Tuesday, March 28, 2017

PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED

“The Departed” is the phrase we Christians generally call those who have died. It is because we do not believe that they are dead. To be dead means to cease to exist. The Orthodox position is that our beloved ones who die after their course on earth do not cease to exist; on the other hand death is only a threshold to enter another life which is relatively eternal. Death merely changes the address of human beings, unlike that of irrational animals. Hence it is only right and just that we call them “departed”.
The Departed Continue to Adore and Pray to God
The Protestant position is that the dead are “silent” until the last judgment. This means that they are not active souls, in a way they are in their perennial sleep until Jesus comes and wakes them up! But Metropolitan Barnabas emphatically denies this position without doubt, and proves the contrary from the Holy Scriptures. He goes to the Book of Apocalypsis (Revelation) to prove his point. Referring to the departed the Holy Apostle John the Divine testifies based on his vision:
“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple (emphasis mine). And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe way every tear from their eyes” (Revelation: 7:15- 17)

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