Telecast in Viestit Karjala, a Finnish-language 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, residents of Karelia, all people who love the Lord Jesus Christ,
“It’s a great joy for me to greet you all: Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! This is proclaimed in Christian houses all over the world today. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and praise Him!
“This day tells us that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. What does this mean? This means what Paul says in his epistle to the Corinthians: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:54, 57, ESV)
“This victory means we are given a new life already in this life and one day in heaven where Jesus already ascended to prepare for us a dwelling place. Therefore, “glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: ‘The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!’ I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.” (Ps. 118:15-17, ESV).
“I am privileged to bring this joyful news to you, dear friends, residents of Karelia and all people wherever you are today. In the name of Jesus Christ! Amen!”
Translated by Aleksei Zubtsov from a Russian translation from Finnish by Oksana Dyba