MThA Rector Bishop Kirill Issues Paschal Message 

Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Abbot of the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra, addressed the academic community, the brethren of the monastery, the God-loving pastors, the venerable monastics, and all the faithful with a Paschal message.

"Let us rise at early dawn, and instead of myrrh, bring a song of praise to the Master;
and we shall see Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, Who causes life to dawn for all".
(Irmos of the 5th Ode of the Paschal Canon)

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ!

Today, the entire Orthodox world celebrates the most joyful event for every Christian - the Bright Resurrection of Christ, the Feast of Feasts, the Triumph of Triumphs, the victory of life over death. We rejoice in the risen Christ the Savior and exult, exclaiming:

Christ Is Risen!

Pascha of Christ marks the transition from a state of spiritual slavery to freedom, from death and corruption to eternal life with God, from feelings of loss and uselessness to a living unity with our Creator and Redeemer.

"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint". (Ps. 22:14), - says the Psalmist, prophetically conveying the pain and suffering of the Savior, which He endured on the Cross for the remission of the sins of mankind, so that we might receive the gift of eternal all-blessed life.

«Я пролился, как вода, все кости мои рассыпались» (Пс. 21:15), — говорит псалмопевец, пророчески передавая боль и мучения Спасителя, которые Он претерпел на Кресте во оставление грехов человечества, чтобы мы получили дар вечной всеблагой жизни.

"He, like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep before its shearers, redeemed us from service to the world, as if from the land of Egypt, and delivered us from slavery to the devil, as if from the hand of Pharaoh, and sealed our souls with His Spirit, and the members of our bodies with His blood". (On Pascha, St. Melito of Sardis).

This means that to every person striving for salvation, to every believer following Christ, the opportunity is granted to gain victory over sin and become, in the words of the Apostle and Evangelist John, a "child of God". (1 John 3:1).

The awareness of this all-conquering love of God moves us to gratitude to the Creator and gives us the strength to overcome the most difficult mental and physical states and challenging life circumstances. It raises us above the vanity of the everyday world, helps us correct past mistakes, and destroys the despondency that prevents us from living fully and developing spiritually, being enlightened and sanctified by the light of God's grace.

"Our Paschal joy is the joy of the transformation of our entire life into an incorruptible life, in our striving for undying good, for incorruptible beauty", - said Archimandrite John (Krestyankin).

Dear brothers and sisters, I cordially congratulate you all on the feast of the Bright Resurrection of Christ! I wish each of you that the Light of Paschal grace of God enlightens you throughout all the days of your life and directs you to eternal life in the Kingdom of God through active participation in the sacraments of Christ's Church.

I prayerfully invoke God's gracious help for all of you and sincerely ask that the Lord God multiply in you the spiritual fruits of the Holy Spirit and make "you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ". (Heb. 13:21).

The grace of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!

Christ Is Risen! Truly He Is Risen!

KIRILL,
Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov
Pascha of the Lord
April 12, 2026