The Feast of the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
April 4, 2010

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, to which you were also called.”
1 Timothy 6:12

Our dear and pious faithful,
The feast of Christ’s holy and glorious resurrection has once again brought joy
and happiness to our hearts, and exultation to all Christians, who have been
called to eternal life by the Lord’s salvation. Today our souls are alight in
hope as we praise and glorify the Risen Lord and accept the good news of the
victory of life and the salvation of man.
The triumph of life over death became possible through the love that God has
for humanity; through the passion, crucifixion and resurrection of the Son of
God – the Savior of mankind. During Pilate’s unjust trial, the mob preferred
the outlaw Barabbas over Christ, condemning the Son of God to be crucified.
The sinful was chosen over the sinless; the evildoer over the righteous,
“because their deeds were evil, for everyone practicing evil hates the light.”
John 3:19-20. Near the cross, the believers and followers of Christ were
wailing, while many were mocking Him, saying “if you are the Son of God,
come down from the cross… and we will believe.” Matthew 27:40-42. Our
benevolent Lord, Who came from the bosom of the heavenly Father into the
world, became man and mortal, did not come down from the cross. Instead,
he rose from the grave to renew the nature of man and bestow the grace of
eternal life. Thus the doors to eternity are open and we are called to be the
inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, to enjoy the blessings and joy of God’s
constant presence. Let us fearlessly approach Him Who is the Lord of life,
merciful and full of love. He can renew the world heavy laden with sins with
a single word; by seeing remorse and the desire and effort to change in the
souls of men. He knows the hearts of men and their thoughts; He knows the
aims of all deeds and will grant each according to his faith and hope in God.
It is with this confidence that the apostle who has seen the Risen Savior
exhorts us to lay hold with Jesus Christ on the hope for eternal life, and to
steadfastly and unyieldingly fight the good fight of faith.
Dearly pious faithful, in accordance with the words of the Gospel, life in this
world is a spiritual war for us faithful, and at every turn, in every thought or
word, it is necessary to choose the true and the good, to be found righteous
before one another and before God, so that divinely-given love always shines
throughout life. There is no alternative in the good fight of faith, there is no
compromise, since it is a war against satan – the one who desires the downfall
and death of men. It appeared that satan was victorious, when Christ was
crucified and placed in the tomb. However, through the Lord’s glorious and
ineffable resurrection, evil and its