Greetings

  With these words almost all the Evangelists begin describing the event that completely transformed the world – the Resurrection of Christ.

  It was obvious that there would be problems – first for the Myrrh-bearers, how would they perform that sacred act of anointment, how would the stone be removed from the grave – and later, for all ages of those who do not believe, how to prove that this was an invention of Christ’s followers. Many would have been mislead by deceit had not the words of Christ come true: And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; They will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover…(Mk. 16, 17) So now the question is asked, why can we not perform some of these things? The answer is clear, and again Christ gives it to us: Because of your unbelief. Therefore, this is because of our weak faith and weak zeal with which we bear witness to our faith. Christ reminds us: If you have faith…According to your faith let it be to you. Only believe, all things are possible to him who believes.(Mk. 9, 23) For us who believe similar examples of miracles are known to us: healings, liberations, and even resurrections from the dead which people, with faith, performed and have performed. How else can we explain the phenomenon of dry bones (relics) of saints, which exude healing myrrh, or which give healing? Brethren, Christ has conquered the world, and this, brethren, is our victory. With this faith, first the Emperor Constantine, when he had highlighted the cross as the symbol of his victory, and later all the rest of the soldiers and military leaders, who with faith in God went in to battle and safely returned. These battles were only victorious if they were for truth and justice and for the common good, which is reflected in spiritual preparation: in the Kosovo Supper as the symbol of communion, in fasting, and in the oaths of humanness and heroism, which was understood to mean to do unto others as you would have the do unto you. We celebrate the death of death, the destruction of hell, the beginning of another eternal life. And leaping for joy, we hymn the Cause, the only blessed and most glorious God of our fathers (from the Paschal Canon). Christ’s Church is a suffering Church and the Lord Christ says: If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. Therefore, do not then ask whence and why the suffering of our People. It is only because of the Orthodox Faith of Christ and St. Sava to which we have pledged ourselves and because of the legacy Lazar and Karadjordje and because of this we are a skeleton to the world which seeks the earthly kingdom rather than the Kingdom of God. I will conclude my sermon with the words of Christ: "Keep the commandments of God always, so that God would be with you all the days of your life". Amen.

Christ is risen!

Yours, Georgije, Bishop of Canada