“Today, everyone speaks about love and freedom; however, those who equate the love of sin and a sinful way of life with true love, and those who consider unlimited entitlement to be freedom, are making a grave and irreparable mistake,” states the Christmas Epistle of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II.

According to the Epistle, the abuse of freedom of speech is among the most serious challenges of modern times and can be overcome only by those who strive to walk toward the Lord along the path of truth, patience, and forgiveness.

“This path can be followed by those who, despite the burden of their own sins, still see the image of God in every person and do not respond to evil with evil,” the Epistle says.

The Patriarch calls on believers not to fear renewing their lives according to the commandments of the Lord as revealed in the Gospel, the teachings of the Apostles, and the Holy Fathers. He urges resistance to sinful desires and inclinations that undermine faith, corrupt spiritual life, and render it fruitless.