In a deeply theological encyclical, Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa addresses the Orthodox Christian faithful with this year’s Easter Proclamation.
From the heart of Africa, the Patriarch offers the joyful greeting of the Resurrection and proclaims: “Christ is risen and life reigns!”
The encyclical, issued from the historic See of Alexandria, emphasizes that Easter is much more than the commemoration of a historical event. It is, the Patriarch affirms, “the culmination of the divine plan for our salvation” and “the final victory over death and the beginning of the re-creation of the world. Drawing on the words of Scripture and the Church Fathers, he reminds the faithful that the crucifixion always precedes the resurrection: “The true resurrection cannot be understood without the way of the crucifixion.
Citing St. Athanasius the Great, the Patriarch affirms the saving mystery of Christ’s Incarnation and Passion: “He became human so that we might become divine… He died for all that he might give life to all”.
But beyond theological affirmation, the encyclical is a powerful call to awareness and action. The patriarch paints a sobering picture of the humanitarian crises ravaging the African continent-from armed conflicts in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Congo to famine and poverty affecting tens of millions. In his own words: “Our beloved Africa is today’s ‘place of the skull,’ the blood-soaked Golgotha of the 21st century.”
According to data cited in the encyclical, one in four people in Africa will suffer from malnutrition by 2025, and more than 35 active conflicts are currently raging. Despite these grave challenges, the Patriarch refuses to let darkness have the last word. He proclaims the Resurrection as a beacon of hope, not only for the Church, but for all humanity. From this suffering,” he writes, “the hope of new life can be born – the prospect of renewal, salvation and restoration of the human person and of humanity as a whole.
The encyclical offers a spiritual and moral challenge to the global community. It calls believers to a renewed commitment to justice, peace and solidarity: “Let us replace the ‘I’ with the ‘We’…let us seek truth, love and justice for the good of our common home.”
To the leaders of the world, the Patriarch makes a heartfelt appeal: “May the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, enlighten the powerful of this world and lead them to act with truth, justice and the love of God.”
The encyclical ends on a triumphant and hopeful note, echoing the words of St. John Chrysostom: “Let no one fear death, for the death of the Savior has set us free… Christ is risen, and life reigns!”
As millions of Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, Patriarch Theodore II’s message resonates with theological depth, pastoral care, and a prophetic voice for justice, bridging the tomb and the empty tomb with a call to personal and global transformation.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
