Most Reverend brother-archpastors, reverend fathers, dear brothers and sisters scattered throughout the world, I greet you all with Christ’s love with the Paschal kiss:

CHRIST IS RISEN!

"I wish you all that is bright in these days," writes the Holy Hierarch Theophan the Recluse, "and, for their sake, in all the days to come. The Lord is always sweetness, and joy, and repose! Strive always to be with the Lord, and you will always celebrate the Radiant Pascha."

"Thy Resurrection, O Christ Saviour, the angels hymn in the heavens" – we sing on this night, with trepidation asking that the Lord grant us to glorify Him with a pure heart. Alas, the peoples of this age do not heed this call, struggling in a deadly battle for earthly goods, they do not heed the call of the Divine to arrange life on the foundations of Christ’s teachings and the Holy Gospel. The current conflicts, when people seek temporary goods through enmity, divisions, and cruelty, are distressing, but they should not frighten us today, nor should the conversations about various prophecies concerning the end of the world.

For the Lord says: "Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet…" (Matthew 24:6-7). Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), who passed away 90 years ago in the cradle of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad – in Sremski Karlovci, Yugoslavia, said that the confidence of the ancient Christians in God’s mercy and the ultimate victory of Perfect Good over evil, of Life over death, was so strong that "they seemed not to take their eyes off contemplating His future victory, and therefore imagined this very future as something bright and joyful, when Christ the Savior will wipe away the tears from every human face."

Therefore, after a long and fruitful Lent, may we all not grow weary of kindling within ourselves the gracious gift of the Christian calling, deepening our prayers and bringing our gifts to the feet of Christ the Giver of Life: unashamed faith, sincere love, and unwavering hope, and He will not abandon us! "Cast all your care upon Him; for He careth for you," writes the Apostle Peter (I Peter 5:7). And let us pray for the mighty of this world and for those who lack the Paschal joy and whose inner peace is shaken, that "the beginning of another life eternal" may touch their hearts "on this chosen and holy day… on which we bless Christ unto the ages." Amen.

I beseech your holy prayers, remaining with the Paschal joy of the Risen Christ
and with my kindest and best wishes,

+NICHOLAS
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Pascha 2026