High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis, sends his heartfelt wishes to Australia’s Greek and Cypriot diaspora ahead of Orthodox Easter.
Full message in English:
Dear compatriots,
It is with great joy that I once again extend my warmest wishes to our diaspora this Easter, wishing you all the very best in your personal, family, and professional lives.
Easter signifies a passage. Just as in the Old Testament it symbolised the journey from slavery to freedom, in the New Testament it represents the transition from Death to Life, from Crucifixion to Resurrection, from Suffering to Redemption. It symbolises the sacrifice of the Lamb and Christ’s boundless love for humanity—love that led Him to Golgotha and the Cross. Our Holy Tradition and Church guide us in preparation for this sacred celebration, through fasting and the solemn services of Holy Week. Only through such preparation can we truly experience this radiant feast, the centre of our faith and life—the miracle that gives meaning to all things and guides our steps as individuals and as Greeks, as a people of the Lord.
It is a particular blessing this year that Christians across the world—both Catholic and Orthodox—celebrate Easter on the same day, sending a powerful message of unity and concord. At the same time, our thoughts and concerns turn to the very cradle of Christianity, in Palestine and Syria, where Christians continue to face violence and danger, longing for a new beginning and praying fervently for more peaceful days. Our minds also turn to war-torn Ukraine, where Cain continues to raise his fratricidal hand against Abel. Of course, we cannot forget our small homeland, Cyprus, and the churches in the occupied north where no liturgies can be held. Yet this year, after nearly eight years of stagnation and disappointment, a small glimmer of light has reappeared—just enough to reignite hope that our own Resurrection may not be so far away.
Dear friends,
On Holy and Great Saturday, in churches across our communities—in the City, in Greece, in Cyprus, and in every corner of the world where Hellenism exists, from America to Australia—millions of faithful will gather outside our churches, chanting Christ is Risen. The churches will overflow, unable to contain the crowds. This, in itself, is our most powerful response during difficult times—at a moment in history where alienation, cultural erosion, and assimilation often feel overwhelming.
When the bells ring out joyfully and call us to worship, we will all symbolically become one again—in the name of Faith and Love—to celebrate Holy Easter with all the strength of our souls, lighting a flame of hope in our hearts that will burn brightly all year long.
Christ is Risen! Wishing you a joyful and blessed Resurrection,
