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Prelate's Easter Message

The Resurrection of Christ Is Our Life-Giving Source

"And you Lord, by meeting with the Apostles granted them your life-giving greeting and sent them off to save the world."

On these first days of Spring, together with the flowering and renewal of nature once again we proclaim the glorious Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and renew the message of our spiritual and national rebirth.

Describing the Resurrection of Christ according to the gospels, the hymn-writer tells us about the oil-bearing women who went to the tomb on the third day following the burial of Christ, they discovered that the tomb stone had been moved and heard the angel say, "Christ is risen and conquered death."

The Lord revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene and the women accompanying her and to the Apostles. Whoever the Lord met, was blessed with renewed life.

"And you Lord, by meeting with the Apostles granted them your life-giving greeting and sent them off to save the world."

It is the undeniable truth that the arch of the Gospel rests upon two major pillars: the Death of Christ and the Resurrection.

The Apostle Paul describes this truth with these words: "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. And that He was buried, and that He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures." (1st Corinthians, 15:3-4)

By entering through the arch of the Resurrection, the Apostles became the fearless preachers of the new religion and they spread their testimony for the salvation of the World. They witnessed that the Resurrected Lord "was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

Uplifted by the apparition of the angels and renewed by the Lord's life-giving greetings, they proclaimed the Resurrection of the Savior, who lighted up the lives of all those who believed in His Holy Resurrection and followed his teachings, knowing that death was defeated, that there was life after death, and the promise of salvation.

Centuries ago, with the faith based on the reality of the Resurrection, our forefathers accepted the Resurrected Christ, received His life-giving greetings and put forth their efforts for the salvation of our nation. Since the first century, the same life-giving greetings were received by the King Apkar and our first martyr St. Santoukhd, followed by St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Mesrob Mashdotz, St. Vartanantz and numerous other saints, martyrs, and heroes who became worthy of the promise of the crown of righteousness.

Indeed the year 2005, is a significant year for our nation nourished by the breath of the Resurrection, as we will commemorate: The 1600th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian alphabet; the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide; and the 75th anniversary of the Great House of Cilicia Seminary

His Holiness Aram I, with encyclicals, invited all of us to consider these three historic anniversaries.

Will the 1600th anniversary of the discovery of the Armenian Alphabet, along with the heritage left to us by St. Mesrob Mashdots and the Holy Translators, help us renew our spiritual and national path to lead our lives according to the faith of our forefathers?

With the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, how will we remember the memory of our Martyrs, and as the children of a resurrected nation stand up for justice honor their memory and demand for compensation for shedding their innocent blood?

And will the 75th anniversary of the Seminary, which in our Prelacy will be celebrated during the Pontifical visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, in October, in California, serve to mobilize our parents and new generation to brace themselves with the faith of the Resurrection.

Let all of us be renewed by the message of the Holy Resurrection and be inspired by the glory of the 1600th anniversary of the discovery of the Armenian alphabet, to lead our lives with faith and commitment.

As we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide by remembering our Martyrs who witnessed the path of the cross at Der Zor, let us renew our pledge to walk the path of truth and justice with the spirit of the Resurrection.

With the hope of being worthy of the life-giving greetings of our Resurrected Savior and with the desire of splendoring our spiritual, church and national lives, let us actively support our churches, schools and seminary, so that the new generations will receive a wholesome education and ensure our nation's future.

On the occasion of Christ's Glorious Resurrection, we convey our love and blessings to our Prelacy clergy, representative assembly, executive council, all who serve within our parishes, our schools, organizations and our faithful people.

It is our prayer that we continue to serve to enliven our people with renewed faith and spiritual joy, warmed by the Resurrection and our Savior's life-bearing spirit, and exclaim: "Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed be the Resurrection of Christ."

Prayerfully,

Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian

Prelate, Western United States