A PASCHAL ENCYCLICAL of Archbishop Sotirios

PASCHA 2020

Reverend Fathers, Honourable Presidents and  Esteemed Members of the Boards of Directors,  Members of the Philoptochos Societies,  Teachers, Students and Youth Members of the Communities, and to the Entire Plenitude of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada.

He is Risen!

The Demonstration of His Divinity

A Paschal Encyclical

Archbishop Sotirios

Following the disobedience of Adam and Eve, and their subsequent exile from paradise, humanity was tormented for centuries and millennia, waiting for some help from heaven.

The Old Testament speaks of the coming of the Messiah. The prophet Isaiah says: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.”

The Old Testament is full of prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. The entire world was in fact waiting for a mighty savior from heaven.

Ancient Greek philosophers referred to this on many occasions. Socrates characteristically stated in his Apology: “you would spend the rest of your lives asleep, unless the god sends you someone else in his concern for you.”  Only with divine assistance was it thought that we can break free from our slumber.

Confucius announced that a saint would be sent from heaven, who would know everything and have all authority over heaven and earth.

Egyptians believed that the mother and virgin Isis would give birth to Horus, who was meant to crush the head of the monstrous Typhon.

Hindus prayed for God to send the deity Krishna to save humankind.

The Roman historian Suetonius wrote that “A firm persuasion had long prevailed through all the East, that it was fated for the empire of the world, at that time, to devolve on some who should go forth from Judaea.” 

How remarkable it is that humanity had so planned for the coming of the Messiah. Now the problem becomes: who is the real Messiah? How can we know that He who we call the Messiah is the real Messiah?

Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. He grew up. He taught the truth. He performed many miracles. He was convicted. He was spit on. He was beaten. He was ridiculed. He was saddled with the cross of dishonor. He was crucified. On the cross, he forgave the thief. He assured him that he would be with Him in paradise. He took care of His mother. His beloved disciple John would now be her son. He forgave His crucifiers and the entire world. He bowed His head and surrendered His spirit. He descended victorious into hell. He defeated the very core of death. He rose on the third day.

The Myrrhbearers hurried to anoint the dead body with myrrh, as was the tradition of the Jews. Amazing! The stone was rolled away. An angel clothed in a white robe said to the Myrrhbearers: “He is risen! He is not here.” He is risen from the dead!

This is the seal. This is the proof of the divinity of Jesus. His Resurrection. The Apostle Paul clearly tells us that “if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

My dear Christians, the doors of our churches remain locked this year because of the coronavirus. The priest, the chanter and the sexton continue to conduct all the divine liturgies and Church services on behalf of everyone. All devout Christians pray with their families in front of their icon stand at home. They ascend with their souls to the throne of grace. They look at the risen Christ. They live His Resurrection. They have no doubt that Christ is the only true God.

Many have disputed the Resurrection of Christ. Many have contested it. And they tried many things to call the Resurrection into question! They made films. They wrote disgraceful books. They engaged in terrible propaganda. They first focused their attention on those guarding the tomb of Christ and their superiors. They tried so many things. But they never succeeded in anything. The Resurrection of Christ is a historic event. No one can disprove this truth. Christ is Risen and His enemies from the beginning continue to be embarrassed and humiliated.

Christ is Risen, my blessed Christians. Live His Resurrection. Think about your own resurrection and prepare for it. With a faith which is alive. With repentance. With love for the whole world and by way of works of love. By forgiving even your worst enemy. By asking for forgiveness from everyone.

Christ is Risen! Let us embrace both enemies and friends. The Resurrection of Christ demonstrated that He is the Only True God.

With fatherly love and blessings in the Risen Christ,

ARCHBISHOP SOTIRIOS

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF CANADA

Note: To be read during the Holy Resurrection Service, right before “Come, receive the light.”