“Let us follow the faith of these heroes of the faith in Christ the Lord,” Bishop Mihail said in his Easter pastoral message addressed to Romanian Orthodox believers in Australia and New Zealand.
His Grace stressed that the Resurrection of the Lord stands at the centre of Christian faith and represents the fulfilment of the spiritual life of believers. “We celebrate the Resurrection, which is the greatest and most important feast of Christians,” he said.
The Bishop of Australia and New Zealand highlighted the importance of spiritual preparation during Great Lent.
“Preparation for the great day of the Lord’s Resurrection is not only ascetic in nature, but calls us to the practice of good deeds and virtues, as an expression of love for God and following Christ.”
“By cleansing ourselves of selfish passions, evil thoughts, greed and deceit, slander, judging our neighbour, intrigues and sinful deeds, we seek to fulfil the law of Christ,” he added.
From sin to virtue
Bishop Mihail noted that the Christian life is a continual passage from sin to virtue, in accordance with apostolic teaching: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:5–6).
“Because He accepted death, let us also die to sin, so that we may live for righteousness,” he urged.
Example of the holy women
The bishop also referred to the commemorative year dedicated to the holy women of the Church—Myrrh-bearing Women, martyrs, monastics, wives and mothers—highlighting especially the example of the Mother of God.
“We have the example of the Myrrh-bearing Women, but above all we have the example of the Mother of God, who intercedes at the throne of the Most Holy Trinity,” he said.
Witnessing Christ
At the conclusion of his message, Bishop Mihail conveyed a blessing and a message of hope to all the faithful.
“May the grace, joy and light of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ be abundantly poured into your families and into all hearts, so that we may confess Christ risen from the dead with the same courage and love shown by the Myrrh-bearing Women, the holy apostles, the martyrs and the holy Romanian women throughout our history.”
Romanians in Australia and New Zealand are among the first to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord each year. The full text of the Easter pastoral message is available on the diocese’s official website.
Photo: Basilica.ro Files / Mircea Florescu
