On this chosen and holy day, the day of the feast of feasts and celebration of celebrations, the anniversary of the greatest miracle in the history of mankind, I would like to wish all of my fellow believers a very Happy Easter. Remember that the Sabbath day came to us – we did not come to the Sabbath. The life-giving light of the glory of Christ’s tomb is, if nothing else, a great celebration of life itself.
The following is an Easter message from the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is the televised message of His Holiness Kirill Gundyaev, Patriarch of Moscow and all of the Russias:
The Shining Resurrection of Christ… Easter… is the Feast of feasts and the Celebration of all celebrations. Why? Easter defeated the two main enemies of mankind… sin and death. In the Risen Christ, all mankind can now pass through previously impervious obstacles on the path of freedom and eternity.
No one had ever overcome these barriers… not the highest wisdom of philosophers and scientists, nor the elegant works of artists and poets, nor the power of rulers, nor the art of diplomacy. However, Christ overcame them… He raised mankind to the divine glory; He abolished all that prevented us from becoming the same as He is.
Shortly before His crucifixion, in his farewell discourse with his disciples, Christ said, A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another (Gospel according to St John 13.34). What is this novelty? Yes, from now on, God is sovereign in His highest court, but not according to the norms of formal piety, but as a man to His fellow-man He carries them joy, peace, and goodness, or, on the contrary, discord, hatred, and enmity.
That’s because He took on humanity… and now as He’s risen from the dead, God isn’t only a Judge, He’s also a Saviour. He’s the way and the truth and the life (Gospel according to St John 14.6). Christ isn’t only the sovereign in the court; He also becomes the protector of any sinner who turns to Him in faith. The most important stipulation in the New Testament is that people love one another, no matter what differences might be between them. After all, a deficiency of love destroys human love, divides families, and destroys society and the state.
In these days of Easter, we pray to God for the people of the Ukraine, to reconcile the warring parties, to end the violence, so that they could grant mercy to one another… so that all of their differences and whatever obstacles stood between them wouldn’t prevail. The Ukraine is a part of our One Church… it’s a part of our heart, given over to the pain and suffering of the Ukrainian people. During these Easter days, along with millions of Orthodox believers, I fervently pray for peace in the Ukraine.
A Christian is NOT someone who knows about the historical Jesus from a book, they’re someone who feels His presence in their life. For those who haven’t yet felt this presence, I’d like you to find the joy of meeting the Risen Saviour, so that you’d really feel the effect of the transforming action and power of God in your own experience.
To the Feast, my dear friends!
Christ is Risen!His Holiness Kirill Gundyaev
Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias
I have started going to Catholic Mass in this small city I now reside in. It’s mostly Hispanic here, and I figure when in Rome, eh? I like especially to go to the Spanish language services. They have way better music and the people are way cooler. They are so relaxed and easy going. I went to the English language service once and never again. Those White Catholics are some of the most uptight people on Earth!
I really enjoyed the ritual of the Mass and the focus on the New Testament. I also like the way Hispanics, especially Hispanic men, practice their Catholicism.
Eastern Orthodox seems similar. A friend of mine has started going to Russian Orthodox services just for a kick.
Either Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox seems better than this insane fundamentalist Protestantism we have here in the US. That must be the most absurd form of Christianity on Earth. These are the people who say Jesus would have opposed the government forcibly taxing you. Yeah right! When the biggest “Christians” in Congress are salivating over the latest food stamps cut, you know you have a deeply sick and twisted heretical “Christianity” on your hands.
