Bishop Gjergji: It is most necessary that we find the path of reconciliation and love

Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar are celebrating today the greatest Christian holiday - Easter. Bishop Dode Gjergji of the Diocese of Prizren-Pristina emphasizes to Kosovo Online that everyone should think more about life, peace, and love, rather than death, war, and hatred, and encourages communities in Kosovo to contemplate the future and reconciliation.

"As we speak about the injustice done to Jesus Christ, we see much discord and wars in the world, whose source is hatred. We preach love, reconciliation, and coexistence among people. In these times, the greatest need for people is to become aware and to think more about life than death, more about peace than war, more about love than hatred among people," the bishop emphasizes.

Therefore, he hopes that the church will be the "voice of the times," as it has always been.

"That people reconcile, that they celebrate God - in heaven and with them, that we share days with the hope that He will turn all our troubles, sorrows, injustices into good and give meaning to it all in heaven," he adds.

Especially to the communities living in Kosovo, he urges them to think about the future and reconciliation.

"I think the time has come for us to reconcile, to be together, and to think about the future of our children, our peoples. No one needs it more than man, regardless of who he is, and what nationality, faith, or perception he has. And, these days, in this time, it is most necessary to find the path of reconciliation and mutual love. There is no other way," Bishop Gjergji emphasized.

He reminds that Easter was preceded by a period of fasting of seven weeks, or 40 days, so that believers could experience the presence of Christ in the church, so that they could be capable and strong, honest and good, and "renewed for the holiday."

"All these days of fasting, we have been preparing to delve deeper into the mystery of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, His death, and resurrection. We have been preparing for Easter day when we can all together joyfully shout 'Hallelujah' because Jesus has risen from the dead," Bishop Dode Gjergji said.

Easter celebration marks the end of Lent for believers, and the first indulgent bites are Easter eggs, traditionally dyed red as a symbol of the shed blood of Christ.

Easter, a holiday symbolizing the victory of life over death, is celebrated tomorrow by Catholics, Protestants, and Anglicans, as well as some Orthodox and numerous smaller churches.