Peace to you dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are glad to greet you with Easter Greetings: Christ is risen!
May we bring to your attention the Easter message of our Bishop Vsevolod, that was read today in all parishes of SELC during Easter liturgies.
Of course, this Easter is unusual, and because of the epidemic, many parishioners did not come to church, but remained in their homes. But the churches are open, and we are complying with sanitary requirements, doing everything possible for the safety of people.
Brothers and sisters, at this time many of us live as apostles on the first Easter day: in our houses, “the doors … are locked for the fear” [John 20:19] of the epidemic. But even if now our heads are full with thoughts of maintaining physical health, the Church at this time also recalls the importance of spiritual health. After all, not only temporary health, but the eternal life is given to us by a God Who has died for us and has risen, for Whom no doors can be an obstacle, like a large stone, “rolled to the door of the tomb” [Matt. 27:60] was not able to hold on to Him.
As a victor over the deadliest infection of sin and death, the Lord comes to us and gives us the best medicine in the world – the Eucharist. You have the opportunity to take the Holy Communion this Easter Sunday, or current circumstances and restrictions keep you from this for the time being, please remember that in the church every service with the Holy Communion is a “little Easter.” And this is the main joy of Easter: Christ has risen to be with us and not to leave us, therefore He is always waiting for us at the altar.
Happy Easter, my beloved parishioners! Christ is risen! Христос воскрес!
And we wish you blessed Easter!
“Faith and hope,”
Siberia, Center of the world 🙂