The time we get closer to Christmas, when Christmas trees glow in our homes to fill us with light, we saturate the space around us with the expectations for all kinds of wonders. Yet, with looming euphoria around the great day, we seem to forget the one and greatest wonder – the Nativity of the Savior.

“Christmas Wonders happen!” How many times we have repeated these words, with the hope that our pain, problems and despair would open their dark wings and would disperse in the night. But the man, who has spent long in the temple sees no wonder in this wonder, as he knows – God is Almighty. He is that heals, He is that alters people’s destiny. “The true miracle is when man takes part in this wonder”, says Father Vladimir Doychev from the St. Naum Ohridski temple in Sofia.

“In all the flurry around the holiday – running around in search for Christmas presents, the counting of the number of dishes to place on the table (editorial note: in Bulgarian Orthodox tradition an odd number of strictly meatless dishes should be put on table on Christmas Eve – usually 7or 9), we are actually celebrating a birthday in the absence of the person born on this day. When the Son of God was born, there was no place for him at the inn, and he came to this world in a stable. Similarly, in our almost hysterical preparations for Christmas, there is again no place left for Him. He is absent from our thoughts, from our hearts; and we celebrate ourselves and our wish for merriment instead. However, without the Savior there could be no true joy.  And look how God comes down in the life of man – not the way powerless rulers do – by imposing their presence. The Almighty comes in silence, without intruding and is present at the feast in expectation that we would realize what he has come to us for. But we fear to see our end, our sin for which God accepted to come down on Earth.”

In the silent and holy night children also expect their Christmas miracles. But how many of them know that behind the smiling image of Father Christmas and the piles of gifts, thee stands actually the person of St. Nicolas of Myra, also called the Miraclemaker, known for the miracle of the humble man, who could be an example for children to follow.

“In our days we often say that humbleness and stooping down, like Christ came down on Earth for us, are for people who have no other qualities to boast of”, Father Vladimir goes on to say. “For saints, however hard work, intelligence and beauty are virtues only when combining with humbleness and gentleness. That is what we should teach our children instead of telling them how ambitious they should be, making their way up the ladder of vanity by all means. Let us make them see that the humble person lives, creates and beautifies with kindness the life of those around him for eternity – the way St. Nicholas did. Let them live like eternal people, not temporary on earth.”

Yet what should we do to transform our life and achieve our personal miracle?

“The most tiring fact of our present time is that there is no one admitting being guilty of anything – every one is so good and righteous at Christmas”, the priest says. “And nobody finds anything he could sacrifice for the Savior at his birth. Nobody finds reason for tears of purification. Yet, what Jesus Christ wants, is to see sinners willing to change. Only when a person stops thinking of himself only and starts seeing his kin, could there be peace to come. And that is the peace than would take its holders through eternity.”

That is why the only gift we could offer to God in this festive day is our salvation. He expects us to change; and that metamorphosis the Church calls repentance. And that is what we should look for in these festive days. Father Vladimr Doychev adds.

“The wonder of repentance, the miracle of the humble man who succeeds to reject the yoke of egoism and follow God; the wonder of tears – as we can cry of joy as well as of grief but at Christmas time these two merge in to bring the true peace in Christ. It is not merely the gifts, the shiny toys and trade centers that make this day special – but these very tears through which we perceive God and see the people around us more clearly, that bring the true value of this feast.”

English version: Iva Letnikova