Letter of condolence from WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia to the catholicos of the East and metropolitan of the
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on the death of H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews II the church's former catholicos...

Your Holiness,

It is with great sorrow that we received the news of the sad demise of His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, former Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, yesterday afternoon. On behalf of the World Council of Churches, I would like to express our deep sorrow and extend our condolences.

H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, who was ordained as a Bishop in 1953, was one of the oldest serving ecclesiastical leaders in the world.

Interfax-Religion - Moscow,Russia
Moscow, April 17, Interfax - Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II said on Monday that he prays for the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church inside and outside Russia in every service he ministers.

Today there are no reasons for schism between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian people who found themselves abroad during the Revolution. It is our duty to resolve problems that remain in our relations, he said....

NewKerala.com - Ernakulam,Kerala,India
Thiruvananthapuram: Christians in Kerala began celebrating Easter Sunday morning after observing a 50-day lent.

For many Christians, the day began with a visit to a church as early as 2 a.m. Sunday morning, while in some churches the Easter mass began along with the sunrise....

In our time, most of my family members used to strictly observe the lent by turning pure vegetarians. Not even milk or eggs were consumed. But does that happen these days? asked Chinnama Abraham, an 83-year-old devout Orthodox Christian from Kottayam as she sat down to have her Easter breakfast...

New York Times - United States
CAIRO, April 16 -­ Clashes between Muslims and Coptic Christians continued for a third day on Sunday in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Egypt. Bands of Muslims and Christians rioted in the streets, burning cars, pillaging shops and attacking one another with stones and Molotov cocktails, while other Coptic Christians observed their Palm Sunday inside the churches...

Charleston Post Courier (subscription) - Charleston,SC,USA
Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom (circa 400):

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages!...