ΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΗ

ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗΣ

 

 

 

                PASCHA 2006

The Reverend Clergy

Esteemed Members of the Parish Councils, Philoptochos Societies,

Faculty & Students of the Catechetical and Greek Afternoon Schools,

Directors and Participants of all Youth Organizations, and all devout

Orthodox Christians of the Greek Orthodox Communities of our

Holy Metropolis of New Jersey

My Beloved in the Lord,                       CHRIST IS RISEN!

“It is the Day of Resurrection. O people, let us be glorious in splendor. Pascha! Pascha of the Lord…”

            The entire Orthodox Christian world, with great jubilation and spiritual elation, celebrates once again today the glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This celebration and exultation of the human spirit is indeed justified, for the Resurrection of our Lord is truly a significant phenomenon, for it is on account of the Resurrection that death has been soundly annihilated and that man has passed “from death unto life and from earth unto Heaven.”

            Darkness, injustice, falsehood, hatred and hostility were judged and demolished, being supplanted by the heavenly light, justice, truth, purity, love, brotherhood and holiness. The Faithful grew spiritually and became children of the Light, the unwaning Light, which dawned from the tomb of the Risen Lord.

            Thus, our Church chants cheerfully, “All creatures have been filled with light, heaven and earth and all that is below the earth.” (3^rd Ode of the Resurrection Canon) All of creation has been made brilliant from the resplendent and divine resurrection light, and the Faithful, brilliantly illuminated and bearing lighted candles, glorify their Resurrected Lord and Redeemer.

            For man is no longer alone and abandoned in the struggles of life, but rather, has at his side the eternal Triumphant One, Who after His glorious Resurrection, assured us saying, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) This assurance of our Risen Lord is valid throughout the ages, for Christ walks with us, is

found in our midst, and is present during the Divine Liturgy as the One Who offers and is offered, for He is indeed “present everywhere and fills all things.”

            Christ is the One Who gives us encouragement and strength when we are surrounded and overwhelmed by the temptations and storms of life. He is with us and hears our fervent prayer when we call upon Him seeking His divine help, answering us, “Here I am.” (Isaiah 58:9) Our Lord is also with us when we are drowning in life’s tribulation, extending His lofty arm and supporting us saying, “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Indeed, I have defeated the world of corruption and sin, which gives birth to death, therefore, “why are you troubled?” (Luke 24:38)

            Through Christ’s Resurrection, death has died and has been defeated, for “death no longer has dominion over Him.” (Romans 6:9) St. John Chrysostom, Patron Saint of our Holy Metropolis, preaches to us in his Catechetical Sermon on the Resurrection, “Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free.”

            All of us therefore, being baptized as Orthodox Christians, with unshakable Faith, and as the one Body of Christ, exclaim today with exceeding joy, “Christ is risen from the dead…” and we hear the response from the depths of the ages, “Truly He is Risen.”

            To Him be the glory and the power and the honor and the worship unto the ages of ages. Amen.

With Paternal Love in the Risen Lord,

† E V A N G E L O S

Metropolitan of New Jersey

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