Dear brothers and sisters,
today, we celebrate one of the greatest events in history — the Ascension of the Lord.
Christ came to this world out of love for mankind. God did not delight in the base, distorted, and enslaved to sin and death condition of people. He was incarnate, became one of us, and walked His earthly path so as to save everyone, reconcile us with our Creator, and give us back the lost paradise — life with God.
Our life is not a chaotic path to nowhere anymore. It is given to us so that we may find in ourselves the light of faith, the pillar of hope, and the transfiguring power of love. The path of salvation is now a movement upwards: our ascension, our ladder to Heaven.
Throughout the entire human history, the earth, unfortunately, has constantly been shaken by cruel wars, it has cried out to Heaven because of the rivers of blood shed. Peace is only a short respite before another onslaught of injustice and sinful malice.
But after the Ascension of the Saviour, His Holy Gospel, His Holy Church, and the Holy Orthodox Faith help us to be saved from all this horror.
Christ extends His helping hand to everyone who sincerely seeks Him. He teaches us how to rise above everything which displeases God: lies, envy, hatred, greed … and how to gain peace and happiness in our souls by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Only in God can we find strength and wisdom for our earthly service and for the successful transfiguration of ourselves and everything around us.
And today, when we are all very tired of the war, when there is no trust in the authorities, the mass media, and thought leaders anymore, when the rights and freedoms are brazenly trampled, and when the very foundations of statehood are shaken, we can turn with hope and faith to Him Who is able to give us lasting peace — to the eternal God, to Christ. He is the only One Who will never deceive and Who will bring to reason, strengthen, and instruct.
Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, dear brothers and sisters! I wish peace and good to all of us!