MEMORIAL DIVINE SERVICES: SATURDAY OF SOULS SATURDAY OF THE DEAD

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

MEMORIAL DIVINE SERVICES: SATURDAY OF SOULS
[SATURDAY OF THE DEAD]

On the day before Sunday of the Last Judgment, and in close connection with the theme of this Sunday, there is A UNIVERSAL COMMEMORATION OF THE DEAD ‘FROM ALL THE AGES.’ (There are further commemorations of the dead on the SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH SUNDAYS IN HOLY AND GREAT LENT.) Before we call to mind the Second Coming of Christ in the divine services on Sunday, we commend to God all those departed before us, who are now awaiting the Last Judgment. In the texts for this Saturday there is a strong sense of the continuing bond of MUTUAL LOVES that links together ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, WHETHER ALIVE OR DEAD. For those who believe in the Risen Christ, death does not constitute an impassable barrier, since ALL ARE ALIVE IN HIM; departed are still our brethren, MEMBERS OF THE SAME FAMILY WITH US, and so we are conscious OF THE NEED TO PRAY INSISTENTLY ON THEIR BEHALF.

Early Christians expressed their concern for the repose of the souls of their beloved BY WORKS CHARITY and LOVE by PERSONAL AND COMMUNAL PRAYERS. The Apostolic Constitutions recommended that part of the possessions of a dead person be distributed to the poor in his ‘MEMORY’. Saint John Chrysostomos, Jerome, Tertullian and others, also recommended ALMS other good works for the repose of the soul of the dead also benefit the doers. Another kind of memorial was the gathering on the graves of the dead or in the church, and the serving of meals known as ‘MAKARIAI’ (meals in memory of) that are still held by many in the church hall following burial.

Praying for the dead could include celebrating the Divine Eucharist or could be a speciall= service–as is is now–in which the names of the dead were mentioned, or could be both. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem mentions the prayers offered for the benefit of all who have died in the faith of Christ, stating that THEIR SOULS GREATLY BENEFIT BY THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH AND BY OFFERING THE BLOODLESS SACRIFICE FOR THE REPOSE OF THEIR SOULS. Saint John Chrysostomos believes that "to mention the names of the departed in the awesome Mystery of the Divine Eucharist results in much benefit for the souls of the beloved." Above all, praying for the dead is a deeply rooted practice in the Church on the belief that the Church of Christ is constituted NOT ONLY HER LIVING MEMBERS BUT ALSO OF HER DEPARTED ONES. The Bloodless Sacrifice of the Orthodox Eucharist, as articulated in all the Liturgies in use, is offered for the benefit OF BOTH DEAD AND LIVING FAITHFUL. A Biblical basis for praying for the dead may be found in the holy Epistle of Saint James, 5:16 by which "the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects’.

According to the Apostolic Constitutions, MEMORIAL SERVICES may be held on the 3rd, 9th, and 40th day, and on the completion of a year from the day of death. These prescribed times are still observed in most Orthodox places. Considering the fact that in the Orthodox Churches of the diaspora a memorial service with the participation of the congregation must be held on a Sunday, the 40th day memorial service is the one universally observed although, by necessity, it may not be held exactly on the 40th day. Needless to say, the Orthodox people may give the names of their departed loved ones to be mentioned by the priest in the Divine Eucharist at any time. Please remember to always give THE ORTHODOX BAPTISMAL NAMES OF YOUR LOVED ONES and NOT a secular or secularized name!

KOLLYVA are closely connected with memorial services for the benefit of one’s departed. Their origin goes back to the time of Julian the Apostate when in 362 A.D. he withdrew from the market in Constantinople food-stuffs prescribed for the first day of the Great Lent, Clean Monday, and ordered that they be substituted with ‘POLLUTED SACRIFICIAL FOOD’ in an attempt to enforce upon the people paganism of which he was an ardent supporter. But Saint Theodore suggested to Patriarch Evodoxios that he ordain boiled wheat (already called Kollyva) as a substitute to Lenten food-stuffs taken from the market by the pagan Emperor Julian. Since then kollyva, having become connected with celebrating the memory of Saints, were brought to church and were blessed by the priest during memorial prayers known today as Memorial Services. Kollyva are distributed to the congregation after the service, who in return say, ‘MAY GOD FORGIVE HIS/HER SOUL!’

The Kollyva are symbolic of the RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD on the day of the Second Coming of the Lord Christ. Saint Paul said, "what you saw does not come to life unless it dies" [1 Corinthians 15:34], and Saint John, "UNLESS A GRAIN OF WHEAT FALLS INTO THE EARTH AND DIES, IT REMAINS ALONE; BUT IF IT DIES, IT BEARS MUCH FRUIT" [John 12:24.  Thus, as the wheat is buried in the soil and disintegrates without really dying but is later regenerated into a new plant that  bears much more fruit than itself, so the Christian's body will be raised again from the very corruptible matter from which it is now made; however, it will be raised NOT IN ITS PREVIOUS FLESHLY SUBSTANCE BUT AN IMMORTAL GARMENT", in the words of the Holy Apostle Paul (I Corinthians 15:53).