Easter Pastoral Letter of His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok

EASTER PASTORAL LETTER
OF HIS EMINENCE MYKOLA
CARDINAL BYCHOK

“How pleasingly and sweet was your voice, O Christ,
when you promised without fail to remain with us until the end of time.
We, the faithful, rejoice in this firm foundation of hope”
(Paschal Matins, The Paschal Canon, Ode 9)

Christ is Risen!

Beloved in Christ,

Once again, we proclaim with joy the ancient and life-giving greeting: Christ is Risen! In these three words, the Church expresses the heart of her faith and the foundation of her hope. The Resurrection of our Lord is not only a historical event; it is the eternal springtime of our souls. It is the light that breaks through every darkness, the truth that dispels every lie, and the love that conquers every fear.

This year, as we celebrate the Jubilee Year — a time of grace, renewal, and pilgrimage — we are called to rediscover the power of Christian hope. In a world that often feels overwhelmed by uncertainty, suffering, and division, the Resurrection assures us that God’s love is stronger than death. It is in the Risen Christ that we find the strength to carry on, to believe, and to begin again.

We cannot celebrate Pascha this year without turning our thoughts and prayers to our suffering homeland of Ukraine. The war continues to bring devastation, pain, and heartbreak. Yet even here, in the shadow of the cross, we cling to the promise of the empty tomb. We live in hope that this unjust aggression will be brought to an end, and that a just and lasting peace will be established. As Pope Saint John Paul II once said, “Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.”

The Resurrection of Christ also speaks personally to each of us. The Risen Lord came to His disciples not in glory and power, but in gentleness and peace. He showed them His wounds and said, “Do not be afraid.” His presence cast out their doubts, calmed their fears, and restored their courage. In the same way, Christ enters into the locked rooms of our hearts. He meets us in our confusion, our grief, and our weakness, and He speaks peace. His victory enables us to face life’s challenges not with fear, but with faith.

Pope Francis reminds us: “Hope is bold; it can look beyond personal convenience, the petty securities and compensations which limit our horizon, and it can open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile.” As followers of the Risen Lord, let us be people of hope — bold in our love, firm in our faith, and unwavering in our commitment to peace, justice, and reconciliation.

Let this Pascha be for us a new beginning. Let us rise with Christ in our hearts, ready to witness to the world that love is stronger than hate, that mercy is stronger than vengeance, and that life is stronger than death. Let us walk together as a Church renewed in spirit, united in hope, and faithful in prayer.

May the peace of the Risen Christ dwell richly in your hearts and homes. And may the light of His Resurrection guide our beloved Ukraine, and all the world, to a future of peace and joy.

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

The blessing of the Lord be upon you!

† MYKOLA
CARDINAL BYCHOK, CSsR
Eparch of Melbourne

Given in Melbourne,
at our Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul,
on the 4^th day of April, in the Year of Our Lord 2025,
Our Venerable Fathers Joseph the Hymnographer and George of Maleon