Metr. Saba Issues Paschal Message Calling Faithful to Live the Resurrection Daily
Primate of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America urges deeper spiritual renewal, emphasizing eternal life, repentance, and participation in Christ’s Resurrection.
NEW YORK — In his Paschal message for 2026, Metr. Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America called on the faithful to move beyond celebrating Pascha as a yearly event and instead live the reality of the Resurrection in their daily lives.
Addressing bishops, clergy, and laity, His Eminence opened with the traditional Paschal greeting, “Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!” and described Pascha as a season that renews the strength of true life and offers the possibility of personal and global transfiguration.
Reflecting on the theme “The Resurrection and Me,” the hierarch challenged believers to examine why the joy of Pascha often remains temporary. He identified forgetfulness of eternal life as a key obstacle, noting that when life is focused only on earthly concerns, the Resurrection is reduced to a symbolic celebration rather than a lived experience.
Metr. Saba emphasized that true knowledge of God must be personal and transformative, not merely intellectual, and is inseparable from a longing for the Kingdom of Heaven. He also underscored that the path to experiencing the Resurrection fully requires embracing the Cross, rather than seeking joy without sacrifice.
Drawing on the Gospel account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, he acknowledged the anxiety and uncertainty many face in today’s world, urging the faithful to seek Christ’s presence with the prayer, “Abide with us, Lord.”
Today I am like the two disciples of Emmaus — troubled, anxious, and afraid of what is happening in this world. I long to be with You, for that is far better, but I cannot do it alone. I need You, and like the two disciples I call upon You: "Abide with us, Lord" (Luke 24:29), for the evening of this world has grown dark and its day is fading.
The message repeatedly called for spiritual renewal, repentance, and perseverance, encouraging believers to overcome sin, detach from worldly distractions, and bear witness to the joy, peace, and hope found in the Risen Christ.
Concluding his message, Metr. Saba prayed that the faithful would be restored to an “everlasting feast,” where the proclamation “Christ is risen” becomes not just a greeting, but a daily, lived reality.
Previously, the UOJ reported that an initiative to establish an Orthodox Village and Retreat Center on the central coast of California is gaining momentum, inspired by a recently encyclical from Metr. Saba.
