His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church urged believers to show the joy of Christ’s Resurrection and to pray for peace in the world, in his pastoral message for Holy Pascha 2026, the most important feast of the Christian calendar.
In his video message, the Patriarch of Romania emphasised that the Resurrection of Christ represents the ultimate victory of life over death and the foundation of hope for the resurrection of all humanity. He described Easter as a celebration of joy, peace, forgiveness and communion, calling on the faithful to embody these values in family life, society and relations between nations.
Patriarch Daniel also encouraged acts of compassion and solidarity, urging believers to support the poor and the lonely, to pray for those who suffer, and to remember Romanians living abroad. He placed particular emphasis on the need for peace and mutual understanding among people in a world marked by tension and division.
Please find below the full text of Patriarch Daniel’s Message for Holy Pascha 2026.
Let us show the joy of the Resurrection and pray for peace in the world!
The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, or Holy Pascha, is the greatest feast of the Church, because Christ’s Resurrection is the beginning, or the pledge, of the resurrection of all people, as the definitive victory of life over death. Therefore, the Orthodox Creed concludes with this confession: “I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come.”
The Resurrection of Christ is not a return to earthly human life, marked by suffering and the fear of death, but the entry of man into another life—the eternal heavenly life. For this reason, on the night of Pascha, the Orthodox Church proclaims: “We celebrate the death of death, the destruction of hell, the beginning of eternal life.”
The first words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ on the morning of His Resurrection from the dead were addressed to the Myrrh-bearing Women: “Rejoice! Do not be afraid!” And, on the evening of His Resurrection, He addressed His disciples, saying: “Peace be unto you!”
Therefore, Holy Pascha is the feast of joy and peace, of forgiveness and communion—in the family, in the community, in the nation, and throughout the whole world.
The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to show joy and peace, fraternal love and good deeds, around us—in the family and in society. Let us help the poor and the lonely, pray for those who suffer, and also for Romanians living abroad. In particular, let us pray for peace and understanding among peoples!
On the occasion of Holy Pascha, we extend to all of you our warm wishes of peace and joy, health and happiness, together with the Paschal greeting: Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!
† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo: Lumina Newspaper
