Paschal Epistle of His Grace Bishop Anastasy, Bishop of Vladivostok and the Far East

Paschal Epistle of His Grace Anastasy, bishop of Vladivostok and the Far East, Administrator of the Eurasian District of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

 Christ is Risen!

 Indeed Christ is Risen!

 "It is the Day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O ye people; Pascha, the Lord's Pascha: for from death to life, and from earth to heaven, Christ God hath brought us, as we sing the hymn of victory." By these words, from the Paschal Cannon the Orthodox Church is teaching us to overcome the darkness of this world.  Events, that occured in the recent times, when our former brethren, betraying the ideals of the Russian Church Abroad, made a compromise with the pseudochurch - Moscow Patriarchy, strongly disturbed souls of the Orthodox Christians and led to disorder of our Church life, to disturbance of the Sobornost unity. 

But now "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death".  The Sobor of Bishops that took place during the days of Great Lent called upon all of the faithful flock of our Church, both in the fatherland and those in dispersion, through repentance and by the prayers of our holy predecessors, to the rebuilding of Sobornost unity, which undoubtedly will lead to rebirth of Church life in the spirit of piety and love.  "O great and most sacred Pascha, Christ! O Wisdom and Word of God and Power!"

I congratulate you wholeheartedly beloved fathers, brethren and sisters, with the glorious holiday of Christ's Ressurruction and I wish you all to enjoy the beneficial gifts of this world triumph! "Come, let us drink a new drink, not one miraculously brought forthfrom a barren rock, but the Fountain of Incorruption, springing forth from the tomb of Christ, in Whom we are strengthened".  Amen.

+ Bishop Anastasy

of Vladivostok and the Far East

Pascha of Our Lord 2008