LET US TURN THE GAZE OF OUR SOULS TO THE RISEN CHRIST

"For now, it is the moment for you to wake from sleep." (Romans 13:11)

The morning of Easter Sunday is the dawn of our new life. Through the glorious mystery of Christ’s Resurrection, our lives are renewed with the birth of a living hope leading us to eternity. The profound mystery of Christ’s Resurrection cannot be confined to mere words, for in it, we find the spiritual strength that transforms and renews the depths of our souls. It is an inexplicable inner joy, a divine radiance that illuminates our being. This is why the Apostle Paul proclaims with fervor and faith: "For to me, to live is Christ." (Philippians 1:21)

With a resounding voice, the Church proclaims: "Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!" This is the moment when, united in faith, the body of believers becomes the Church, lifting up their voices in glory and praise to His holy name.

How fitting it is to recall the Apostle’s words as we walk in faith toward the mystery of the Resurrection: "For now, it is the moment for you to wake from sleep."

Indeed, in Christ’s Resurrection, the faithful awaken to new life. This is why we observe the forty-day period of fasting, prayer, spiritual reflection, and preparation, so that with open hearts, we may journey toward confession, holiness, and self-discovery. It is only through this path that the consciousness and living experience of the Resurrection take root within our spiritual essence.

As Christians, especially in these times, we are called to re-evaluate our lives. Knowledge and science undoubtedly bring enlightenment, but they cannot lead us to perfection. Only God is perfect, and the Resurrection of the Son of God opens before us the door to that path of perfection.

"Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!"

This proclamation, uttered from our lips, is the confession of our unshakable faith, deeply rooted within our souls. Each time we proclaim the good news of the Resurrection, it illuminates our spiritual life, for in doing so, we cast off the burden of sin, cleansing our hearts and awakening within us the new man in Christ. This is the moment when true renewal takes place, as the divine presence of God moves within us, transforming our very being.

"For now, it is the moment for you to wake from sleep."

The Apostle’s words encompass the full essence of Christ’s Resurrection, calling us to dispel the darkness within and to become living vessels of love, radiating its light to all. This is the command placed upon us - to ensure that only words of goodness flow from our lips and that our hearts become the guiding force of the Gospel’s wisdom.

The dawn of Resurrection is a divine invitation to renew the Christian spirit within us - to walk in love and respect toward one another, embracing forgiveness and humility in our interactions.

Our Christian life must be one of constant faith, unwavering prayer, and tireless spiritual devotion. As children of our nation, we are called to be the living Church, with Christ the Son of God at its head, for His Resurrection is the very foundation of our faith and service. Wherever we are, love must reign over every aspect of our spiritual journey.

The mystery of Christ’s Resurrection becomes tangible and visible when we are helpful to one another, when we live with awareness of the truth, and when we come together in unity and harmony to build up both the Church and our Homeland, setting aside our differences and humbling ourselves before the sacred traditions that define our very existence.

No matter how far we may be from our Homeland physically, our faith remains anchored in Holy Etchmiadzin and Motherland Armenia, united as one body and one bridge to God. Wherever we find ourselves, we must uphold our civic duties, live exemplary lives, and share with our neighbors the spiritual legacy entrusted to us by our ancestors.

"Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!"

Let us turn the gaze of our souls to the Risen Christ, so that, guided by His victory over death, we may usher in a new dawn in our lives.

We build this new dawn when we fill the souls of our children with love for God and the spirit of prayer. We build this new dawn when we bind the hearts of our youth to our Homeland, inspiring in them the vision of a greater truth - the Armenian Christian family, a living symbol and reflection of Holy Etchmiadzin and Mother Armenia.

Finally, we build this new dawn when we stand together in prayer, offering a fragrant incense of faith, in which we behold the splendor of Christ’s glorious Resurrection.

"Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ!"

Prayerfully,

Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate

Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America

Easter, 2025