“A sacred Pascha has been revealed to us today, a new and holy Pascha,

a mystic Pascha, an all-venerable Pascha, a Pascha that is Christ the Redeemer”

(Hymn of the Resurrection)

Again we are celebrating the Holy Passion and Resurrection from the Dead of our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember the Divine Love - God’s love for humanity - which, through the sacrifice of Christ the God-man, renewed the world, sanctified the universe, and reconciled man with the God worshipped and glorified in Trinity. “The Pascha that we are celebrating is the cause of the salvation of all people, beginning with the first-formed, in whom we are all saved and given new life” (Chrysostom). The Betrayal, Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, Death and Burial of Christ concerned not only Christ’s Apostles and Disciples, but also the leaders of the day and all the people of Israel, who demanded that the Procurator sentence Him to death. St John the Evangelist tragically describes the meeting and ensuing dialogue between Christ and Pilate and the Leaders of Israel: ‘Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor…So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you”.’ (Jn 18:28-31)

Christ’s bloody sacrifice and glorious Resurrection on the third day “from the new tomb” is the epicentre of our immaculate Faith in Him as True God, our Master and Redeemer, Who frees us from our sins and liberates us from death and decay. Christ’s Resurrection inspired and empowered the Apostles to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel. It upheld the Martyrs who confessed their faith in Christ before the leaders of this world. The power and joy of the Resurrection is no different for all the Faithful, the friends and disciples of the risen Christ.

The Orthodox Church keeps a rich and unique tradition of worship, hymnology, and social life, that we may celebrate and devoutly praise the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord. We Christians are nourished by this inspired Tradition, and we continue our ecclesiastical life wherever we may be. With this holy Tradition and philosophy we follow the path to the Resurrection and are mystically re-baptised in soul and body. Let us not forget that the word ‘Pascha’ means not only the passage from sin to righteousness and salvation, but also the passage from death to eternal life; from slavery to freedom. We enter with certainty into the Kingdom of God, Whose wisdom and providence prepared from the foundation of the world for all those who have believed in His promises; who with patience and prophetic foresight have waited for the One Who was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter” in order to wash us clean of our sins and overturn the disobedience of the race of men. With these sacred hopes and expectations we go on living without losing hope and faith in God’s love for humanity. For God “so loved the world that He sent His Only-begotten Son, that all who believe in Him may not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).

We live in a time of great poverty, unemployment and confusion, when the spirits of millions are overcome by fear and the economic and spiritual crisis that plagues the whole world. In the midst of this crisis, we ought to show our unshakeable faith in the love of the risen Christ, Whose love for mankind “never ends” (1 Cor. 13).

I would like to take these holy days as an opportunity to inform you of two matters pertaining to the Orthodox Church and its people:

1. This year, during Holy Week (on Great Thursday) the blessing of the Holy Myrrh took place at the Patriarchal Church of St George in Constantinople. Hierarchs from all Orthodox countries took part in this solemn rite, manifesting the unity of the Orthodox Church and making clear the message of the Resurrection and the hope of today’s world.

2. The second matter is the fundraising for Greece (Greek Appeal Fund). Our Archdiocese, in collaboration with all Greek institutions and people of the United Kingdom and Ireland, has announced this appeal for collections for our brethren in Greece who are poor, ill, elderly, alone, in prison or hungry, due to the economic crisis. The money raised will be sent to the Archdiocese of Athens, which organises distributions on a daily basis for thousands of people, as well as other charitable activities for the relief of those who are feeling the strain of the crisis. During these holy days, let us remember those in need, our brothers and sisters who require our practical and active love. We are all called to help by giving generously and with open hands, in humility and modesty, for “God loves a cheerful giver”.

With these thoughts and the joyful expectation of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, I greet you all from the bottom of my heart. I pray for you and your families, and I remain with love in the risen Lord and esteem. To Him belong the glory, the Kingdom, honour and worship for ever. Amen.

London, Pascha 2012

+ Gregorios, Archbishop of

Thyateira & Great Britain