PASCHAL MESSAGE of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin

Today, Hell cries out groaning:
“My power has been trampled down.
The Shepherd is crucified and Adam is raised.
I have been deprived of those whom I ruled.
Those whom I swallowed in my strength I have given up.
He Who was crucified has emptied the tombs.
The power of death has been vanquished.”
Glory to Your Cross and Resurrection, O Lord!

Lord I Call Stichera, Vespers of the Feast

 

HOLY PASCHA 2013

To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West

Dearly beloved:

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

What a glorious paradox we witness in the celebration of Resurrection. Hell was caught completely unaware of this paradox. It swallowed, in seeming victory, the crucified Shepherd, but instead of victory began to choke and suffocate in the attempt to contain Him. The demons struck the Shepherd down, but the sheep have been raised. Hell held man captive but its rule was overthrown and the captives are freed. The crucified, broken, bloody Victim has turned out to be the Victor.

How wonderful that you and I are not just witnesses to this paradox, but participants. Hell indeed groaned just before it was shattered. We are the sheep that have been raised. We are the captives that have been freed. We are those who benefit from and share in the Victory. Christ is risen and we have been given a new life. We have been given the power to be new creatures in the presence not only of the Creator, but of the Redeemer, lifted up from the valley of death and corruption which is life without the risen Christ. How much He loves us!

May the risen Son of God shine brightly in the heart of each one of you, my diocesan family! May we return the love of the risen Savior by living resurrected lives ourselves! And I say to you all again:

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!

Yours in the risen Christ,

†Benjamin
Archbishop of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West