“Let us show a merciful heart towards those in need. Let us raise a thought of prayer for our fellows whose lives are troubled by the war in Ukraine, in the Holy Land and other parts of the world,” Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina urged in his Easter encyclical.

At the same time, His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan recommended: “to persevere in the right faith, shown in prayer and love, in repentance and humility, in participation in the Holy and Divine Liturgy and in partaking of the Holy Mysteries, with our eyes focused on Jesus, the beginner and the fulfiller of faith.”

Where are the joy and the work of the Resurrection?

Observing the evil that surrounds us, the wars and the despair, it is natural to ask where is the victory over death from the Resurrection of the Lord.

“Christ gives us the answer. He Himself is the answer because Christ is God’s answer to the drama of humanity. He is the proof of God’s boundless love for us, humans, in our suffering”.

“The Son of God became human so that, experiencing all the weaknesses and inabilities of our nature, he could raise it from corruption and death and place it where it belonged to from the beginning, in union and likeness with its Creator,” His Eminence noted.

The Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina concluded his pastoral letter by asking God “to enlighten our minds and hearts to choose the most suitable people to lead the country’s destiny: people who fear God, are attached to family values, and love fellow human beings—friends or enemies.”

Photography courtesy of Doxologia / Oana Nechifor