“Peace of God – Christ is born!” With this traditional greeting, Orthodox believers share the most joyous news in the history of humanity with each other and the entire world, said the Serb member and Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željka Cvijanović, at the traditional Christmas reception held in Istočno Sarajevo.
Cvijanović remarked that “in the language of modern media, the title of this news would likely read: The Son of God has descended among men and become one of us.”
“The light of this magnificent and unique event continues to illuminate our hearts and homes to this day, just as the bright star shone upon the Bethlehem cave at the moment of Christ’s birth. In honor and celebration of our divine child and His arrival into the world, we observe Christmas as a holiday of true joy that only multiplies when shared. That is why I am immensely happy this year, as in previous years, and deeply grateful to all of you for joining me on this beautiful occasion,” Cvijanović emphasized.
She highlighted the importance of reflecting on universal values during the holiday season, values that are shared by all people regardless of faith, nationality, or skin color.
“Our traditional Christmas greeting, which I began this address with, starts with the word ‘peace.’ Peace, like love, is one of the fundamental universal values inherent to various cultures and religions. We are all called to live in peace with one another, and mutual respect and understanding are crucial prerequisites for peace,” Cvijanović said.
She underscored that “the diversity within Bosnia and Herzegovina further highlights the necessity for greater mutual tolerance to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.”
“Of course, we must love and cherish our own, but equally, we should respect and value those who are different from us. We should nurture our identity, preserve our traditions, and celebrate our holidays, but never deny others the right to do the same. Through dialogue and discussion, we should resolve all open issues, without expecting someone else to do so with a magic wand at the expense of any one of us,” Cvijanović noted.
Cvijanović expressed her firm belief that any domestic agreement, no matter how imperfect or lengthy to reach, is incomparably better than any solution born out of external interventionism.
“Everything that has been foreign and forcibly imposed in this region has had a limited lifespan. Conversely, the only long-term solution for Bosnia and Herzegovina is one achieved by its constituent peoples through compromise, their own will, and their own wisdom. Dear friends, esteemed guests, thank you for gracing this event, which is particularly dear and important to me, with your presence,” Cvijanović said.
She wished everyone “good health, joy, and happiness in your homes, as well as success in your personal and professional endeavors.”
“May we all be at peace with ourselves and, of course, with one another. With these heartfelt wishes, I warmly greet you once again with our most beautiful Christmas greeting – Peace of God, Christ is born!” Cvijanović concluded.
Source: RTRS
