Christos Anesth
Rev. Fr. Frank Paul Mayernick, May 1, 2006

CHRISTOS ANESTH!      CHRIST IS RISEN!
Christos Voskrese!





Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, May 2006

Easter is the most important holiday on the Orthodox Christian calendar and celebrations typically blend religious and local traditions. In many Orthodox countries, Easter serves as an opportunity for family reunions.
Religious leaders of our Orthodox Churches issued calls for peace as more than 200 million Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter around the world with candlelit Church services and traditional roast lamb dinners eaten outdoors. As a Reminder, Orthodox Churches use a different calendar from the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, so the Orthodox celebration of Easter usually falls on a different date, and always after the Jewish festival of Passover.
Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers and clergymen hold candles as they gather around the tomb, during the Ceremony of the Holy Fire in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally believed by many Christians to be the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, in Jerusalem`s Old City. The ceremony is meant to assure the worshippers that Jesus has not forgotten them and is sending a message of hope through the fire. We also gathered together at our beloved Chapel and stood before the tomb and received the Holy Fire. We proclaimed the Risen Lord and shouted in loud voices that He is Risen! Our hope of salvation comes to us through Jesus Christ.

Indeed He is Risen!

Very Rev. Frank P. Mayernick, Archpriest