Beloved in Christ archpastors, pastors, monastics and all faithful children of the Belarusian Orthodox Church!
Christ is risen!
The Easter gospel is spreading over the earth again, the temples are filled with people greeting each other with joyful and holy words in great joy: “Christ is Risen”!
Most recently, we spiritually accompanied the Lord to Calvary, mourned together with the Mother of God, the holy apostles and myrrh-bearing wives, horrified by the Savior’s sufferings, placing the Most Pure Body in the tomb with tears. Together with the prophet Isaiah, our heart and our mind bowed in reverent perplexity before the image of the Lord of Glory, who humbled Himself to the death of the godmother:
“He was wounded for our sins and tortured for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him … like a sheep, He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before his shearer is voiceless, so He did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:5,7).
Holy Week was preceded by Great Lent – a time of repentance, prayer and spiritual labors – when, with the help of God, we tried to cleanse ourselves from everything vain and sinful and open our hearts to the grace of God.
And now, on this day, as the Lord has created, we have come to the churches of God to rejoice in it (Ps. 117. 24), and in order, according to St. John Chrysostom, “to enter into the joy of our Lord and enjoy this beautiful and bright celebration” (The catechumenical Word for Holy Easter).
Our Lord Jesus Christ shows us how to experience the joys and trials that come our way, in which to seek solace and draw vitality. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to do his work” (John 4:34), the Son of God teaches. At the same time, He remains in constant prayer and communion with His Heavenly Father.
That is why during Lent we devoted so much attention and effort to prayer, both at home and in church. And everyone who has experienced the experience of sincere and constant prayer is convinced that more we encourage ourselves to it, more, according to the word of the Apostle Paul, we gain spiritual joy: “Always rejoice. Pray unceasingly” (1 Thess. 5,16). And it is important to preserve this arrangement of our heart on all other days of the year.
Moods and contradictions are growing in the world today: it has entered an era of change, and this is increasingly worrying people on earth. But we have great consolation and a strong foundation of our hope. For Christians have a unique opportunity to evaluate everything that is happening from the point of view of eternity and in the light of the great Easter victory that the Son of God and the Son of Man won over evil and death. “Behold, I lay down for the foundation of Zion a stone of much value, chosen, cornerstone, honest, for its foundation, and he who believes in it will not be ashamed” (Isaiah 28:16).
This year we are solemnly celebrating the 1030th anniversary of Orthodoxy on the Belarusian lands. This prompts us to pay special attention to our historical experience. The path traversed by the Orthodox Church was not easy, our ancestors had to go through a lot of trials and difficulties. And it was faith in God that helped our people to survive, bringing up in them such Christian virtues as love for one’s neighbor, meekness, long-suffering and mercy, the ability to understand each other.
Communication with God, the fulfillment of His commandments – this is the guiding star in the difficult modern world. Following it, we will keep our heart open to grace, and our spiritual eyes will clearly see the Providence of God and find the right way in accordance with it. At the same time, we will undoubtedly have a firm hope for the almighty help from the Lord. “But hope does not put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us” (Rom. 5,5).
I congratulate you, dear ones, on the holiday of bright Easter! I prayerfully wish our hearts would be filled with Easter joy and it would sanctify all our thoughts and actions. Let us carry the good news of the Risen Christ to our brothers and sisters, near and far, especially those who are in sorrow and illness, so that everyone can touch the joy that the Lord has given us with His Resurrection.
Christ is risen!
Truly Risen!
+BENJAMIN,
Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl
Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus
Easter of Christ, 2022
Minsk city