As we approach Easter, we enter a season of immense joy for all Christians. It is a time when we celebrate Christ’s glorious Resurrection from the dead; His ultimate sacrifice that opens the way for us to live eternally in His presence. This is the essence of salvation: to be forever with God.

To help us prepare for this sacred celebration, the Church offers us the season of Great Lent; a time of prayer, fasting, and spiritual reflection. It is through this preparation that we attune ourselves to fully experience the joy and grace of Easter.

There are many ways to prepare our souls for salvation, but it is important to remember that these practices are not automatic guarantees of salvation. Simply observing them outwardly is not enough. To truly benefit, we must understand the purpose behind them and engage with sincerity of heart.

First and foremost is the worship of God and prayer. While we can pray anywhere, the Church holds a special place in our spiritual lives. It is in the Church that we are drawn closer to God, where services are held in His honour, and where we can most fully participate in worship, thanksgiving, and the Holy Sacraments.

Secondly, we deepen our connection with God through reading and living according to His Word, through fasting, and through acts of charity (almsgiving). Each of these is a means by which we seek to draw nearer to Him; not ends in themselves, but pathways to His grace.

Fasting, too, is a spiritual tool. The Church does not ask us to fast all year round, but rather to observe periods of fasting with intention and balance: during Great Lent, the three other major fasts (the Apostles’ Fast, the Dormition Fast, and the Nativity Fast), and on most Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year. This rhythm helps us cultivate discipline and spiritual focus without becoming excessive or burdensome.

There is a saying: “We are what we eat.” Nowhere is this more true than in the Holy Eucharist. When we receive Holy Communion regularly and with reverence, we are united with Christ and He with us. But if we neglect Communion, we risk drifting away from His presence.

In summary, when we worship and pray with sincerity, read and follow God’s Word, fast with purpose, and give generously, we are not earning salvation by our actions. Rather, we are humbly seeking God’s mercy; and it is His mercy alone that saves us. Through these practices, we are continually praying the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” It is only through His grace that we are brought into His presence, for our God is loving and merciful.

Wishing you all a blessed and spiritually fruitful Easter.

Fr Dimitrios Papaikonomou
School Chaplain