The Paschal Epistle of His Grace Iov, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

Beloved in the Lord, honourable brothers and sisters!

Христос Воскресе!
Χριστος Aνεστη!
Christ is Risen!
Кристе Ахсдга(Georgian)!

Once again, we greet each other with this Good News. We greet the world with this joyful greeting, which we always long to hear. Our hearts are filled anew with the joy of the Holy Day of Pascha, though we have not sufficient language to express this joy.

Imagine our feelings if our departed loved ones were to return to us. But, our joy today is not about such a resurrection, or that which occurred with Lazar or the Widow of Naine's son who were returned to their former life which continued for several years.

Christ arose from the dead and is in our life. After the Resurrection of Christ all human history, all our life and death is perceived totally in a new way.

No grief, despite how great it may be in our sinful world, can darken the joy which proceeds from the Resurrection of Christ. Pascha, which "opens the doors of paradise", is deliverance from grief!

The Resurrected Lord conquers our spiritual death when we bring Him repentance in our sins. When we endeavor to live according to God's truth, fortifying ourselves through the Mystery of Christ's Body and Blood, we discover that of which Apostle Paul speaks: "Now I do not live, but Christ lives in me."

The Living Christ is the Victor of our death at the moment of our repose and on the day of the Universal Resurrection. That will be the resurrection with our "spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15, 42-49), that same body which every person has, but which will be transfigured by the Holy Spirit.

In the Resurrected Christ, every human personality unfolds in full beauty. A Christian becomes alive to God but dead to sin. He walks in renewed life (Romans 6, 4-11) and in this, gives witness of the victory of God over the devil and death!

In the Epistle of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, which recently elected a new Patriarch, each of us is called to the Paschal message of Good News: "We are called to witness for the truth of the Gospel of Christ for that in Christ is life and life in full (John 10, 10). We are called to be active in the spiritual enlightenment of those near and distant to us. Pray, the Apostle said, so that the Word of God be spread and glorified (2 Thessalonians 3, 1)".

If this is to done we must, in the name of Christ, strengthen unity under the blessing of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus', and sincerely pray that the Patriarchal efforts of our Holy Master and Father are fruitful and blessed by God.

May the gracious and loving God bless your efforts for the good of the Church and grant you one spirit in faith and life so that "with great power" (Acts 4, 33) the Risen Lord Jesus Christ is witnessed!

With the feeling of Christian joy, I greet you on the Great Feast Day of the New Covenant Pascha, with the Lord's triumph over death and our union with Divine Eternity!

In truth Christ is Risen!

I prayerfully wish that you dwell in the Paschal joy of the Resurrected Christ and be in good health.

With my blessings and continued prayers for you I also ask for your prayers

+Iov,

Bishop of Kashira, Vicar of the Moscow Diocese, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and temporarily in the USA

Edmonton, Pascha, 2009