His Grace Bishop Anba Mettaous together with the fathers, monks of the monastery extends their sincere greetings and heartfelt congratulations for the holy occasion of the Holy resurrection feast of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is risen and He became “the first risen from the dead”4so what is the meaning of this, for many others rose from the dead before Him?
The saying that “He is the first Risen” which described the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ bears two meanings:
Frist, that He rose from the dead and will not die once more as the case with all those who rose from the dead before Him, died once again and awaits the mass resurrection.
Second, our Lord Jesus Christ rose with a glorified body that was able to enter the Attic despite of the locked doors and He granted us a similar glorified resurrection that which is explained by St. Paul, the apostle, that Jesus “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Phil. 3:21)/ Thus, through this glorified resurrection (granted to us by our Lord) we shall be in a better status than that of the man even before his fall. That’s why the fathers of the church rejoiced in the resurrection and the afterlife following it. They even yearn to this life and look forward to the eternal; life for “a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 9:10) “they desire a better country, a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:16)
May God grant us all to enjoy the joys of His resurrection wishing you many happy returns and you all are in good health growing fruitfully spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ.