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Published by the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, April 2,
2004
Encyclical of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for
Holy Pascha
April 2, 2004
PATRIARCHAL PROCLAMATION
ON HOLY PASCHA
Protocol No. 247
+B A R T H O L O M E W,
BY THE GRACE OF GOD ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE,
NEW ROME, AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH,
TO THE PLENITUDE OF THE CHURCH,
GRACE, PEACE AND MERCY
FROM CHRIST THE SAVIOUR, RISEN IN GLORY
Brother concelebrants and pious, God-loving
children of the Church,
Christ is Risen!
As we greet you, dear beloved, with this Paschal
exclamation, we reminisce about the philanthropic
action of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Logos of God,
through Whom everything was created, to offer life
to mankind. We also think of the cruel pursuit of
the devil, and of the people who have been misled
by the devil, having become his instruments in
trying to deprive humankind of the great and
sacred gift of life.
The sacred gift of life is intended by God to
bring joy. The mouth of the Myrrh bearers was
filled with joy as they cried, “Christ is Risen”,
says the sacred hymnist. Ever since, thousands of
people cry, “Christ is Risen” and the hearts of
innumerable devout Christians fill with joy in
repeating the announcement “Christ is Risen”, for
all of us value life as one of God’s greatest
gifts to humanity. It is a valuable gift through
which we can enjoy all of the other divine gifts,
for without the gift of life we cannot have any
awareness of the other gifts God offered to us.
The source of life and joy is Christ, beloved
brothers and children, and He invites us all to
become participants of His divine gifts. He does
invite not only us, the Orthodox Christians, but
also every single person. Every human being is
invited to partake in the fullness of a joyful
life. God created human beings so that they might
live joyfully; He intended for us to constitute
adornments of the material and spiritual universe.
He gave each person the opportunity to enjoy all
creation; that would become possible, of course,
if people showed respect for one another, and,
moreover, if they loved God and the other beings.
The observance of this commandment leads to a
harmonious society of people, which is surrounded
by the whole creation, in service of humanity, and
is based on freedom, which is the foundation of
love. Our feeling of this love, which is based on
our free will, reveals the ineffable beauty of the
face of the Lord, the most desired one, as the
holy Church Fathers say, and, also, the face of
the beloved human person. The human face reflects
and depicts the divine and supreme beauty of God’s
face, for it was created in His image and
likeness.
The faithful Christian, and every human being,
must himself feel the opportunity to experience
and cherish life, and recognize this right in all
others, as well. Unfortunately, though, the devil
hated human life and turned murderous, and
implanted the idea of homicide in the human race.
The devil persuaded Cain in killing his brother
and becoming the first fratricide. Since then,
many fellow human beings hate, by imitation of the
devil, the life of others. As a result, throughout
the history of humankind, myriads of human beings
have been deprived of the blessings of life and
joy, due to murderous and invidious acts committed
by other human beings. This goes on until today.
But, Christ, was risen to offer us life and
abundance of life. Therefore, it is inconceivable
for a Christian or anyone else who loves his own
life and respects God, to want or commit a murder
or to cause pain to others. The killing of people,
and moreover the indiscriminate killing of
innocent people, non-participating in war
conflicts, is an inhuman, condemnable and
non-heroic act. Likewise, every selfish act that
causes pain to some people in order to satisfy
others is also condemnable.
As has always been the case, this year’s
celebration of the Resurrection of Christ follows
the same predicament; it is clouded by a multitude
of grave incidents. We hear about many group
homicides and other hurtful acts committed by
people against people. Christ, Who is the Way and
the Resurrection and Life and Who lived an earthly
life of doing good and healing, shows to all
people the way of love and giving, of justice and
respect of life and joy of others, as the single
way, which leads humanity to true joy and fullness
of life. Christ resisted His persecution and death
through forgiveness, love, good deeds, sacrifice
and resurrection. He proved that the power of
evil, despite its fierce aspiration to kill the
leader of life, failed. And He persuades us that
in our days the powers of evil will be again
defeated by the greater power of love, which is
the only way leading to resurrection.
Thus, brothers and children in the Lord, we should
not fear in the face of evil that seems to
prevail. At the end, our Risen Lord Jesus Christ
will be the victorious winner along with the
people who believe in His resurrection. But our
win will not be against our fellow human beings,
but against evil, for we Christians want all
people to partake in this victory so that none
will be defeated by evil or lose the earthly, and
most importantly, the eternal life.
Thus, we greet all of you, beloved, with the
Paschal greeting “Christ is Risen”, and pray that
you will travel the road of Holy Pascha in the joy
of Resurrection. We pray also that through your
pious life you will contribute to the propagation
of the spirit of altruism and will inspire others
to respect the life and the joy of their fellow
human beings, so that good will prevail over evil
and the leader of life, our Risen Lord Jesus
Christ, will reign in your hearts. Amen.
+ B A R T H O L O M E W
Patriarch of Constantinople
fervent intercessor of all
before Risen Christ
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