The spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians in the U.S., Archbishop Demetrios of America, said the lives of believers are a witness to Pascha, as the Church celebrates Easter a week after most Christians, following the the Julian calendar.

"On this most scared of days, this Feast of Great and Holy Pascha, I wish you and your families the fullness of the joy and blessings that are offered to us by God through our Risen Lord Jesus Christ," he wrote in an Enclyclical released Saturday. "May this fullness of joy fill your hearts an may the light of grace and truth shine through your lives offering to all a witness of the transforming power of Christ's Resurrection."

Orthodox bishops also sent a message to believers in the region.

""As we delight in the brilliance of the Resurrection, the dawn of the New and Eight Day, we wish you and your families a most glorious Paschal season," wrote members of Assembly of Canonical Orthdox Bishops of North and Central America in a statement. " Assuring you of our continued blessings, paternal love and fervent prayers, we remain in the Risen Christ."

Believers were called by Washington's Archbishop Jonah, Metropolitan of All America and Canada to use what they have been given for God.

"Let us put to good use the illumination given to us by the Risen Lord, that we may identify our gifts, our talents, our treasures, that we may offer them back to Him who has ascended the Cross for our salvation, to Him in whom we find the only genuine reality, and to Him, who, through the Cross, offers to us the promise of salvation and eternal life in His Kingdom."