Invitation to Renewed Life
The triumphant Resurrection of our Lord–Jesus Christ–the supreme of all divine miracles–invites us to share the victory of justice–truth and love with spiritual joy.
The Glorious Resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christian doctrine–and the crowning of His earthly life. By His Resurrection and triumph over death–the evil–darkness–falsehood and fraudulence are buried forever. Mankind is endowed with spiritual awakening and with the hope of eternal life.
Every year–with renewed faith–greater hope and love–His Resurrection fortifies us with strong will and determination to overcome the crises and dangers we face.
"Christ is risen from the dead–
He conquered death;
By His Resurrection He gave us new life."
The witnesses of Christ’s Resurrection became courageous preachers who–but scoring death–inherited infinite treasures and gifts.
Yes–having seen the empty grave–witnessing the reappearances of Christ and hearing the angels herald the good news–the oil-bearing women–Peter and John and the other disciples–could not be restrained from proclaiming loudly:
"Christ is risen from the dead."
What could scare them after witnessing the defeat of death?
What force could have defeated them–once they had witnessed the triumph of the Resurrection and received the gift of everlasting life?
The once scared and depressed disciples were now bold and courageous–scorned death–defeated the evil–the sin and fraudulence–and transformed the Resurrection–a radiating light and life from the tomb–into the bastion of their mission. Courageously leading a handful of their followers–they not only illuminated the borders of Palestine and the Roman Empire but made the entire universe glitter with the light and faith of the Resurrection.
During the past two millenniums spanning the life of Christianity we–the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church–also became active witnesses to the triumph of justice–truth and love. And–all these based on Resurrection and faith.
From the illustrious disciples to St. Gregory the Illuminator–and all along the past 1700 years–we have lived through the turmoil of our Christian history–in words and in deeds–with faith and life–and even subdued by the scorn of the cross–but we have seen the victory of Resurrection.
Beloved faithful, Every year–the victorious feast of the Resurrection comes as an invitation to us all to reinvigorate our life–to entomb all factors that weaken and disrupt the march of faith–and to accept a new life inspired by the Resurrection that enhances our private–national and religious life.
The Feast of Resurrection is an invitation to us all to praise the victory of justice–truth and love in fulfillment of our mission and service. This will enable us to expel from our life–once and for all–all evil and falsehood and fraud that lead us to death and impair the image of God within us.
And–finally–the Feast of Resurrection is an invitation of joy and justice for us all–because the breath of Resurrection rekindles our life and illuminates our days.
On this festive day of Resurrection–may the risen Christ–with His Might and Glory–guide our people from Armenia to Artsakh and all shores of Diaspora.
May our Lord give us His sanctity–His power and glory and lead us to ultimate triumph. May He crush injustice and enrich the world–and particularly the Armenian people–with the gift of justice.
May His justice and love illuminate the path of the mission of our newly elected President of Armenia–His Excellency–Robert Kocharian as he leads all the Armenian people toward a joyful life and the desired victory.
With affectionate love and inspired by the spirit of Resurrection–we convey our blessings to the Western Prelacy Clergy–Representative Assembly Delegates–our associated–the Religious and Executive Councils–parishes–educational institutions and their devoted staffs–national and public organizations and to all our people. It is our ardent wish to accept together the invitation of Resurrection–and to march with renewed life toward our future as Christians–as Armenia’s and as loyal citizens.
Christ is risen from the dead
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ
Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate–Western Prelacy
Easter 1998