EASTER EPISTLE OF THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH<\/p>\n
THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH TO HER SPIRITUAL CHILDREN AT PASCHA 2026<\/p>\n
PORFIRIJE
\nOrthodox Archbishop of Pe\u0107, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, together with all the hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church \u2013 to the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyful Paschal greeting:<\/p>\n
CHRIST IS RISEN!<\/p>\n
The Word of God, the Gospel of Christ, the spiritual treasury of the Church of God\u2014out of which, by the right hand of the Lord, seeds of eternal life are sown into our hearts\u2014is filled with truths hidden in God. These are not abstract ideas, but words that are fulfilled in our lives. Among them are also the words by which the Lord warns us of times when peace will be taken from the earth (Rev. 6:3\u20134), when we shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, for nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom (Matt. 24:6\u20137; Luke 21:9\u201310).<\/p>\n
These words, which to many generations of our forefathers sounded as a warning of times to come, are today the reality in which we live. We see unrest among nations, we hear of wars, and we witness wars, suffering, and uncertainty in the world. While the skies are torn by the trails of deadly rockets, and in the ears of troubled humanity resound the sirens announcing destruction and suffering, from the depths of Christ\u2019s empty tomb is heard the voice of the angel, the witness of the Resurrection, who says to the myrrh-bearing women\u2014and through them to all of us and to every human being: \u201cDo not be afraid!\u201d (Matt. 28:5). Fear is dispelled not only by the angel, but above all by Him Who abolished the fear of death, which is the essential cause of all fear. Having trampled down death by death, the Risen God-man Christ also addresses us with the words: \u201cDo not be afraid!\u201d (Matt. 28:10). Thus encouraged, we know that the frightening events of our days are not the final word of history, but a call to vigilance and steadfastness in God.<\/p>\n
What do the signs of the times tell us today? Although Christ\u2019s empty tomb has conquered the power of every grave and shown that no grave has the final word, in history and in our reality there still exist living tombs filled with hatred, selfishness, passions, and self-love. We recognize them in darkened human hearts, in boundless selfishness, in media that spread falsehood, in wars, and in all our passions and sins against the love of God. These tombs, despite Christ\u2019s Resurrection, constantly distort and defile life itself as the priceless gift of God\u2019s love.<\/p>\n
One of the most disturbing examples of such reality is the fact that the consequences of today\u2019s global crisis are, sadly, measured by cold economic indicators\u2014the standards of earthly merchants (cf. Rev. 18:3)\u2014financial losses, disruptions, and declines in markets and exchanges, while in the deep shadow of such calculations remain human tragedies: the death of the innocent, the suffering of children, and the misery of millions. Such a perspective, in which material gain is placed above human life, has not only led to wars and injustices\u2014it is also strengthened by them. This is a great defeat for us as human beings.<\/p>\n
The world in which we live is increasingly unstable, and man increasingly fearful. Systems of values are being systematically and forcibly altered in the direction of anti-values. Promises and agreements solemnly signed are brutally broken. The knowledge of such betrayals incites violence and ever greater divisions among nations, while political and cultural divides deepen. Upon the ruins of dying civilizations flourish spiritual uncertainty and loss of meaning.<\/p>\n
Why, in all this darkness, is the Risen Lord not recognized? The answer is already given in the Gospel itself. Even His own disciples and immediate followers did not immediately recognize the Risen God-man Christ. Mary Magdalene saw Him by the empty tomb, not knowing that it was the Lord Jesus Christ (John 20:14). She recognized Him only when He called her by name: \u201cMary!\u201d (John 20:16). Likewise, the apostles Luke and Cleopas did not recognize the Lord (Luke 24:16) on the road to Emmaus, but only \u201cin the breaking of the bread\u201d (Luke 24:35), when the Lord communed them.<\/p>\n
The apostles did not recognize Him even when He stood on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias observing their unsuccessful fishing (John 21:4). They recognized Him only after, obeying His command, they cast the net on the right side of the boat and caught a multitude of fish (John 21:6\u20137). They recognized Him in the miracle as the spiritual space where divine power and human faith meet and embrace.<\/p>\n
Nor did the apostles recognize Him in their gatherings behind closed doors: once they thought they saw a spirit (Luke 24:37), and another time they believed in the reality of the Resurrection and His presence based on the wounds of the nails and the spear (John 20:27). The Risen God-man Christ was among them, but they were not able to recognize Him immediately in ways familiar to them. This mystery of non-recognition is not only an event of the distant past, but a reality that continues to this day.<\/p>\n
In order to see and recognize the Risen Lord, ordinary human sight is not enough. A new, spiritual vision is necessary\u2014a gift from above, an experience of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we must enter into a relationship with Him so that He may grant us the knowledge of Himself. Thus the Lord opened the eyes of His disciples Luke and Cleopas so that they might recognize Him (Luke 24:31), and He opened the minds of the apostles gathered behind closed doors so that they might understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).<\/p>\n
The fact that the Risen Christ was not immediately recognized does not mean that He was hiding from people, but that He respected their freedom. In this way He again confirmed what was given to man from the beginning: the freedom to choose God and to believe in Him freely. Christ did not impose the truth of the Resurrection upon the human race, but placed it within the realm of faith. What would have happened if the Risen One had appeared to Pilate, stood before the Sanhedrin, or manifested Himself in the streets of Jerusalem? The proclamation of the Resurrection would then have become a demonstration of power, and truth itself would have been imposed. Instead, the Lord appears to those who love Him, thereby establishing new ways of recognizing and accepting true life.<\/p>\n
What are these ways, and how can modern man experience this reality? First of all, as a personal encounter with God, in which the Risen One calls him by name, as He revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene. Without a personal prayerful and ascetical relationship, it is not possible to know or recognize God. Secondly, as communion, participation in the Eucharistic assembly, receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the Divine Liturgy. Like Luke and Cleopas, man receives from Christ Himself\u2014through the hands of the clergy\u2014the Bread that came down from heaven and gives life to the world. Finally, as obedience to the Word of God and as the experience of miracle, like the apostles at the Sea of Tiberias.<\/p>\n
Miracles are not only extraordinary events or great divine interventions in history. The parting of the Red Sea was indeed a miracle. But it is also a miracle when we forgive and break the cycle of hatred. This is not merely a moral demand or an abstract principle\u2014it is a manifestation of the Resurrection. Revenge is crucifixion without resurrection, while unforgiveness and hatred are death and a sealed tomb. Therefore, the Resurrection is not only an event of the past, but a reality into which we enter every time we forgive, when we do not return blow for blow, and when we recognize a brother in our enemy. Then we choose life instead of death.<\/p>\n
We also recognize the Lord in every human suffering\u2014of which there is, sadly, an abundance\u2014and in every poor, rejected, and despised person, encountering Him through active love. For the Risen Lord Jesus Christ said: \u201cAs you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me\u201d (Matt. 25:40). In this is shown that faith in the Resurrection is not merely an inner conviction, but a force that shapes our relationship toward others.<\/p>\n
Today, with special attention and care, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija, the ancient historical source and spiritual center of the Serbian people, sharing with them all trials and strengthening them to remain steadfast in faith and life.<\/p>\n
From such faith and such unity, dear spiritual children, let us enter into the joy of the Resurrection and proclaim: \u201cHaving beheld the Resurrection of Christ, let us worship the Holy Lord Jesus, the only sinless One,\u201d and with the Holy Apostle Paul cry out: \u201cO death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?\u201d (1 Cor. 15:55).<\/p>\n
Embracing one another, let us also say to those who hate us: Brothers! And let us sing together:<\/p>\n
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.<\/p>\n
We greet you all with the all-victorious and all-joyful greeting:<\/p>\n
CHRIST IS RISEN!<\/p>\n
Given at the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade, at Pascha 2026.<\/p>\n
Your prayer books before the Risen Lord:<\/p>\n
Archbishop of Pe\u0107, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovica and Patriarch of Serbia PORPHYRIJE
\nArchbishop of Sarajevo and Metropolitan of Dabro-Bosnia CHRISTOM
\nArchbishop of Cetinje and Metropolitan of Montenegro-Lithuania JOANIKIJE
\nArchbishop of Sirmium and Metropolitan of Srem VASILIJE
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Banja Luka EPHREM
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Buda LUKIAN
\nArchbishop of Vrsac and Metropolitan of Banat NIKANOR
\nArchbishop of Novo Gra\u010danica-Chicago and Metropolitan of Midwestern America LONGIN
\nArchbishop of Toronto and Metropolitan of Canada MITROFAN
\nArchbishop of Novi Sad and Metropolitan of Ba\u010dka IRINEJ
\nArchbishop of Stockholm and Metropolitan of Scandinavia DOSITHEJ
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of \u017di\u010dka JUSTIN
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Vranje PAHOMIJE
\nArchbishop of Kragujevac and Metropolitan of \u0160umadija JOVAN
\nArchbishop of Po\u017earevac and Metropolitan of Brani\u010devo IGNATIJE
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Zvornik-Tuzla PHOTIJE
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Milesevo ATHANASIJE
\nArchbishop of D\u00fcsseldorf-Berlin and Metropolitan of Germany GRIGORIJE
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Raska-Prizren THEODOSIJE
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Kru\u0161evac DAVID
\nArchbishop of Romuliana-Zaje\u010dar and Metropolitan of Timo\u010dka HILARION
\nArchbishop and Metropolitan of Ni\u0161 ARSENIJE
\nArchbishop of Sydney-Wellington and Metropolitan of Australia-New Zealand SILUAN
\nArchbishop of Zadar-\u0160ibenik and Metropolitan of Dalmatia NIKODIM
\nArchbishop of Mostar-Trebinje and Metropolitan of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and Ston-Littoral DIMITRIJE
\nArchbishop of Los Angeles and Western America MAXIM
\nArchbishop of Gornja Karlovac GERASIJE
\nBishop of Washington-New York and Eastern America IRINEJE
\nBishop of Pakrac and Slavonia JOVAN
\nBishop of Switzerland ANDREJE
\nBishop of Biha\u0107-Petrovica SERGIJE
\nBishop of Buenos Aires and South-Central America KIRILO
\nBishop of Osijek-Poland and Baranja HERUVIM
\nBishop of Valjevo HISEHIJE
\nBishop METHODIJE of Budimlje-Niksic
\nBishop of \u0160abac JEROTHEJ
\nBishop of Paris and Western Europe JUSTIN
\nBishop of London and Great Britain and Ireland NEKTARIJE
\nBishop retired of Zvornik-Tuzla VASILIJE
\nBishop retired of Canada GEORGIJE
\nBishop retired of Central Europe KONSTANTIN
\nBishop retired of Slavonia SAVA
\nBishop retired of Milesevo FILARET
\nBishop retired of Ni\u0161 JOVAN
\nVicar Bishop of Remezia Stefan
\nVicar Bishop of Mohacs DAMASKIN
\nVicar Bishop of Mar\u010dana SAVA
\nVicar Bishop of Hum JOVAN
\nVicar Bishop of Hvostan ALEXEIJ
\nVicar Bishop of Novo Brdo ILARION
\nVicar Bishop of Lipljan DOSITHEJ
\nVicar Bishop PETAR of Topli
\nVicar Bishop of Jenopolja NIKON
\nVicar Bishop of Moravica TIKHON
\nVicar Bishop of Diocletian PAISIUS
\nVicar Bishop of Kostajnica SERAPHIM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PORFIRIJE
\nOrthodox Archbishop of Pe\u0107, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch, together with all the hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church \u2013 to the clergy, monastics, and all the sons and daughters of our Holy Church: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, with the joyful Paschal greeting:<\/p>\n
CHRIST IS RISEN!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[118,117,120,122,125,124,123,119,126,121],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-episkop","category-opste","category-parohija-u-bedfordu","category-parohija-u-birmingamu","category-parohija-u-bradfordu","category-parohija-u-darbiju","category-parohija-u-irskoj","category-parohija-u-londonu","category-parohija-u-oksfordu","category-parohija-u-halifaksu"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8447"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9707,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8447\/revisions\/9707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eparhija.cubesdev.rs\/sr-latn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}