April 2025 Paschal Letter from Father Menas

Christ Is Risen! Truly He Is Risen!

So, what does Christ’s Resurrection mean for me?

We hear a lot about “freedom.” But what is real freedom? Is it doing whatever we want, whenever we want?

By His Resurrection, we are freed from death.

But wait—don’t we still die? Yes. The body indeed dies, but the soul lives forever in Christ.

So what kind of freedom is this? True freedom is life in Christ. When we live in Him, He lives in us. (John 17:21)

If we turn away from His will, we fall back into slavery. But when we follow Him, we are made free—even when we call ourselves His servants. For Christ frees us from the cruel master of sin and death.

This Pascha, let us remember the kind of freedom Christ gives us:

• Freedom from death – “Thou hast destroyed death by Thy Cross.”

• Freedom from sorrow – “Thou didst change the myrrh-bearers’ lament into joy.”

• Freedom from the curse of Adam – “They cast off the ancestral curse.”

• Freedom from hell – “Thou didst destroy Hades by the lightning flash of Thy Divinity.”

• Freedom from the passions – “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.”

• Freedom from suffering – “All sickness, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.”

• Freedom from sin – “Freed from sin and made servants of God... the end is eternal life.”

• Freedom from fear – “Do not fear, little flock—it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.”

This is the Day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Yours in the Risen Christ,

Father Menas, Superior

And all the Brotherhood

Pascha 2025 at Saint Paul's Monastery