His Holiness Patriarch Kirill congratulates heads of foreign states on Easter

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has sent greetings with the Bright Resurrection of Christ to the heads of the foreign countries of the Orthodox tradition: President Rosen Plevneliev of the Republic of Bulgaria, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos of the Republic of Greece, President Nicos Anastasiades of the Republic of Cyprus, President Gjorge Ivanov of the Republic of Macedonia, President Klaus Iohannis of Romania, and President Tomislav Nikolić of the Republic of Serbia. The text of the message is given below.

I wholeheartedly greet you with the great feast of Easter!

Today all believers feel emotions and awe in their hearts before the victory of the Son of God over death and evil. The Lord ‘hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:3-4).

On these radiant days we do hope that the Risen Christ will heal disorders, conflicts and divisions in the modern world, and Christians are called to be His co-workers.

I wish you spiritual and physical fortitude, help from the Risen Saviour and the blessed success in your responsible ministry, and I wish peace and prosperity to the people of your country.

Christ is risen!

Respectfully,

+KIRILL

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia