Paschal Message of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Head of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan

Your Graces, archpastors! All-honorable fathers!

Dear brothers and sisters, people of the land of Kazakhstan!

On this Feast of feasts and Triumph of triumphs, I address you with the sacred apostolic words in which are contained the strength of our faith, the firmness of hope, and the invincible power of love:

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Once, in the darkness of night, the Myrrh-bearing Women who came to the Savior’s Tomb heard from the angels words that shook them to the depths of their hearts: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5–6). Across the centuries this good news, this joyful proclamation of life, resounds through heaven and earth; it sounds forth “from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof” (Ps. 49:1), and is exchanged by believers in churches and homes, in cities and villages, in every country and on every continent.

The Paschal triumph embraces the whole world, all creation, filling it, enlightening it, and giving it life by the grace of the Lord, Who “was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore” (Rev. 1:17). “Thy Resurrection, O Christ Savior, has enlightened the whole universe,” exclaims Saint John of Damascus. Through Golgotha, through the sufferings of the Savior on the Cross and His rising from the tomb, joy has come to all the world. So proclaims the Paschal hymn that we sing again and again during these festal days.

The first biblical prophecy, spoken by the Creator in the Garden of Eden to our first parents at the dawn of human history, has been fulfilled: the Lord has crushed the head of the serpent-tempter (Gen. 3:15), and, as we sing in the Paschal canon, “together with Himself He has raised up Adam, the forefather of all.”

In the events of New Testament Pascha, the true meaning of all the events and realities of the Old Testament, of past ages, and of our present life is revealed; the design of God for humanity and for each one of us becomes clear. Through the ages there resounds victoriously the voice of Christ: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32). If we strive to be with the risen Savior, then His immortality is with us, His love, peace, joy, and light are with us.

On ancient icons and frescoes of the Resurrection of Christ there is depicted the Only-Begotten Son of God, Who has shattered the gates of hell, firmly grasping Adam and Eve by the hands and swiftly leading them out of the dark abyss into heavenly light. Let us reflect on this theologically profound image: together with our foreparents, He holds each of us by the hand, because, in the words of the Apostle, “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).

One of the great teachers of the Church, Saint Symeon the New Theologian, says that the Resurrection of Christ takes place within every believer: the Lord “appears in us through the Spirit; He raises us from the dead and gives us life.”

Let us remember that the power of the Lord’s Resurrection, the power of eternal life, is manifested in a particularly active way in the Holy Church, in her Mysteries and divine services, and with especial clarity in the Divine Eucharist. Communion in the life-giving Mysteries of Christ is the source and pledge of our resurrection, as the Lord Himself bears witness: “Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54).

Glorifying our Savior Jesus Christ, Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Tim. 1:10), we testify that the Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith and salvation.

Abiding in the joy of the Paschal celebration, we are called not only in words but also in deeds to bear convincing witness to the great spiritual gifts that mankind has received through the risen Lord Jesus. True and profound faith gives rise in Christian hearts to a sense of responsibility for the destitute and unhappy, for those suffering from hunger, illness, and persecution.

The lines of the festal resurrection hymns tell how, when the Myrrh-bearing Women came to the emptied life-bearing Tomb, they heard the angel’s command: “Behold the grave clothes, hasten and proclaim to the world that the Lord has risen, slaying death, for He is the Son of God Who saves the human race.”

This call is addressed to all of us as well: not only by personal feats of faith and words of pious instruction, but above all by deeds of love, are we to bring into the world the radiant preaching of the Resurrection.

The saving Pascha of God is not an event of one day; it does not end with the changing of calendar numbers. It is always with us – wherever by the power of God we overcome sin, wherever by the light of Gospel truth we dispel the darkness of falsehood and error, wherever by mercy, care, and attentiveness we warm human souls freezing from cruelty and indifference.

The world in which we live is undergoing trials unprecedented in their character. In view of this, it is especially important to remember firmly the words of the risen Savior: “In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

On this great day, which the Lord has made (Ps. 117:24), I wish for all of us abundant gifts of grace from the risen Lord Jesus Christ, prosperity for our beloved land of Kazakhstan, and peace for all peoples and nations.

May the words of the Paschal hymn warm us, comfort us, sustain us, and strengthen us in every day of life, at every time and every hour:

CHRIST IS RISEN! – TRULY HE IS RISEN!

Invoking the blessing of the risen Savior,

HEAD OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF KAZAKHSTAN

METROPOLITAN OF ASTANA AND KAZAKHSTAN