On Great Saturday, April 14, 2012, and on Holy Sunday, April 15, 2012, in Kyiv, in the Cathedral of Transfiguration of the Lord of Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Canonical, Bishop Oleksandr of Zhytomyr in concelebration with Bishop Vasyliy of Fastiv ministered a solemn Mass in honor of the greatest and the principal Christian holiday - the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold,he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Christ conquered the death. With His death and resurrection He brought to life everybody, for whom the event, occurred in a cave, was an undeniable fact, being taken so seriously that it became the proper resurrection of each such a soul.

Christ resurrected after the Passover - the holiday to commemorate the liberation of the Israeli people from the Egyptian slavery. The resurrection of Christ became a new Easter - the joy of liberation from slavery of death. The word "Easter" means "passover". This holiday, the most solemn among the holidays in the Old Testament Church, was named so in memory of the Israelites coming out of Egypt, their liberation from slavery. In the New Testament Church Easter means that the Son of God Himself, through rising from the dead, has passed from this world to the Heavenly Father , from earth to heaven, liberating us from eternal death, endowing us with "the right to become children of God" (John 1:12 ).

The value of the Resurrection of Christ for humanity makes Easter the most significant holiday among all the others. It is the Holiday of the holidays and celebration of celebrations.

Easter worship night is overtaken by optimism. Each reading and singing echo the words of John Chrysostom. Morning awakens outside the windows of the Orthodox churches: "Death, where is your sting? Hell, where is your victory?"

Christ conquered the death. The tragedy of death is followed by the triumph of life. The Lord welcomed everybody after His resurrection, saying: "Rejoice!" As there is no death anymore.

Apostles proclaimed this joy to the world. They called this joy as the Gospel - the good news of the Resurrection of Christ. The same joy fills the heart of a person, when they hear: "Christ is risen!" The same joy echoes in the soul with the main words of His Grand mission on earth: "Indeed He is risen!"

Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!
Christ is risen! Indeed He is risen!