:21)

The jubilee of the third millennium is nothing if it is not an occasion for us to renew our determination to press urgently ahead on the path which Christ pointed out to us two thousand years ago. On the model of our forefathers in the faith, we must pursue the spiritual struggle. As St. Paul advised us, "Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:14-17)

As Christians celebrate the birth of their Lord Christ, for their Muslim brothers and sisters there approaches the happy celebration of ed-ul-Fitr, expressing the grace which, throughout the blessed month of Ramad'n, has been poured out through fasting, prayer, keeping the night vigil and the giving of alms. We take this occasion to express to all of these our brothers and sisters our heart-felt warm greetings and best wishes, praying that the Lord Most High will fill them to overflowing with righteousness, goodness and joy.

As these Christian and Muslim festivals proceed, all Arabs, but especially the people of Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, look to the peace talks, praying for progress toward a permanent, just and lasting peace.

On this occasion we must also look with both eyes and hearts toward Nazareth, the city of the Annunciation, toward Bethlehem, the city of Christ's birth, toward Jerusalem, the heavenly city where God's greatness was made manifest in indescribable splendor. On the one hand, we hope that any resolution or agreement which may be arrived at will gain for the people of those cities, be they Christian or Muslim, their full and legitimate rights. On the other hand, we hope that the beginning of the third millennium will be an occasion when both Christian and Muslim hearts will be made pure. They are, after all, one people, and may they be enabled to follow the path of co-existence in guileless dialogue, in harmony of good will, and in true brotherhood.

And we do not forget our brothers and sisters in Iraq. War and its grim aftermath have inflicted terrible suffering upon them quite unparalleled in modern times. We pray that, as we work to allay their suffering, the international community will see the evil of the UN sanctions that oppress the common folk. Let the new millennium begin with signs of wisdom and mature leadership which exercises compassion, sustains justice, acts with mercy and stands for the cause of the poor and down-trodden.

The people of Cyprus, North and South, look toward a day when their island will be reunited, when enmities will be laid to rest, and they restore their age-old practice of being good neighbors to each other Cypriots all, be they ethnically Turk or Greek, be they religiously Christian or Muslim. The agendas of other forces continue to interfere in this good land's search for a New Harmony. We, therefore, ask all people of good will to lift their hearts in sincerity to God that the day of justice and peace will soon dawn.

Finally, we pray that God will inspire in all of us clear sight and perception that we may achieve his transcendent will. May peace dwell in our hearts and in our minds, may it embrace our people and the whole world, and may we all sincerely join the anthem of the angels, which they sang, above the manger in Bethlehem:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among the people.

Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour
General Secretary
Middle East Council of Churches
P.O. Box 54259
3722 Limassol, CYPRUS

Tel: +357 (0)5 586-022 or 586-235 or 586-246
Fax: +357 (0)5 584-613 or 586-496
e-mail: jarjour@spidernet.com.cy
jarjour@cyberia.net.lb
meccnapa@spidernet.com.cy

URL: http://www.mecchurches.org