My dear fathers and brothers, children in Christ,

''Your Resurrection, O Christ, our Savior, the Angels in heaven praise with hymns''.

All of us in a few minutes, we will chant the most triumphant hymn ever heard by the humanity, the victorious hymn of the glorious Christ's Resurrection.

Who can comprehend and appreciate the importance of such an event? Who can say a word of gratitude worthy of the eternal divine condescension? How are we going to transcend Resurrection as a historical event and experience it as our personal benefaction and salvation?

Before responding to these questions, let me remind you something we forget such a festive moment: Christ's Resurrection is not an event of ineffable joy just due to the defeat over death, but also because it strengthens man's powers to combat the wiles of the devil. Before Resurrection, man was the devil's captive, confined and exhausted like a prisoner with few chances of escaping.

But today, the Lord of this world once more sees the walls crumbling and his power smashed. The light of Resurrection may be a source of unspeakable pain for him, but it constitutes a source of memory, hope and fight for us. Yes my brothers! Today, the chink of light in our lives makes us nostalgic for a different life without pain, irrationality and death. Today this perspective revives our old dreams and shows the gap dividing the real destination from the vain hopes this world offers us.

Let us not forget, that Resurrection is a reminder of our personal Resurrection since the time we were baptized. Then we were dressed in white, indicating the beginning of a new life of light. But on the same day the priest anointed us with oil, like the gladiators used to fight at that time. This night,tonight's  Resurrection calls us to fight against an experienced and furious opponent. Yet, man resists being fully armed and is heading for the way back to his lost homeland. This is why Saint John Chrysostom in his word about Resurrection warns us: ''The larger the grant, the bigger the war. Satan saw one man in the paradise and couldn't stand him. So, how will he be able to stand so many in Heaven? tell me''.

The wiles of the devil are a lot: In times of rest and prosperity we are deprived of our spiritual fervor through the abundance of this world's vain and bitter gifts. While in times of turmoil and unexpected and shocking events like the ones we are going through, temptation dominates making us desperate.                

Thus, this year's Easter message is about our revamp in the light of joy, hope and bravery. The Paschal light reveals us the life for which we were created.  A life of light, love and immortality. A life without the constant fear of collapse, disease and death. A life of certainty that nothing can resist divine power, emanating  from the empty tomb.

Today the light of candles we are holding dispels Ade darkness and gives hope to us and the whole world. Today we relearn that a different and a better life is possible. However, such a life cannot come peacefully and automatically. It will be based on our daily victories, against spirit and world's mentality.

Through our Savior's Resurrection we get a powerful light. But it can become more powerful, through our personal struggle, our intellectual life, the imitation of our risen Christ. Today we proclaim ''Christ is Risen'', but this can become louder through our deeds and our example.

People are expecting Resurrection. Let's proclaim it and become witnesses of Resurrection through our life.

With warm Easter wishes and love from Risen Christ,

YOUR METROPOLITAN

† IGNATIUS OF DEMETRIAS