Priest Andrii Kudriavtsev

Easter Message 2021

Christ is Risen!

Can one find more wonderful and glorious words, with more love and gratitude to God, then Easter greetings? These words show the long way of the righteous and the sinners in the Old Testament. Only the hope for God's mercy illumined this sorrowful way. Now our Lord carries out his promise to forefathers: Eve's seed defeats the devil. Jesus Christ trampled death by death. The righteousness shone because it was revealed that this is the way to Christ the Savior. Sin was shamed because the devil lost power over humans.

Like those born into baptism, we bear a new name: a Christian. For us, covered in Christ's glory, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28), since we are all one in Jesus Christ; and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain (1Cor 15:14).

All our life is thanksgiving to God that He made us, who are so different, and not always faithful to his commandments, participants of his Easter victory. Today, this Easter night, we particularly feel victorious. This is not because we showed any special valor or vigor in spiritual fight. Rather, God's love made us sons and daughters to the Creator of heaven and earth in Jesus Christ.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

St Nicholas, Serbian Patriarch, says:

Twice the earth was shaken by God's love: First, when He died in pain on the Cross, to atone the mankind from sin and death. Second, when He resurrected in shining glory, and liberated the prisoners from Hades. The transfiguration of human hearts, kindled by the flames of His love, continued first through the Holy Apostles and Myrrh-Bearing Women, then in all His followers, through all ages and across all lands.

Today we glorify the Risen Christ and pray that the fire of His Love never leaves us, continuing to transgifure our hearts.

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins (1Cor 15:13-17).

Truly, Christ is Risen!

With love in Christ, archpr. Andrii Kudriavtsev.

Easter, April 19, 2021