His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia sends Easter greetings to heads of non-Orthodox Churches

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia sent Easter greetings to heads of non-Orthodox Churches.

The Patriarchal message was sent to Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Archbishop Jukka Paarma of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Bishop Wolfgang Huber, President of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany and leaders of other Churches and Christian communities.

Below is the text of the message.

Christ Is Risen !

Rejoicing and celebrating the victory of life over death, we cry out today together with St. John Chrysostom: “Christ is risen, and hell is overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave!”

Congratulating you on the feast of the Resurrection of Christ, I would like to express the wish that the Lord, Who ‘was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father’ (Rom. 6:4), may fill your heart with peace, love and Easter joy.

May the Risen Lord Jesus Christ preserve and strengthen you for many years,

With love in Risen Christ,

+Alexy
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia