"Christ is Risen"/ Archbishop Anastas Janullatos gives his message for Easter

2024-05-03 16:21:00, Aktualitet CNA

"Christ is Risen"/ Archbishop Anastas Janullatos gives his message for

The Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, His Beatitude Anastas Janullatos has given his message on the eve of Easter, bringing to attention the painful events caused by the war in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Haiti, as well as in other countries of the world.

Archbishop Anastas emphasizes that this period brings us closer to the suffering and resurrecting Christ.

His Beatitude, Anastas Janullatos in his message underlined that two truths light the way to a closer relationship with what he suffered and resurrected.

Accepting to share in His sufferings and to be like Him in His death. Archbishop Janullatos says that the Resurrection is not something that comes by itself, that comes after the Cross, but is found within the Cross, within suffering and when we accept it as Christ accepted it.

And conversely, experiencing the Resurrection always requires as a precondition that we become like the crucified and risen Christ.

This participation in His Teachings and Resurrection strengthens the endurance of believers, so that they do not fall prey to depression and despair.

Message of the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania

Overcoming Grief With The Power Of Resurrection

"To know him and the power of His Resurrection"

The rousing hymn: "Christ rose from the dead, trampled death with death...", still resonates soothingly and comfortingly in the midst of the darkness of melancholy, caused by the painful events in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti and in other countries of the world. , even here, in our environment, which is often tormented by boredom, divisions, hostilities, serious diseases, crises of various kinds. The Christian faith empowers us with complete assurance. We know that we are fragile, that we keep "this treasure (of faith) in an earthen vessel" (2 Cor. 4:7-8), but this happens "so that this exceedingly great power comes to light" from God, not from us."

The Easter period, in a special way and through a personal experience, invites us to draw closer to Christ, who suffers and rises: "That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection, share in his sufferings and become like unto him in his death" (Phil. 3:10). Two truths light the way to a closer relationship with Him who suffered and rose: Acceptance to share in His sufferings and to be like Him in His death. We have emphasized once again that the Resurrection is not something that comes by itself, that comes after the Cross, but is found within the Cross, within the suffering, when we accept it as Christ accepted it. And conversely, experiencing the Resurrection always requires as a precondition that we become like the crucified and risen Christ.

This participation in His Teachings and Resurrection strengthens our resilience so that depression and despair do not consume us. The fundamental triumphant hymn, which resonates strongly within us - "Christ rose from the dead, with death he trampled death..." - is the main declaration of the Orthodox Christian faith and summarizes the deepest meaning of the Incarnation of the Son and the Word of God. This double experience, of the Cross and the Resurrection, is experienced by the martyrs of our Church throughout the centuries. Let us also "walk with patience in the battle that awaits us, contemplating Jesus, who is the head of our faith and the one who makes it perfect" (Heb. 12: 1-2).

As we gratefully praise the Triadic God during the Paschal season, let us increase our effort so that we may experience this conviction and bring comfort to our surroundings with compassion.

Christ is Risen, my brothers!

Blessed Easter, with health, patience and crusader mentality!/ CNA