Paschal Encyclical 2022
Diocese of Pallini and Western Europe
How life-giving, how much more beautiful than Paradise, and truly more resplendent than any royal palace was Thy tomb shown to be, O Christ, the source of our resurrection. (Paschal hours)
Beloved in Christ Resurrected from the dead,
Unfortunately, we live in a time that is marked by New Age slogans. These slogans, for the most part, seek to divert us away from the “narrow and sorrowful” way that Christ says leads to salvation (Matthew 7:14).
One of these slogans prompts people to return to the source. This conception in the hands of the New World Order leads people to pantheism and that all things compose a “god”.
We also must return to our source. Returning to our source, we True Orthodox Christians must understand to be the source of our own resurrection. For “if Christ is not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). Our Faith, and our faith in our own resurrection, has its source in the most powerful event in all of history – the All-holy Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is from the life-bearing Tomb that our resurrection became sure. If it wasn’t from the Life that sprang forth from the Tomb, there would be no point of walking that narrow way. There would be no hope.
We have been delivered from everlasting corruption! And this was the message from the tomb delivered by angels themselves. Christ came out of this Tomb as a bridegroom from the bridal chamber. This life-bearing Tomb announced that death has been conquered. The empty Tomb showed the Apostles Peter and John that death was no more. The mysteries of salvation have been performed within the Most Holy Sepulchre and we reap today salvation. The very soil that was polluted by Cain shedding the blood of his brother Abel has been made holy by the Mystery of Mysteries.
Rejoice today in the remembrance of this Royal Palace, the Tomb from which life and resurrection were given to all of us!
Begging Christ Who came forth from the Tomb as from a bridal chamber for all of you,
Philaretos, Bishop of Pallini and Western Europe
