Easter liturgies across BiH mark the beginning of the three-day celebration of the greatest Christian holiday

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A large number of believers attended Easter liturgies that began the three-day celebration of the greatest Christian holiday.

Bishop Jefrem: We pray for all our people

His Eminence Bishop of Banja Luka Jefrem congratulated all Orthodox believers on the greatest Christian holiday of Easter, emphasizing that today they pray for all the Serbian people, especially those suffering in the coronavirus pandemic.

"We pray for all who suffer, for all who, due to circumstances, are confined to hospital beds, either in our hospitals or in their homes," Bishop Jefrem told the faithful.

After the midnight liturgy at the Temple of Christ the Saviour in Banja Luka, Bishop Jefrem emphasized that the Lord, who has risen, is the healer of our souls and bodies.

"May the Lord help us all, and let us try as much as we can to enter a calmer time, and for life to continue its course," Jefrem said.

The liturgy at the Temple of Christ the Saviour was attended by the President of Republika Srpska, Željka Cvijanović, the Minister of Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society of Republika Srpska, Srđan Rajčević, the Mayor of Banja Luka, Draško Stanivuković, the President of the City Assembly, Mladen Ilić, and the President of the SNSD City Board of Banja Luka, Vlado Đajić.

Foča's temples full
The song "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life" echoed through Foča's temples.

Easter services with a procession around the temple began at midnight at the temples of Saint Sava, Saint Basil of Ostrog, and Saint Peter of Dabar-Bosnia, and at dawn also at the Temple of Saint Nicholas.

The epistle of Serbian Patriarch Porfirije was read, and after the communion of the faithful, Easter eggs were blessed and distributed.

Narić: We welcome the joy of life
Archpriest of Kotor Varoš, Milenko Narić, said, while welcoming the Resurrection of Christ, that we welcome the joy of life, a joy that in a way known to God illuminates the souls of believers.

A true Christian, as he pointed out, on the feast of the Resurrection of Christ must and should have a bright, not a gloomy face.

"As much as you rejoice in the Resurrection, so much are you ready to rejoice in the future life through this life. Because for a true Christian, death and the hardships of this world are transient. Rejoicing in the earthly new day, we live for a new day and a new time in the glory of the Risen Christ," Narić emphasized.

He urged the faithful to celebrate the feast of feasts in their homes with their families, with faith and hope for a better future.

Šamac: Easter welcomed in prayer
The greatest Christian holiday, Easter, was welcomed in the municipality of Šamac with prayer and tradition, including the cracking of Easter eggs.

Easter liturgies were served this morning in all temples, and then eggs were distributed to the faithful.

At the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius, the liturgy was attended by the municipality head, Đorđe Milićević, who congratulated the holiday to his fellow citizens.

Several hundred Easter eggs were blessed and distributed to the faithful.

Easter liturgy in Trebinje
In the courtyard of the Cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord in Trebinje, on the feast of Christ's Resurrection, the holy liturgy was served this morning by the clergy of the Eparchy of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral, with a large number of believers present.

At the holy liturgy, the epistle of Serbian Patriarch Porfirije was read, with a prayerful wish that everyone welcome and celebrate Easter, the feast of feasts, in spiritual joy and physical strength, with the traditional greeting "Christ is risen - Truly He is risen."

After the liturgy and the communion of the faithful who had prepared for this holy mystery through the Easter fast, dyed Easter eggs were distributed to the faithful in the cathedral courtyard. This year, the Eparchy dyed and distributed about 3,500 eggs to the faithful.

Bishop Dimitrije: Choose good and resist evil
His Eminence Bishop of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral, Dimitrije, urged the faithful in Mostar to open their hearts, recognize life and break away from death, to choose good and resist evil, which has no power if one believes in Christ.

Bishop Dimitrije served matins and the Easter liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Mostar, with the concelebration of the Mostar clergy.

In his sermon to the faithful, he emphasized that Christ's sacrifice and love have fulfilled everything.

"From Hades, into which He descended on Holy Saturday, He was on earth with us and gave us the Gospel, to His ascension and resurrection. Everything is filled with Christ's love; we only need to turn to Him and recognize that light, to see the light of Christ with the eyes of our mind," the bishop stated.

Bishop Dimitrije emphasized that through Easter, the faithful should choose to embark on a new life, just as Christ rose from the dead.

"In the Christian life, nothing is automatic, nothing is magical. On one side is man, his heart and his freedom, and on the other is the risen Christ, who gives grace to those who want and strive. Christ is risen," the Bishop of Zahumlje-Herzegovina said.

Mostar priest Duško Kojić said that after every suffering comes resurrection.

The Deputy President of the Mostar City Council, Velibor Milivojević, who attended the liturgy, congratulated Easter to the Orthodox faithful of Mostar.

Easter liturgies were also served this morning at the Žitomislić Monastery, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Bijelo Polje, and the Church of Saint Basil of Ostrog in Blagaj.