In this year's Easter Pastoral Letter, the Metropolitan of Oltenia, His Eminence Irineu, Archbishop of Craiova, conveys a profound message on love, sacrifice and hope, underscoring that the Resurrection of Christ the Savior is the foundation of peace and communion among people.

Addressing the clergy, monastics and faithful of the Archdiocese of Craiova, His Eminence Irineu highlights the deep meaning of the Resurrection, which he describes as 'entering into communion of love with the Father in the Holy Spirit'.

He stresses that the entire Christian faith is rooted in love, affirming that 'God is love', and that Christianity is 'the only religion of love, revealed by God'. In this light, he notes that human beings discover the meaning of their existence through a living relationship with God and with their fellow human beings.

'The resurrection from the dead of our Savior Jesus Christ represents for all of Christianity the entry into communion of love with the Father in the Holy Spirit. Saint John the Evangelist, knowing the mystery of the Lord's divine love, urges us to look with humility and hope to the Crucifixion of the Lord and to His side pierced by the centurion's spear. Believing thus, we confess together with our kindred in the whole world that 'God is love'. And Christianity, in an impeccable manner, is the only religion of love, revealed by God,' says His Eminence Irineu.

A central part of the message is dedicated to the Sacrifice and Crucifixion of the Savior, presented as the supreme expression of divine love. 'He is not the victim of an arrest, but the One Who offers Himself to be slaughtered for the life of the world,' the Metropolitan affirms, emphasizing the voluntary nature of Christ's sacrifice.

'By seizing the Lord, the world willingly threw itself into the darkness of non-being, giving in to the desire to kill not only its neighbor, but the Source of Life Himself. Yet, in the heart of the night, when everything seemed to be over, the Lord Jesus Christ is determined to save the world out of deep and conscious love. He is the Only One who knew that no one can take His life if He does not want to and that the life offered by Him out of love is absolutely necessary for the life of the world. Therefore, the Savior says: 'If you seek Me, let these go'. From His words we understand that He had no intention to save Himself from their hands, but He wanted His disciples to be set free. We deduce from here that the Sacrifice on the Cross is an act of true love and total offering for everyone. The moment is, without a doubt, deeply poignant, the Savior knowing well that losing one's life out of love is not a failure, but a mysterious fruitfulness,' the Metropolitan of Oltenia also says in the Easter Pastoral.

The letter underscores that the moment of the Passion is not one of defeat, but the beginning of salvation: 'In that very hour, the darkest in the history of the world, the Lord inaugurates the moment of our liberation from the slavery of the devil, sin and death'.

At the same time, the hierarch explains the radical transformation of the Apostles after the Resurrection, highlighting their transition from fear to faith. 'At first, the Holy Apostles were locked up in the house for fear of the Jews', yet the encounter with the Risen Christ changed their lives, giving them the courage to confess. The example of the Apostle Thomas is invoked to illustrate the inner journey of faith, as his doubt becomes full confession in the words: 'My Lord and my God'.

'After the Resurrection, fear had seized the hearts of the disciples, preventing them from judging clearly and going out to meet the Life that had sprung from the tomb. Of course, the Teacher was no longer among the dead, and they had seen Him or had been informed by others that He had risen from the dead. Despite these undoubtable testimonies, the memory of the sufferings and humiliations endured by Him from the Jews and the Roman soldiers fueled the apostles' disbelief in His Resurrection. And they, like many others, looked upon the miracle of the Resurrection with disbelief. This often happens to us too, when we contemplate supernatural deeds with disbelief, placing all our hope in the power of our mind alone. No divine miracle, my beloved, can be easily accepted if we do not have the mind enlightened by the gift of the Holy Spirit,' says the Metropolitan of Oltenia.

Another key theme of the Pastoral is the gift of peace brought by Christ. 'Peace be with you' becomes, according to the hierarch, not merely a greeting but 'a universal therapeutic meaning', a call to reconciliation and understanding. He also recalls the Savior's words: 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you'.

The Metropolitan of Oltenia stresses that authentic faith requires concrete love for one's neighbor, invoking the evangelical exhortation: 'Love one another. As I have loved you'. He notes that the absence of love weakens all other virtues.

The Pastoral Letter also highlights the role of the Church and the Holy Sacraments in sustaining communion with the Risen Christ, showing that the apostolic encounter with the Lord continues in the liturgical life of the faithful.

In the context of a contemporary world marked by anxieties and trials, the message becomes one of hope: 'Only the Savior, through His Resurrection from the dead, will transform our lives, freeing us from the fear of wars and troubles'.

Finally, the hierarch urges the faithful to remain steadfast in faith and not to abandon the Cross, reminding them that 'His love accompanies us even in the depths of our despair', and calling them to seek the Light of the Resurrection in daily life.

'Our heartfelt call to you is to follow the teachings of our Church and to believe in the Resurrection of our Savior! Do not abandon the Cross of the Lord, because His love accompanies us even in the depths of our despair! If we '‘choose eternal life', we will have with us the Most Pure Virgin Mary who will help us see the Light of the Resurrection and rise to Heaven, to her Son. The work of the Mother of God is a combination of grace and freedom that urges each of us to trust, to courage and to be involved in our lives. Let us be convinced that, through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, our sins and hesitations do not prevent her Son, the One risen from the dead, from forgiving us and strengthening our resolve to continue to follow Him. By doing so, we will understand that God's love is with us, sustains us and strengthens us so that the fruit of His Resurrection may mature in our souls,' His Holiness Irineu transmits, concluding with the traditional Easter confession: 'Christ is risen! Truly He is risen!' AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Maria Mitrica; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)