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
DEATH AND GRIEVING ACCORDING TO
THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH AND
HOLY TRADITION.
Let us hear the divine word of the Holy Apostle Paul who speaking to the Thessalonians says, “But I do not want to you to be ignorant, brethren, CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP, LEST YOU SORROW AS OTHERS WHO HAVE NO HOPE. For IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO SLEEP IN JESUS. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. THEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
The above lesson is the epistle reading that is read at every Orthodox funeral service. Immediately followed by the reading from the Gospel of Saint John (Chapter 5:, Verses 24-30):
The Lord said to the Jews who came to him: “I tell you the truth; whoever hears my words, and believes in him who sent Me, has eternal life. He will not be judged, but has already passed FROM DEATH TO LIFE. I tell you the truth: The time is coming — the time has already come — when THE DEAD WILL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD, AND THOSE WHO HEAR IT WILL LIVE. Even as the Father is Himself the Source of Life, in the same way he has made his Son to be the Source of Life. And he has given the Son the right to judge, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be surprised at this; for the time is coming when ALL THE DEAD IN THE GRAVES WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, AND THEY WILL COME FORTH: THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD DEEDS TO A RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL DEEDS TO A RESURRECTION OF JUDGEMENT. I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear I judge and my judgment is just; because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the Father who sent me.”
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SAYS:
“JESUS said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ JESUS said to her, ‘I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, THOUGH HE MAY DIE, HE SHALL LIVE. AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?” (John 11:23-26).
Saint John Chrysostom in his sermon read at the Holy Pascha (The Day of the Resurrection) by
the officiating priest says,
“Whoever is a devout lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful bright Festival. And whosoever is a grateful servant, let him rejoice and enter into the joy of his Lord. And if any be weary with fasting, let him now receive his penny. If any have toiled from the first hour, let him receive his due reward. If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast. And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any have delayed to the ninth hour, let him not hesitate, but let him come too. And he that hath arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay; for the Lord is gracious and receiveth the last even as the first. He giveth rest to him that cometh at the eleventh hour as well as to him that hath toiled from the first. Yea, to this one, he giveth and upon that one, he bestoweth. He accepteth works, as he greeteth the endeavour. The deed he honoureth and the intention he commendeth.
Let all then enter into the joy of our Lord. Ye first and last receiving alike your reward, ye rich and poor, rejoice together. Ye sober and ye slothful, celebrate the day. Ye that have kept the fast, and ye that have not, rejoice today; for the Table is richly laden. Fare ye royally on it. The calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake ye all of the cup of faith. Enjoy ye all the riches of His goodness. Let no one grieve at his poverty; for the Universal Kingdom hath been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he hath fallen again and again, for forgiveness hath risen from the grave. Let NO ONE FEAR DEATH; FOR THE DEATH OF THE SAVIOUR HATH SET US FREE. HE HATH DESTROYED IT BY ENDURING IT. HE SPOILED HADES WHEN HE DESCENDED THERETO. HE VEXED IT EVEN AS IT TASTED OF HIS FLESH. ISAIAH FORETOLD THIS WHEN HE CRIED, THOU, O HADES, HAST BEEN VEXED BY ENCOUNTERING HIM BELOW. IT IS VEXED; FOR IT IS EVEN DONE AWAY WITH. IT IS VEXED; FOR IT IS MADE A MOCKERY. IT IS VEXED; FOR IT IS DESTROYED. IT IS VEXED; FOR IT IS ANNIHILATED. IT IS VEXED; FOR IT IS NOW MADE CAPTIVE. IT TOOK A BODY, AND, LO! IT DISCOVERED GOD. IT TOOK EARTH, AND, BEHOLD! IT ENCOUNTERED HEAVEN. IT TOOK WHAT IT SAW, AND WAS OVERCOME BY WHAT IT DID NOT SEE. O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O HADES, WHERE IS THY VICTORY? CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THOU ART ANNIHILATED, CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE EVIL ONES ARE CAST DOWN. CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE ANGELS REJOICE. CHRIST IS RISEN, AND LIFE IS LIBERATED. CHRIST IS RISEN, AND THE TOMB IS EMPTIED OF THE DEAD; FOR CHRIST, HAVING RISEN FROM THE DEAD, IS BECOME THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THOSE THAT HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP. TO HIM BE GLORY AND POWER FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.”
SAINT PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS WRITES ON THE
RESURRECTION. (1 Corinthians 15:12-22)
“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then OUR PREACHING IS EMPTY AND YOUR FAITH IS ALSO EMPTY. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that HE raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up–if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ , is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, YOUR FAITH IS FUTILE; YOU ARE STILL IN YOUR SINS! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has BECOME THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP. FOR SINCE BY MAN CAME DEATH BY Man also CAME THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. For as in Adam all die, EVEN SO IN CHRIST ALL SHALL BE MADE ALIVE” .
The true Orthodox phronema is the belief in the Resurrection of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ and for all those who believe in Him. Our Holy Orthodox Church has consistently and continuously taught for over 2,000 years of His Resurrection and our anticipated resurrection. Therefore, when an Orthodox Christian falls asleep in the Lord our grief or sorrow is lessened by the hope of the resurrection to come. We grieve “not as those who have no hope,” or belief in the resurrection and eternal life. For the Orthodox Christian death is not the end, but a point of transition, the beginning of life to come. At the time of death our soul is separated from our mortal and physical body. We believe that the soul continues to live, awaiting the resurrection at the last day. In the Creed we proclaim “I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.” As citizens of the Kingdom, our bodies will be changed to be like Christ’s Body: “But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power which enables Him even to subject all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).
All our Orthodox divine services reflect the spirit of the resurrection. It is a spirit of joy and comfort and therefore the Orthodox Christian does not dwell on grief or sorrow. Our earthly life is a temporary one and we are transients, simply passing through this life. As Christians we prepare spiritually for our anticipated death. Death is a bridge between this temporary life and the life to come. A bridge that all human beings will cross one day when God wills. We do not fear death and we know that no one can avoid it. As death approaches death, the Orthodox priest is asked to administer the Mysteries (Sacraments) such as Holy Unction, Holy Confession/Repentance, or Holy Communion. Through the Sacraments of our Church we receive forgiveness, healing of body and soul, and God’s grace. But always seeking God’s mercy and compassion. The belief in God is a belief in the Living God forever. A Living God forever is the substance and the cause of Everlasting life. Eternal life has no value without a Living God. The Kingdom of God is the realm of Everlasting Life in the presence of the countenance of God – the Kingdom to which Jesus Christ is leading the lost sheep.
Remembrance of the dead is human but most important is to remember our loved ones in our prayers and for the salvation of their souls. This is the reason why our Holy Church has divine services to encourage and to guide the faithful to include their deceased relatives in the prayers and blessings of the Church. The priest prays to the Almighty God “for the rest of the soul of the servant of God (the deceased person) and for the remission of all his/her sins.” He reads: “Let us plead for the mercies of God …and the forgiveness of his/her sins.” “O Lord give rest…and of Thy goodness and mercy remit, O God, all the sins committed by him/her.” “For Thou O Christ our God, art the resurrection, the life, and repose of Thy servant.”
___________
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 