HOLY

 AND  GREAT  PASCHA  2010

Encyclical  
of  His  Eminence  Metropolitan  NEKTARIOS  
of  Hong  Kong  and  Southeast  Asia  
for  Holy  Pascha  

To  the  Reverend  Priests  and  Deacons,  Monks  and  Nuns,  

the  Members  of  the  Parishes  of  the  Orthodox  Metropolitanate  of  Hong  Kong  and  
Southeast  Asia  and  the  entire  Orthodox  Family  in  Southeast  Asia.

                           Beloved  Brothers  and  Sisters  in  Christ,

  From   all   my  heart  I  greet  you  on  the  greatest  of  all  of  the  Feasts  —the  day  of  the  radiant  
Resurrection  of  Christ  —with  the  eternal,  and  never-­‐ceasing  joyous  words:  Christ  is  Risen!

  The  Resurrection  of   Christ  is  the  greatest   event  in   history   and  also  is  the  fundamental  
truth  and  absolute  fact  of  the  Christian  faith.  It  is  the  central  experience  and  essential  sermon  
of   the   Church.   It   is   what   distinguishes   Christianity   from   every   other   religion.   The   other  
religions  have  mortal  leaders,  while  the  head  of  the  Church  is  the  risen  Jesus  Christ.  
  The  Resurrection   of   Christ   is  the   renewal   of   human   nature   and  the   recreation   of   the  
human   race.   Christ,   risen   from   the   dead,   cracked   the   fortress   of   death   and   took   “captivity  
captive”  (Ps  67:17).  All   the  limitations  of  our  createdness  are  torn  asunder.  Death  is   swallowed  
up   in   victory   and   life   is   liberated.   “For   as   by   a   man   came   death,   by   a   man   came   also   the  
resurrection  of  the  dead.  For  as  in  Adam  all  die,  so  also  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made   alive”  (1  Cor.  
15:21-­‐22).   Pascha   is   the   dawn   of   the   new   and   unending   day   of   our   Lord   and   Savior   Jesus  
Christ!   The   Resurrection  of  Christ   bestows   illumination,   energizes   souls,   brings   forgiveness,  
trans]igures  lives,  creates  saints  and  gives  eternal  joy.

  We   can  share  in  and  experience   the  resurrection   of  Christ   in   two   ways.   First,   it  is   the  
source  for  the   continual   mystical  and  spiritual  regeneration  of  our  dead  souls.  Second,  it  is   the  
cause  of  our  resurrection  from  the  dead  on  the  Last  Day.
  The  miracle  of  Pascha  and  the  consequences  of  Christ’s   resurrection,   the  gift   of  eternity  
and  plenitude,   are   always   accessible   to   everyone.   But   we   have   to   emphasize   the   truth   that  
salvation   is   accomplished   only   in   perfect   freedom,   through   an   act   of   faith.   No   one   can   be  
compelled  to  believe  in  or  to  love  God.  To   receive  the  grace  of  the  Paschal  mystery  and  to   keep  
it  operative  in  us  we  must  want  to  engage  ourselves  actively  and  creatively  in  the   godly  life   by  
the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit.
  We   express   our   will   to   join   the   risen   Christ   if   we   decide   to   follow   in   our   lives   the  
spiritual   struggle  of  repentance.  We  have   to   choose  to   leave  our   love   united  to  the  life  of   the  
]lesh  whose  end  is  death  and  corruption.  We  have  to   crucify  our  love  for  the  ]lesh  to  the  Cross  
of  Christ.  On  Holy  Thursday  and  on  Great  Friday  we   heard  that  our   Lord   Jesus   Christ  “in  His  
surpassing   love   showed   us   the   most   excellent   way   of   humility...”   and   “He   is   who   endured  
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spitting  and  scourging  and   blows,  the  Cross  and  death,   for  the   salvation  of   the  world...”.   So,  if  
we  want  to  ]ind  salvation  and  to  unite  ourselves  to  risen  Christ,  we  have   to   walk  on  the  path  of  
humility,  sufferings,  and  repentance.  
 
  However,   we   often   forget   that   salvation   does   not   come   as   a   result   of   individualistic  
piety,   but   through   a   living   and   dynamic   relationship   with   the   Church.   As   baptized   devout  
members   of  the   Church  we  become  part   of   a   community   which  is   moving   together  towards  
the  Kingdom   of  God.  It  is  this  community   which  af]irms  and   de]ines  our  Christian   identity.   In  
and  through  the  Church  we  appropriate  the  transforming  power  of  the  death  and  resurrection  
of  Christ,  which   places  upon  us   the   obligation  to   actualize  the  renunciations  demanded  of  us  
by  the  Gospel  in  our  everyday  activities.
  The   fruits   of   Christ’s   saving   death   and   resurrection   are   granted   to   us   and   are  
accomplished  especially  through  the  sacraments.   Through  them  the  new   life  is  extended  and  
given  to   the   members   of  His   body,   the   Church.   The   sacraments   prepare   the   faithful   for   the  
resurrectional   life   and   simultaneously   make   that   life   a   living   reality   in   this   present   age.  
Through   them   Christ   calls   us   to   share   intimately   in   what   is   divine:   immortality   and  
incorruptibility.  He  sends  and  grants   us   the  Holy  Spirit,  who  continually   vivi]ies  our  souls  and  
actualizes  within   us  the   hidden  mysteries  of  God’s  kingdom,   joining  us   to   God   in   a  personal  
union.

  Dear  brothers  and  sisters  in  Christ,

  On  this   joyful  day  of  Pascha,  rejoice  in  the  risen  Lord!  Bear  with  spiritual  joy  the   lighted  
Paschal  Candles  and  with  your  devout  lives  “Let   your  light  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  
your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in  heaven.”

  From  my   heart  I  pray  that  the  Risen   Lord  bless   you  all,  and   generously   bestow  on  you  
the  life-­‐giving  Light  of  His  grace.

With  my  warmest  Paschal  wishes

and  love  in  the  Risen  Christ,

✝  Nektarios
Metropolitan  of  Hong  Kong  and  Southeast  Asia

Note:  To  be  read  during  the  Paschal  Service  on  Holy  and  Great  Saturday  night.

704 Universal Trade Center, 3 Arbuthnot Road, Hong Kong-Tel: (00852) 25738328-Fax: (00852) 25738379
Website: www.omhksea.org email: office@omhksea.org