04/16/2012 10:14 TURKEY Bartholomew I: The Resurrection of Christ is the only ark of salvation for a humanity in crisis by NAT da Polis In his Easter message, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople denounces the reckless search for material goods and material well-being, which hides fear of death, killing others. The real "fountain of immortality" already exists and is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians follow the risen Christ and do his work in charity.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - With a thought to the crisis that is afflicting the modern world, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I celebrated the Easter holidays of the Orthodox Christian world, by sending a message that emphasizes the importance of the resurrection of our Lord as only response of salvation for the world. This world, for Bartholomew, believes that through economic globalization "it has gained eternity'. In fact, globalization is based on a reckless material well-being that denigrates values which attempt to preserve the dignity of 'human existence.

His message emphasized that there is no miracle recipe for eternal life on this earth beyond the saving message of the resurrection of Christ. The mythological search for '"fountain of eternal life" is of no use, said Bartholomew, because "'immortality exists in Christ and is offered to all through Him."

"If the resurrection of Christ only involved Him, it would have no meaning for us," Bartholomew begun. "But Christ is not risen alone. With Him the whole human race is risen.... The message is joyous for all, because the Resurrection of Christ cancels the power of death. Those who believe in Him, confess the resurrection of dead and so are baptized into his death, resurrected together with Him and live to eternal life. "

"The world is far from Christ - he continued- trying to accumulate material goods in which it places all of life's hope. Man inconsiderately hopes that through wealth he will avoid death. And the man who errs in accumulating wealth, as if it could lengthen his life, spreads death to others. He rips their economic strength of survival and often violently interrupts the thread of their lives, hoping that it will save his life".

"You do not need - added the Ecumenical Patriarch - to destroy peoples to allow other peoples survive. Nor is there any need to destroy defenseless human beings to allow more prosperous fellow human beings live. Christ offers life on earth and the heavenly life to all. He has risen for those wishing to follow the path of the resurrection. In contrast, those who directly or indirectly spread death, believing it to extend or facilitate their lives, condemn themselves to eternal death. "

"Our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ - Bartholomew underscored - came into the world so that all men may have life and 'have it abundantly. It would be a great mistake to believe that the welfare of the human race can only be decided through infighting. We follow, brothers and beloved children in the Lord, the Risen Christ, in all his works. Let us help those who live without means of subsistence, to keep them alive."

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04/16/2012 10:14 TURKEY Bartholomew I: The Resurrection of Christ is the only ark of salvation for a humanity in crisis