Broadcast in Viestit-Karjala news program on Rossiya 1 Karelia, a regional channel of VGTRK, a state-owned broadcaster which operates many television and radio channels in 53 of Russia’s languages.

 

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, all TV viewers!

 

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

 

There is a hymn that says, “Now a great day has come, a day of mercy and light.” A day of thanks, praise, and salvation!

 

“Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” thus, loudly and joyfully, Christians all around the world greet all people in whom the Lord’s goodwill is.

 

Jesus Christ Himself said to the women who came to the tomb to anoint His body with fragrances, “Why do you seek Me, living, among the dead?”

 

“Death is swallowed up in victory,” says the Apostle Paul. “O death, where is your sting? O hell, where is your victory? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

 

So, Easter is a celebration of life. Easter is a celebration of light. On Easter, we are given eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

I’m privileged to greet you Karelians and Russians, all people who are watching this TV channel, with the greeting of life: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” We can say together with Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

 

All of this takes place on Easter, “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

 

Rejoice in the Lord! Christ is risen! Amen.

 

(Put into English from the Russian translation of Darya Shkurlyatyeva)

 

Source: Viestit – Karjala