Today, we Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior only one week after over 300 Christians were brutally murdered while celebrating Western Easter in Sri Lanka. This is the day our faith is renewed and adrenalized, knowing that the Lord Jesus trampled down death and rose again, according to the Scriptures, and that death has no power over Him. Consonant with the sacred hope this triumph gives us, let us not lose heart in the midst of a world in which the followers of Christ continue to be persecuted relentlessly. Let us always remember the pious and inspiring words of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: “After the crucifixion comes the Resurrection.”

We will continue during this Paschal season and beyond to raise the resurrection banner of religious freedom for the Apostolic See of Saint Andrew, so that the unwaning light of the Phanar may continue to enlighten God’s oikoumene, and the bells of Saint George Patriarchal Cathedral may ring joyously and freely with the good news that Christ has conquered death. We likewise remain in fervent prayer for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who are persecuted simply for professing their faith in the Risen and Triumphant Lord. May they, having suffered a crucifixion of their own, now themselves experience the joy of the Resurrection.

The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America and Defenders of the Faith, expresses our gratitude on this holiest of days to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, as well as to the Holy Eparchial Synod and to our Spiritual Advisor Fr. Alexander Karloutsos. Maria and our entire family also join me in wishing all Archons and their beloved families a joyous and peace-filled Pascha.

Χριστός Ανέστη! Ἀληθῶς Aνέστη! Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Anthony J. Limberakis, MD

Archon Aktouarios

National Commander