Christians in Seychelles celebrate Easter Sunday
General |Author: Sharon Uranie | April 20, 2014, Sunday @ 14:09| 4204 views
Believers heading towards Anglican's St Paul's Cathedral in the capital of Victoria (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency)
(Seychelles News Agency) - Christians in the Seychelles have packed the different churches across the country as Easter mass was celebrated on this day that believers worldwide are remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Religious services with a special focus on the meaning of Easter have been celebrated this morning by the Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox Christians and other Christian faiths in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
| Anglican Bishop James Wong leading Easter Mass this morning calling on believers to focus on two things, “Jesus was crucified” and “He has risen.” (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: Attribution |
In his Easter message, the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles the Right Reverend James Wong called on believers to focus on two things; “Jesus was crucified” and “He has risen.”
Talking about Jesus’ crucifixion Wong said believers should know that it was public, painful, precious, planned by God and that it was the punishment for our sin.
“The crucifixion of Jesus is precious to those who believe, because by that death, we are ransomed from sin, guilt, condemnation, hell and we are given eternal life,” said Wong.
“This is what Jesus came to accomplish: eternal life for all who believe. This is why he was crucified and died. It was public, painful, planned, precious and a punishment bore for us! My prayer today, is that you will all see him for who he is, and that he will become precious to you,” he added.
When addressing the resurrection of Jesus, the Bishop of the Anglican Church called on believers to focus on two aspects; that the resurrection of Jesus is powerful; and the resurrection of Jesus is personal.
| Christians attending Easter mass at the Anglican's St Paul's Cathedral (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: Attribution |
"No created being died in Jesus’ place on the cross. He died and rose gain and he lives for ever,” said Wong.Wong told believers present for Easter mass at St Paul’s Cathedral in the capital of Victoria that while it is normal to rejoice during Easter they must never forget that Easter is Easter only because Jesus died on the cross.
Not far from the St Paul’s Cathedral in Victoria, a large crowd of Roman Catholic believers had also gathered at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.
Vicar General, Father Edwin Mathiot, led the service as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Seychelles Denis Wiehe, celebrated Easter Mass at St Anne’s Parish on the second most populated island of Praslin this year.
| Father Edwin Mathiot greeting Christians at the Roman Catholic's Cathedral of immaculate Conception (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: Attribution |
Bishop Wiehe’s message for this Easter also focussed on the death and resurrection of Jesus, calling on believers to have faith in Christ in all circumstances.
“The World is in need of certainty and conviction. Let us be ready to be witnesses of our faith in Jesus (…)” said Wiehe.
On this hot Easter, Sunday families in Seychelles are now meeting in their homes or on the beaches across the islands as they share lunch together.
An Easter family fun fair has also been organised in the capital of Victoria.
Seychelles has a population of around 90, 000 and according to the National Bureau of Statistics 76.2 percent of the Seychelles population is Roman Catholic, 6.1 percent Anglican, 2.4 percent Hindu, 1.6 percent Muslim, and 13.7 percent other faiths.