My beloved brethren,
“Day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O people; Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha. For from death to life, and from earth to heaven, Christ our God has led us, as we sing the hymn of victory.”
“Glory to Your Holy Resurrection, O Lord.”
Christ is Risen!
Saint John Chrysostom, from the Queen of Cities, Constantinople, calls us today to celebrate with reverence, with hymns and spiritual songs, the life-giving Resurrection of the Lord—the Feast of Feasts and the Festival of Festivals.
“Let us celebrate, therefore, this great and radiant feast on which the Lord rose; let us celebrate it joyfully and devoutly. For the Lord has risen and has gathered the whole world unto Himself; He has risen, breaking the bonds of death.” (John Chrysostom)
Translation (of the above passage):
Let us celebrate this bright and supreme feast of the Resurrection of the Lord. Let us celebrate it with splendor, but also with reverence, for the Lord has risen and gathered the whole world to Himself. He has risen and broken the bonds of death.
“You descended into the lowest parts of the earth and shattered the eternal bars that held the captives, O Christ; and on the third day, like Jonah from the whale, You rose from the tomb.”
This great and radiant day is the Feast of Feasts and the Festival of Festivals—a bright day on which, beneath the domes of the holy churches, resounds the sweet, joyful, and triumphant hymn of the Lord’s Resurrection:
“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”
The Resurrection of our Savior Christ from the dead is the greatest event in human history, and at the same time the most powerful proof of the salvation of the human race in Christ. Through the life-giving Resurrection of the Son and Word of God the Father, the power of Satan was destroyed and the true Kingdom of God was established—“and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”
Through the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the delusion of polytheism and idolatry was abolished, and true worship of the Creator and Maker of all things—the one true God—was established, from whom “every good gift and every perfect gift” comes.
Through the Resurrection of the Divine Redeemer, the power of soul-destroying sin was overthrown, and true love and uplifting virtue were raised everywhere for fallen humanity.
The Life-giving Lord of Glory, the King of kings and Lord of lords, through His Resurrection from the dead, raised the first-created, Adam and Eve, from the tomb of sin “with His almighty hand,” and through them the entire human race was spiritually and morally reborn. For from the life-giving tomb of the Lord flows abundantly divine grace—saving for all people—and the eternal light of the Resurrection. “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Therefore, we rightly rejoice as Christians and are spiritually glad on this radiant day of the Resurrection of the God-man Jesus from the life-giving tomb. With great joy, Saint John Chrysostom proclaims:
“Let no one mourn his sins, for forgiveness has dawned from the tomb; let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free.”
The Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ is the new spiritual life of those who strive in the good struggle of virtue, in faith toward the Life-giving Christ, and are crowned as victors in heaven by Divine Justice with the unfading crown of glory.
The person reborn in Christ does not seek glory, applause, or the temporary and fleeting goods of this vain world, but the glory and illumination of the Holy God, from whom he hopes to receive honor, glory, and worship in heaven.
My brethren,
Let us venerate the glorious Resurrection of our Lord with humility and reverence, chanting and saying:
“Your Resurrection, O Christ our Savior, the angels praise in heaven; make us also on earth worthy to glorify You with a pure heart.”
PASCHA 2026
† The Metropolitan of Leros, Kalymnos, and Astypalaia Paisios
