SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends Christmas Day thanksgiving ceremony
Nay Pyi Taw December 24
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the Christmas Day thanksgiving ceremony at St Michael Cathedral in Yanaung Ward 1 in Pyinmana of Nay Pyi Taw Council Area this afternoon.
Also present at the ceremony were Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General, the Council Joint Secretary and wife, council members and wives, Union ministers and their wives, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, the chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council, the commander of Nay Pyi Taw Command, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Area Council of Churches Rev Dr Tin Maung Aye, bishops and nuns, Catholic youth groups and town elders of Christianity and guests.
On arrival at St Michael Cathedral, the Senior General and wife were welcomed by Nay Pyi Taw Council Area Council of Churches Rev Dr Tin Maung Aye, bishop Soe Lin Aung, Christian reverends and officials.
Bishop Soe Lin Aung opened the Christmas Day ceremony while Christian youths sang the choirs.
In his greetings, Dr Tin Maung Aye, on behalf of the people in Christianity, expressed his thanks to the SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing for attending the ceremony amid busy duties of the State with the aim of ensuring peace and stability of the State with patriotic spirit, emphasizing the people of Christianity. He prayed for the Senior General and party to be calm, delight and happiness in the Christmas period.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General extended greetings to mark the Christmas. He said that those in Christianity hold the X-mas ceremony in December yearly. Especially, as the Christmas Day is designated on 25 December yearly with delight and happiness to show compassion and sympathy to each other, today is a great significant day for the people in Christianity.
The Senior General expressed his delight for joining the Christmas Day together with people in Christianity. The Senior General prayed for global people including all Myanmar people as well as people in Christianity under compassion and peace and prosperity of the Jesus Christ.
The essence of worshiping at the Christmas ceremony proves compassion, love and sympathy of the Lord for the human beings. So, everybody needs to keep loving-kindness and loves for all and essence of Christmas in mind. If so, all human beings can shape the peaceful and prosperous world from the peaceful and prosperous society.
There are many religions across the world, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism of which are four major religions. Any religions of the people indicate religious and social advantages, peace, compassion, love and sympathy for human beings.
On the other hand, these religions shape morality and culture of human and protect the human beings to discard hate and hostility, violent destruction, killing and torture and all misdeeds but forge peace and prosperity of the society. If they follow advice of religions, Myanmar will be a society with peace and prosperity.
In Myanmar, all religions including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism are recognized together with the Buddhism that the majority of Myanmar citizens believe in and value. All religious events are allowed to be held independently by all ethnic people who believe in different religions in line with
the existing laws as long as those activities do not impact on others. All religions recognized are truly assisted in accord with the provision prescribed in the Constitution.
Along with Buddhism, which is the most worshiped in Myanmar, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions have existed together since time immemorial. Welfare tasks of the nation have been carried out with a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood through mutual respect and unity without harming any religion, without discrimination and regardless of race and religion. Such good deeds need to continue, and it is necessary to always be aware of and prevent acts of those who are attempting to abuse religion, harm unity among our citizens, and lessen respect and trust.
I would like to say a little about peace. Every religion is based on peace, so every society needs peace. As the SAC has always opened the doors of peace, the Tatmadaw is always ready for peace and is forever inviting and welcoming for peace. According to Myanmar's history, every government that has been in charge of the country has always made serious efforts for peace.
During government's tenure, we have established processes for peace and are making strenuous efforts. The Christian abbots and Christians who came here today are urged to participate in whatever ways they can to achieve eternal peace in their own regions and the country where they live.
Two national goals set in the country are national prosperity and food security. As the main teaching of religion is "prosperity", I would like to urge everyone to work together for the peace and prosperity of the country. Living and working according to the teachings of religion will lead to prosperity. Abundant food supply will directly contribute to the prosperity of the country. Therefore, all people of different faiths should work hard in accordance with their religions.
From the occasion of Christmas Day 2023, everyone is urged to make an all-out effort to achieve stability, peace and security as quickly as possible and enable all citizens to enjoy the rights of peace and peaceful co-existence of all religions.
More than 2,000 years ago, on the night of Christ's birth, angels appeared to the shepherds and said, "Peace on Earth and Good will toward men" in "Luke chapter 2 verse 14."
Religion is a spiritual belief for humans. It is a refuge as well as a great force. For peace, prosperity and development, which are necessary for the well-being of mankind, it is believed that participation of the religious arena could also be of great benefit.
For the Christian abbots and bishops who led today's program, Union level departmental officials, senior military officers, special guests and all the citizens of the country, may they be blessed with good health, prosperity, love, peace, joy and the blessings of Christmas.
After that, Bishop Shamo Aye La extended special greetings. Then, the Prime Minister and wife, together with the Christian abbots and bishops, nuns, Catholic youth groups and Christian elders, sang the hymn "Silent Night, Holy Night" in chorus.
Afterwards, Bishop Soe Lin Aung and nun Naw Judis presented Christmas souvenirs to the Senior General and wife, who returned a commemorative fruit basket and cash donations.
Later, the Senior General, wife and party cordially greeted the Christian abbots and others in attendance, and had lunch in honour of Christmas Day Thanksgiving together with them.