“Today we rejoice and, loving the Lord, we know that we must love all people—those close to us, those who understand us, but also those who do not understand us, those who do not accept us, and even those who sometimes reject us—knowing that the Lord glorifies every righteous person, but also shows mercy and love to every sinner, awaiting each one to come into His embrace. The Lord grants life to all! Therefore, rejoicing today, we all sing the joyful hymn: ‘Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! Christ is Risen!’” said Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia following the Paschal Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Peć Patriarchate.
The Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church emphasized that within every human being there exists a deep and profound fear—the fear of death:
“Even if a person is the most powerful, possessing everything, admired by all, and having everything in their hands, still within them remains a deep fear—the fear of death. Throughout history, humanity has sought to solve many problems, and ultimately this one fundamental problem: death. Through science, philosophy, art, politics, and every human endeavor, people have tried to prolong life and find a remedy for death. However, by their own strength and from within this world, they have not succeeded. Simply put, it is not possible. Death is something no one can escape.”
He underlined, however, that what humanity cannot resolve on its own is overcome by the Lord:
“That which is the problem of every person, which man cannot resolve by himself, is resolved by the Lord, who is love, who loves every human being and desires that all come to the knowledge of the truth, who calls everyone into His Kingdom. Out of love for us, He resolved our greatest problem. He conquered death! How? By becoming one of us, by dying, by entering into the very realm of death, descending into Hades, and disarming death from within. He conquered death from within! Therefore, responding to God’s love, believing in Him, and opening our being, we receive through faith, hope, and love this victory over death which He won for us, and we become participants in His victory, participants in His Resurrection from the dead. Thus, we too, together with Him—as the baptized and as believers—are raised.”
Patriarch Porfirije also announced that on Bright Monday he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Visoki Dečani, where he will meet his scholarship students from Kosovo and Metohija.
Concelebrating with him were Bishop Ilarion of Novo Brdo, Archimandrite Danilo, Director of the Patriarchal Administrative Office, presbyters Nemanja Kalem and Dragan Radovanović, Protodeacon Dragan Radić, and Deacon Vasilije Perić.
