We already publish the Easter message of Metropolitan Stephanos because in Estonia, the West part of the country uses the gregorian calendar and the East part uses the julian calendar.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Christ is risen and Life is victorious.

Again, Life reigns in everything, because resurrection means a victory over death. Justly we proclaim together with St. John Chrysostom: ‘Death, where is your sting; Hell, where is your power?’

But what is that Life which conquers death? There is only one answer to this: Christ. With His resurrection from the dead He gives life to every dead man.

And this new life is eternal. It reveals us the miracles of God and the depth of His love. Love, which is incarnate in Jesus and whose power is in the long run stronger than all the schemes of the Evil One. The victorious and scorching flame of resurrection overcomes the passion of the cross, all suffering and passions. This is the answer of the love of God. Without it, there would have been neither Easter nor Pentecost.

Resurrection opens us a new, really radical dimension: what we celebrate today is not just a commemoration of a historical event. The time of History cannot contain this day, because it belongs to the Time of Christ, in which all is a present; in which past and present mingle in the current moment. The resurrection concentrates everything to this one point, in which all is a final present. From now on, the Good Friday and Resurrection are united in the eternity of Christ’s divine life, although historically the passion came before resurrection. By suffering God overcomes suffering, by death He overcomes death; the pain of Christ does not contrast to His glory or His beatitude. It is this material from which he draws His eternal victory.

But why, dear brothers and sisters, should we meditate again and again on these things? Is there really any value in it for us? Indeed, I am certain there is.

I am convinced that the sufferings of Christ, who always suffers with every man, sufferings which are overcome by His resurrection, alleviate our sufferings and even if we cannot see it, give an answer to the question about our own death, which worries us day to day, regardless how great material and scientific resources we possess.

Without this convincement, can we tell a mother who loses her only son, a wife who loses her husband: “Jesus Himself, who has died and is risen for you, suffers the same pain as you and He suffers them for you, forever; the cross you bear is the cross of your Saviour. And as Jesus bears it with you, know that when the two of you bear the cross, it already expresses the victory. But a day will come when your eyes will open and you, too, will see!”?

The Easter morning! ... Today, the gates of paradise are if not open, at least ajar for us, depending on how deeply we accept the divine Resurrected One – Jesus Christ. We must only bring Him in our daily life, admit Him in our workday, let Him take part in the difficulties and hopes of every moment of our life.

The Easter morning! ... From now on, we can be in Paradise together with Jesus who lives. Right today!

Dear brothers and sisters,

Free now from all fear and anxiety, let us meet the saving light of Resurrection with faith and firm conviction. In radiant beauty, Christ waits us by the entrance of the empty tomb.

“The day of Resurrection, let us be radiant, O peoples… and let us embrace one another! Christ is risen from the dead… and upon those in the graves bestowing life.” Thus we proclaim all the paschal service.

The risen Jesus Christ is really our only life, our only hope, our only salvation. His is all glory and praise for ages and ages!

Feast of Resurrection
Year of Grace 2006

+ Stephanos,
Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia

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