In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen.

Ekhristos Anesti … Alithos anesti. 

Christ is Risen … Truly He is Risen.

I congratulate you, beloved ones, in all our Coptic Orthodox churches, monasteries, and convents throughout the whole world on the glorious Feast of the Resurrection for this year, 2026. I congratulate the fathers: the metropolitans, the bishops, the hegumens, and the presbyters; as well as the deacons and archons. I congratulate the youth and the servants. I congratulate the young and the old alike. I congratulate every Christian family serving in every Coptic Orthodox ministry within our churches, monasteries, convents, and dioceses. I congratulate you all on the Feast of the Resurrection. This feast, which is the joy of all joys and the feast of all feasts, is indeed the foundation of our Christianity. For were it not for the Resurrection of Christ, we would not celebrate Him as the Savior and Redeemer of all humanity.

We live in a time filled with conflicts and war-conflicts that destroy peoples and nations, affecting the lives of individuals and communities, and touching every home in every place in the world. Therefore, through the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we seek what we lack—for the world today lacks hope. How can a person have hope? How can one find hope in this life, which is filled with troubling news every morning and every evening? We seek this hope in the Resurrection of the Lord Christ, and we consider the Resurrection to be a message of hope for each one of us—for every person who delights in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we search for this hope, we find three dimensions that teach us how to live with the hope found in the Resurrection of the Lord Christ.

In the Resurrection of the Lord Christ, 

First: Be a Bearer of Hope

We are called to carry hope, the person who rises with Christ becomes a bearer of hope—in words, in life, in expression, in vision, in thought, and in feeling. He bears hope when he beholds the risen Christ and sees a powerful message: that the world is still governed by the hand of God. When the Lord Christ rose at the dawn of Sunday, the women bearing spices went very early to the tomb, concerned with who would roll away the stone. This question occupied them, as if they were asking: Is there hope in this One who died—He who was crucified three days ago? Is there hope? Therefore, when the angel appeared to these women, he said to them, “Go quickly and tell His disciples.” (Matthew 28:7). Thus, they became bearers of the powerful message of hope. This message transformed the women from fearful ones into proclaimers who carried the news of the Resurrection to the disciples—and to us as well.

Second: Be a Maker of Hope

A person must not only be a bearer of hope, but also a maker of hope—one who instills hope in the souls of others. This may be through a word of encouragement, an act of love, a visit, or a phone call—plant hope. Let all your words be filled with hope—hope in life. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were walking toward the village of Emmaus, a village not far from Jerusalem. As they were on the way, a traveler appeared to them and began to speak with them, and they thought He was a stranger. They spoke with Him, yet did not recognize Him. Their entire conversation was full of questions: What has happened? What is this news? The disciples say that the One who was crucified has risen! Conflicting news was reaching them all, but when this traveler drew near and spoke with them, they began to feel something in their hearts, though they could not yet explain it. But when they drew near to the place and He broke the bread, their eyes were opened, and they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us?” (Luke 24: 32). They felt something in their hearts, as if Christ—this unknown traveler—had planted hope within them and established it in their lives. Likewise, you, beloved, should establish hope in your family—with your spouse, with your sons and daughters. And you, servant, in all levels of ministry. And you, priest, while you serve, while you preach, while  you visit homes, and while you care for others—establish hope. Do not participate in the dialog of those who speak only of troubles, conflicts, and news—rather, foster hope.

Therefore: first, be a bearer of hope.  Second, be a maker of hope. 

Third: Be a Preacher of Hope  

For preaching, at its foundation, is the transmission of the message of joy—the Resurrection of Christ. The word “Gospel” means good tidings—joyful news, or as we say in English, “good news”—news that carries hope through the Resurrection of Christ. After you establish hope in those around you, be a preacher of hope to everyone in the whole world. The disciples were very afraid, and the upper room was shut, locked tightly, and fear filled them. But when Christ appeared in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you,” then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord (John 20:20). This was a beautiful image. Those who were afraid after the Cross, when Christ appeared to them and gave them peace, received that peace and carried joy and hope to the whole world, becoming preachers to all nations. Christ said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Thus, the disciples became bearers of hope. When they went out from Jerusalem after the coming of the Holy Spirit and the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, they became preachers—presenting the risen Christ to everyone: Christ the Redeemer, who redeems man, His blood cleanses every sin in a person’s life. 

In conclusion, beloved ones, as you celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection, be a bearer of this hope, a maker of this hope, and a preacher of this hope in your life. Let this become the pattern of your whole life—the joy of the Resurrection.

We pray for everyone, everywhere, that they may rejoice in the Resurrection of the Lord Christ—not merely as news, but as a lived reality. As we pray in the Midnight Praise: “Arise, O children of light, let us praise the Lord of hosts.” The children of light are the children of the Resurrection. Once again, I offer my congratulations to all the beloved people in our Coptic churches who celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection today. I congratulate everyone, and we pray that the world may be filled with a message of peace, a message of love, and a message of hope. We pray that God may protect every place from evil and wars, and grant strength, wisdom, discernment, and sound judgment to every official in every place. 

We send you our love and congratulations from the land of Egypt, from St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbassiya, Cairo. We convey to you the love of everyone here in Egypt and throughout the See of St. Mark.

Ekhristos Anesti … Alithos anesti. Christ is Risen … Truly He is Risen.

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