Archpastoral Message
of the Most Reverend DANIEL
Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest
on the Bright and Joyous Feast of Pascha
12 April 2026
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
In this radiant and holy season of Pascha, we proclaim with joy that death is overthrown and eternal life is promised to those who believe. The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is not merely an historic event from the past, but the living foundation of our faith, the unshakable promise of our future, and the transforming power of our present.
By His Cross, Christ entered into the depths of human suffering. By His glorious Resurrection, He shattered the gates of Hades and destroyed the dominion of death forever. What once seemed final has been rendered powerless. What once brought fear now opens the way to eternal hope.
Pascha assures us that life—true, abundant, and everlasting life—is not a distant dream, but a divine promise and guarantee. In the Risen Christ, despair gives way to hope, sin to forgiveness, sorrow to joy, and death to immortality. No darkness can overcome the Light that shines from the empty tomb.
As we celebrate this Feast of Feasts, let us renew our faith, strengthen our love, and embody the victory of the Resurrection in our daily lives. Let us become witnesses of this triumph—proclaiming by word and deed that Christ has conquered death and opened for all humanity the path to eternal life.
May the joy of the Resurrection fill your hearts, strengthen your families, and bless our communities throughout our beloved Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest. And may the peace of the Risen Lord abide with you always.
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
