To His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, KIRILL
Your Holiness Vladyko!
CHRIST IS RISEN!
It is with Paschal rejoicing that I greet you on this salvific triumph of the Pascha of Christ, a time of praise and of prayers sung!
Congratulating you on the Bright Resurrection of Christ, we, the devoted archpastors, pastors and children of the Russian Church in the diaspora, like grains of wheat from God spread across the face of the world, gazing upon the spiritual labors of the Church in the Fatherland, merge with her in prayerful joy of the Three-Day Resurrection of God, the Lover of Mankind, assuring you of our striving benevolent cooperation and collaboration in the great task of serving Christ the Life-Giver and the eternal salvation of the People of God. Heeding the call of our predecessors in defending the truth, we preserve our faith and our truth in the difficult circumstances of living abroad against our spiritual foes, against hatred, enmity and envy. Christ is peace and love, and only through Him is resurrection available to us, only in Him is our salvation, only with love can man conquer death and rend asunder the chains of evil coiled around the world. And on this day, when the great hymn of Christianity resounds with special bliss and ceremony, heralding the victory of Good over evil, of Life over death, we are granted indescribable consolation and the omnipotent aid of God in our service.
On this holiday, we pray to God that He make of your Patriarchal heart the Life-Bearing Sepulcher from which will proceed spiritual strength for the peoples of our historic Homeland in all the paths of life and works of our dear Mother, the Russian Orthodox Church! May this celebration implant in the hearts of the children of the Church entrusted to you boldness and strength, and to those who carry out their service in the distant diaspora, peace and love!
Truly is Christ God, our Chief Pastor, risen!
With Paschal joy in the Risen Christ and with a plea for your holy prayers,
+HILARION,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
Pascha of the Lord 2014.
