Patriarch of Romania: “Christ’s Resurrection is the sign of the victory of His humble love over sin”

Source: Basilica News Agency

May 1, 2016

    

The Resurrection of Christ is the sign of the victory of His humble love over sin, over the egotistical way of life. Christ’s love is stronger than death, meaning that He did not answer wickedness with wickedness, violence with violence. He did not answer sinfulness with sin, but He conquered sin by holiness and prayed even for those who crucified Him. This crucified love becomes victorious by the Resurrection, and that is why Christ’s Resurrection shows us that every deed done in this world out of love for God and for our fellow man never perishes, said His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, during the midnight Resurrection service officiated at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.

Thousands of believers present on the Hill of Joy (Hill of the Patriarchate) received the Holy Fire brought from Jerusalem. The Resurrection Service was presided by the Head of the Romanian Orthodox Church. His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, served together with the Patriarch.

His Excellency the President of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, together with his wife, Carmen Iohannis, participated in the Resurrection service at the Patriarchal Cathedral.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HEAVEN AND OF A NEW EARTH

The Feast of the Resurrection of the Lord represents the light or the ultimate sense of human life, the Romanian Patriarch stressed:

Light was the first element in the created universe. The Light, created on the first day (of creation), is a garment or a symbol of another light – the Uncreated Light. In other words, Light is the memory of the universe, as a transition from nothingness to being, from nonexistence to existence. At the same time, the final goal of the universe is the new heaven and the new earth or the transfiguration of heaven and earth in the Uncreated Light. That is why, on Pascha night we chant: Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem. The Resurrection of the Lord is the beginning of a new heaven and of a new earth, where there shall be no death, nor corruption, decomposition or degradation of human nature,

the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church noted.

    

CHRIST WAS NOT RISEN FOR HIS OWN SAKE, BUT IN ORDER TO RAISE MAN FROM DEATH, FROM ETERNAL SOLITUDE

His Beatitude urged the faithful to fight against sin, as our Saviour Jesus Christ did:

Passover or Pascha means that Christ has conquered sin, Hades and death, and granted us holiness instead of sin, as a way of being. By the descent of Christ’s soul joined to His divinity He has conquered hades, understood as an absolute solitude, bringing His eternal love amidst isolation or solitude, and establishing communion between those who had expected the Saviour. That is why, in Orthodoxy, Resurrection starts from Hades, where Christ preaches Resurrection to those who had been dwelling in the realm of the dead since the beginning of the world, since the fall of our forefathers, Adam and Eve. Christ was not risen for His own sake, but in order to raise man from death, from eternal solitude, and to bring him into the communion, the joy and the glory of the Kingdom of God,

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said.

THE MYSTERY OF SALVATION IS THE MYSTERY OF FREEDOM AND LOVE

The universal resurrection is accompanied by the evaluation of our deeds committed in history. Provided we loved God and our neighbours, we will enjoy the presence of God, Who is love. If we rejected God, and refused His love, He respects our freedom to be eternally separated from Him. Because He does not force us to love Him if we do not want to. The entire mystery of salvation is the mystery of freedom and love. If we freely love God, we will feel the joy of communion, of eternal life with God. This is the mystery of love, which is stronger than sin, Hades and death. This is the actual spiritual content of Pascha,

His Beatitude Romanian Patriarch Daniel noted.

To conclude with, His Beatitude urged the faithful not to forget the poor, the ill, the suffering, the bereaved and the saddened.

After the homily, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom at the Patriarchal Cathedral.

See also
1st ever 360 video from Moscow main cathedral shows grandeur of Orthodox Easter service 1st ever 360 video from Moscow main cathedral shows grandeur of Orthodox Easter service 1st ever 360 video from Moscow main cathedral shows grandeur of Orthodox Easter service 1st ever 360 video from Moscow main cathedral shows grandeur of Orthodox Easter service
As Orthodox Christians across the world celebrated Easter on May 1, RT got an exclusive chance to film the grand midnight service at Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in the first ever 360-video from the biggest church in Russia.
A Contemporary Confessor and Martyr for Christ: Valeriu Gafencu A Contemporary Confessor and Martyr for Christ: Valeriu Gafencu
Commemorated February 5/18
A Contemporary Confessor and Martyr for Christ: Valeriu Gafencu A Contemporary Confessor and Martyr for Christ: Valeriu Gafencu
Commemorated February 5/18
Among the many portraits of the confessors, one will be found in particular that is recalled with reverence by all and is considered a saint: Valeriu Gafencu. Nicknamed “the saint of the prisons” by Father Nicolae Steinhardt in a truly inspired moment, Valeriu Gafencu was one of the more impressive figures who lived an admirable spiritual life amidst prison conditions.
"Christ Our Savior Alleviates the Sorrow and Sadness of the Mourning"
Patriarch Daniel of Romania
"Christ Our Savior Alleviates the Sorrow and Sadness of the Mourning"
Commentary on the Raising of the Widow's Son (Luke 7:11-16)
Patriarch Daniel of Romania
“Therefore, we learn from the attitude of Jesus Christ that we ought to be near to all mourning people who cry for their lost ones,” the Patriarch of Romania said underlining that “we show, through our presence near to the grieving that the merciful love of Christ our Savior works through us.”
Comments
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×