Paschal Epistle of Archbishop Vladimir

Christ is Risen!

Beloved in Christ fathers, brothers and sisters, both in the Homeland and in the Diaspora, greetings with the great holy Feast of Christ's Resurrection!

May our Lord multiply in these bright and holy days, as in all days of our lives, for all of us His Grace, that we may be on the path to Salvation; in the words of the holy apostle "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1,4).

Paraphrasing the words of St. Theophan the Recluse, this is not the time for learning, but rather for glorifying; not the time of preparation, but rather of thanksgiving; this is a time of Paschal song-giving and mutual joy. This is the calling of our Holy Church.

On Holy Pascha, all is filled with light, the earth and the heavens and the netherworld, all creation celebrates Christ's Resurrection. Christ is Risen, and all people rejoice!

What a comfort and what a joy, that our Risen Lord even until today, without regard to contemporary cataclysm or our sinful state does not leave His flock. For us, living in and walking with God makes all temptations bearable. In all of our worldly concerns and tribulations, we shall not fall to the temptations and evils of the world. For many of us, at least for a moment is given the feeling of Christ's being with us. Let us give ourselves into the Hands of our Lord asking only "teach me to do your will."  In this way all of the saints and righteous lived; in this way our souls will be filled with Paschal joy! Many of us have experienced this, especially in the moments following Holy Communion.

The feasts of our Holy Church are given to us for this reason - to warm our hearts in the celestial festal feeling. This is true especially of the Nativity of our Lord, and Pascha.

Through the resurrection of our Lord we become participants of eternal life. This beginning of eternity is here and now - and particularly felt at Pascha, the day our Lord created for spiritual joy and celebration.

How can we not rejoice, when we mortal persons, subject to illness and suffering which we cannot avoid by worldly glory, wealth, esteem or power, suddenly are given to rise to a godly height, allowed to conquer  over hell and death, and offered fellowship in the Kingdom of Heaven?

Let no man say that this is yet unknown, that these things can only be proven after death.  Pascha, the Day of our Lord, confirms all this; in this enlightening and redeeming night all faithful hearts are illumined. Those who fasted and those who did not, those who struggled and those who were weak, each by his ability becomes a participant of the Resurrection.

The Holy Resurrection is like the ocean, drowning within the hearts of the faithful. Even the most humble chapel or home parish on this Holy Night finds itself the Bridal Chamber of our Lord. In the words of the psalmist, it is better to dwell on the threshold of God's home than in the palaces of the unrighteous.

Let us thank our Lord for all we have as we are unworthy of it all. Let us give glory to Him for all things, especially in this time of apostasy. Let us not forget that the gates of hell will not prevail against our Lord's Church and that He will be with us even until the end of the world. Let us strive to hold fast what we have.

Relying on the help of God dear brothers and sisters, we shall be participants in this great Paschal feast. Remember this participation is dependent on our own will and our living Christian lives as directed by the Holy Church. If we follow this path, we will be given wisdom in our hearts, and the Paschal joy will resurrect our souls to eternal life. Amen.

Indeed He is Risen!

+Archbishop Vladimir

Pascha 2013