Beloved in the Lord, all-honorable fathers, brothers and sisters!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

I heartily greet you with these joyful and life-affirming words and congratulate you on the great and saving feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ! In the days of the Paschal celebration, filled with the light of all-conquering Divine love, the incomprehensible and great mystery of the victory of the God-man over death took place: He took upon Himself our infirmities and bore our illnesses (Is: 53: 4), and, having endured suffering and death on the cross, descended to the depths hell and crushing the gates of bronze, connecting Heaven and earth, eternity and time, He opened the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven and gave us the joy of eternal life.

And today, full of gratitude to the Lord, we proclaim to everyone about the great victory of Life over death, good over evil, and share our Paschal joy with our relatives and friends, testifying of the Savior Risen from the tomb, since the Resurrection of Christ, according to the word of St. Philaret of Moscow, creates hope, inflames love, inspires prayer, brings down grace, enlightens wisdom, destroys every calamity and even death itself (Word on the day of Holy Easter, 1826). Sharing with you the good news of the Resurrected Savior, I prayerfully wish you, all-honorable fathers, dear brothers and sisters, bright Paschal joy, fortitude and firmness in faith, peace and prosperity.

May the saving light of the Resurrection of Christ always illuminate our life path, warm and comfort, illuminate our hearts, inspire good deeds and make us all partakers of His victory, for

TRULY CHRIST IS RISEN!

+MATHHEW
Bishop of Sourozh
Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada
Pascha of Christ, 2023
London