Paschal Address of the Vicar of the Slavic Vicariate, Archimandrite Alexander Belya, to the Clergy, Monastics, and Laity. 2026

«Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; 

let those who hate Him flee from before His face. 

As smoke vanishes, so let sinners perish from the face of God, 

but let the righteous be glad.» 

(Psalm 67)

Dear fathers in Christ, venerable nuns, beloved brothers and sisters — faithful children of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America!

Christ is Risen!

From a heart filled with Paschal joy, I congratulate all of you on the Great and Light-bearing Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Pascha of the Lord is not merely a remembrance of an event from the distant past. It is the triumph of life over death, of light over darkness, and of the unchanging Divine Truth over every human falsehood. On this day we bear witness to the world that evil does not have absolute power, for the Savior, by His rising from the tomb, has shattered the bonds of hell.

The event of Christ’s Resurrection calls us to inner renewal, to the overcoming of enmity, to mercy, and to active love. Where darkness seems to prevail, Christ opens the way to light; where there is despair, He grants hope. The Apostle testifies: “If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is futile” (1 Cor. 15:14). But Christ is Risen — and therefore our faith is alive, our hope is steadfast, and the love of God abides with us.

We meet Pascha in the year 2026 in a difficult time. We see how the world around us is shaken: political unrest, divisions, and alarming news from various parts of the earth — including our own country and the lands of our ancestors — weigh heavily upon people’s hearts. In such moments it is easy to fall into despondency or to give in to a spirit of hostility. Yet it is precisely today that the words of Holy Scripture resound for us with special power: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:20-21).

I express special words of gratitude to the clergy, monastics, and all the workers of the Church for your ministry and faithfulness to Christ amid the challenging conditions of our time. We, Orthodox Christians in America, are called to be a quiet harbor of faith. Our Vicariate unites people of different traditions and cultures in common prayer and around the one Cup of Christ. In these holy days, I call upon all of you to preserve peace in your hearts, to strengthen yourselves in prayer, to support one another, and not to forget those who are in need of help, consolation, and a word of hope.

The Risen Christ grants us unshakable hope. The Lord reminds us that no earthly storms, conflicts, or human disorders have power over those who believe in Him. His Victory has already been accomplished, and it is stronger than any evil. Let us pray for peace throughout the whole world, for mutual understanding among nations, and for the light of Christ to enlighten every person.

May the bright Paschal joy fill the heart of each one of you, strengthen you in faith, comfort you in sorrows, and inspire you to the labor of love and service. May the light of Christ’s Resurrection illumine our souls, our families, and the whole world, granting peace, reconciliation, and salvation. May the grace of the Risen Savior abide with all of us!

Indeed He is risen!

With love in the Risen Lord,

† Archimandrite Alexander Belya,

Elected Bishop of Niсopolis,

Vicar of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America

The Feast of Christ’s Pascha, 2026