Northern Ireland has dominated church leaders' traditional Easter sermons, with hopes expressed that there will be a lasting peace and praise for the courage shown by the politicians who brokered a new agreement.

Archbishop Eames: "We have prayed for peace."

The Most Rev Dr Robert Eames, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, said Northern Ireland had an opportunity which everyone should embrace wholeheartedly.

Dr Eames, better known as Robin Eames, told his congregation in Armagh, Northern Ireland: "Easter after Easter we have prayed for peace.

Archbishop Eames: "There is a great feeling of hope"

"Easter after Easter we have said to God in our prayers give us and bring us to peace.

"The developments of the past few days have not only mesmerised us, not only taken our breath away, but they have in a sense said something of great importance to us as we thank God for Easter morning."

Later, talking to reporters, he stressed it was up to people to decide whether to support the new agreement reached by politicians. He said his message was for people to "go forward in courage" and "to realise that we are all made in the image of God."

He added: "We deserve peace. We have to grasp peace."

Accentuating the positive

Archbishop Brady: my hope for peace

The Most Rev Sean Brady, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, called on people to consider the proposals carefully.

"We'll be asking people to see the positive," he said.

At Canterbury Cathedral, the Most Rev and Rt Hon George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, warned against bitter memories of sectarian violence thwarting the search for peace.

Archbishop Carey: we must remember Christian traditions

In a sermon that was interrupted by gay rights protestors, he said memories "play a crucial role in determining the way we live our lives either positively or negatively."

Dr Carey added "Think, for instance, of the destructive potential of memory, whether in Kosovo or Northern Ireland or Rwanda, where the bitterness of past conflict continues to sour relationships and forbids the possibility of healing or transformation."

He urged people to remember the "richness of warm memories" and the "goodness of people."

"Of course I am aware of the danger of any society or institution becoming stuck in the past.

"A truly healthy society needs to be open to change and transformation whilst always being firmly rooted in the past, and able to drink deeply from those well-springs of truth embedded in its traditions."

Dr David Hope: praised parties involved

In his Easter message, the Most Rev and Rt Hon David Hope, Archbishop of York, paid tribute to the parties involved in the deal.

Dr Hope told his congregation at York Minster that all those involved needed to come to terms with the implications of the pact, but urged them not to abandon the struggle for peace.

"It will demand of all concerned first, the assimilation of what has been agreed, and then, we pray, a similar commitment to the continuing struggle for peace, and the triumph of reconciliation in these lands," he said.

In his traditional Easter message, Pope John Paul II lamented "strife" and "slaughter" in the world, singling out Africa and Europe, but did not specifically mention Northern Ireland.

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