Looking forward Dearly Beloved in Christ, Christ is risen! Immediately following His resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). In our day, “preaching the Gospel” is <strong>of</strong>ten understood to mean the preaching <strong>of</strong> a sermon or the conveying <strong>of</strong> a teaching. Although this external aspect <strong>of</strong> preaching is certainly a part <strong>of</strong> what the Lord intended, it does not convey the full meaning <strong>of</strong> His exhortation. In fact, the Lord was asking His disciples not just to preach about the resurrection, but to <strong>of</strong>fer to every human being an entrance into a new and divine life. As the Apostle Paul writes: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17). All that Christ accomplished for us, the Resurrection from the dead, the Ascension into heaven and the Descent <strong>of</strong> the Holy Spirit are not simply events that we can speak about but rather realities in which all mankind can participate. The primary concern <strong>of</strong> the Orthodox Church, and the basis <strong>of</strong> her preaching, is to encourage participation in this reality, and the means she <strong>of</strong>fers us for this is what we call asceticism. Although we <strong>of</strong>ten relegate asceticism to the Lenten season, it is important to remember that asceticism is not limited to the outward practice <strong>of</strong> prayer, fasting, and prostrations. Rather, asceticism refers to the path we take to find healing and renewal <strong>of</strong> our souls, which ultimately leads to union with Christ. This healing and renewal are bestowed upon us as a free gift <strong>of</strong> God’s grace but also require some effort on our part, which is the purification <strong>of</strong> our heart from the passions and the instilling in it <strong>of</strong> the life-giving virtues. Asceticism is the means that we have to purify our hearts and be truly alive in Christ. This issue <strong>of</strong> our Diocesan magazine, Alive in Christ, has a new external look and format, which we hope you will enjoy. However, our goal is not simply to enjoy things that are externally new, but rather to find encouragement to make that ascetical effort to cleanse our inner and deep heart and to find Christ there. Whether we know it or not, we are all striving to live this ascetical life which leads to our renewal in Christ and the pages <strong>of</strong> our diocesan magazine give evidence to this. I am calling upon all <strong>of</strong> us to continue to dedicate ourselves with renewed zeal to the living <strong>of</strong> an ascetical life, by giving ourselves over to personal renewal through repentance and prayer, to parish renewal through hospitality and a fuller liturgical life and to the renewal <strong>of</strong> Orthodox Christianity in our diocese through missionary work and stewardship. May the grace <strong>of</strong> God, together with our ascetical labors truly make us alive in Christ. Sincerely yours in the risen Christ, +Bishop Tikhon 4 Alive in Christ www.doepa.org
V. Rev. John Kowalcz walczyk Chancellor lor Cindy Davis Communications The Right Reverend, Bishop TIKHON Rev. Martin Browne Treasurer Mat. Sandra Kopestonksy Administrative Assistant Diocesan Center, South Canaan www.doepa.org Alive in Christ 5
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