Paschal Letter of His Beatitude IGNATIUS IV, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East
2/4/2010
Easter 2010
Christ is risen.
Christ is risen from the dead. He arose victorious as He trampled down Death and shattered its shackles. His victory was accomplished through love and gentleness, not through the sword. Hence, His victory will be understood only by those who come to Him with love and the gentleness of a lamb. It is through love that Christ will prevail in the world.
This is the Day of our Lord, let us celebrate it with joy. This is the Day of our Victory. This is the Day in which Death, with its terrible power, was trampled upon and humiliated. And the sun has shone with its brilliant light, and all things are transformed by shedding their old and antiquated forms. Today, there is no more reason to grieve because the great enemy has been crushed, and the Kingdom of God has prevailed for all time. The Church today is made ecstatic by the Resurrection of Christ. The angels in heaven and the faithful on earth all proclaim in jubilation “Christ is risen, praise the Lord – Christ is risen. Glory be to Thy Holy Resurrection.” Let all humanity proclaim with us “Indeed, He is risen.” In this spirit, I am pleased to greet you and to share with you the joy of this great feast of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let us with joy celebrate a new beginning.
IGNATIUS IV
Patriarch of Antioch and all the East
