Paschal Epistle of Archbishop Sofroniy

The Lord’s Pascha is a great holiday!

For more than two thousand years, on this day, we have been singing the praises of the arisen Christ, uniting with Him, partaking of the Holy Mysteries. It is specifically Christ who brings us to the Father and restores our fallen image and likeness. Going back into the depths of the ages, we see that the Church has always lived through inner unity with the prophets, the saints, and where in her innards mysteriously dwelt the arisen Christ– the same yesterday, and today, and forever. (Heb. 13:8).

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the heavens and earth are filled with His Glory!”  – heard the voice of the Cherubim prophet Isaiah, one of the greatest prophets in the history of mankind, an Old Testament evangelist, for he foretold the greatest events in the divine construction of salvation. He predicted the birth of our Savior from the Blessed Virgin, predicted the coming of Christ’s Forerunner, John the Baptist, as the voice crying out in the wilderness. He also predicted the sacred redemptive mission of Christ. Many centuries prior, he described His humble disposition, His devotion to the will of the Heavenly Father, and His meekness as He was led to the crucifixion: “he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter ” (Isa. 53:7). Finally, the prophet Isaiah foretold of the Savior’s victory and His glory, to which we are still witnesses, together with the entire Orthodox world.

In the Old Testament, God the Father says, “but he that putteth his trust in Me shall possess the land and shall inherit My holy mountain.” (Isa. 57:13) The holy mountain of which God speaks is Mount Sinai in the wilderness. In those days, people were forbidden to approach this mountain, and they stood in the distance reverently listening to the commandments. Contrary to the ancient statute, the Apostle Paul teaches us:  “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” (Heb 12:22-24)

In these words, we must hear and see with spiritual vision the whole essence of what happened. We didn’t stand in the distance, but we drew near. Not Mount Sinai, but Zion and heavenly Jerusalem, which is the very heaven.

Instead of frightened people – an innumerable company of angels. Instead of fear – joy and triumph. 

Christ Himself has renewed and opened this path for us. In these words of the Apostle is a direct call to communion with the joy of heaven.

St. Augustine wrote: “Christ descending into hell, set free all the just who were held in the bonds of original sin.”  But as we know: “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day:” (Isa. 38:18). 

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, asks, ” O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” and himself gives an explanation: “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” Let us, too, in this twenty-first  century, be strengthened in repentance by the words of the Apostle: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.!” Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm, steadfast, and always succeed in the work of the Lord, knowing that your work is not in vain before the Lord.” 

I congratulate all the venerable pastors, monastics, and faithful children of our diocese on this great feast. For what is a great holiday, if not for the purification of conscience by repentance and the sanctification of the soul by the joyful Paschal light of the arisen Christ.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

+ Sophroniy Archbishop of St. Petersburg and Northern Russia

Pascha 2022.