LIFE, DEATH RESURRECTION IN BYZANTINE SPIRITUALITY

Spirituality of Memorial Services Salvation of the Reposed –Prayers for the Repose Salvation of the Bereaved –Console & Comfort those Mourning Salvation of the World –Proclamation of God’s love & mercy for all –Evangelisation

Byzantine Practice At Death we call the Presbyter For the Last Rites = Confession Holy Communion Office of the Departure of the Soul from the Body

Requiem Services Funeral Service –Not a Mass –The Order of Burial 1 version for Laity, Deacons, & Minor Orders 1 version for Bishops & Presbyters 1 version for monastics Parastas –A Memorial Service –An abridged version of the Order of Burial Panakhyda –An abridged version of the Parastas –Just the last section

Prayer for the Reposed A Memorial Service –Whether a Parastas or a Panakhyda is done: –Immediately after the person has reposed On the: –3d Day –9 th day –40 th day –The Anniversaries –The semi-anniversaries

Byzantine Doctrinal Theology Both Kataphatic But especially Apophatic We don’t NEED to know everything Not everything has to be dogmatically defined to the last detail What has been revealed to us, this we know What has not been revealed, we can live with not knowing

What we know & What we Don’t In the Byzantine Churches Very little actual Official Dogma about the After life What we know for sure: –Basically what is in the Bible –Cf. old Latin Church dictum: re the 4 Last Things Death Judgment Heaven Hell

The Dream of St Macarios: a Midrash Guardian angel takes the soul Present in places of good works On the 3d day See Heaven On the 9 th Day See Hell On the 40 th The Particular Judgment

Byz. Midrash: After life states Heaven Paradise Hades Gehenna The Particular Judgment, awaiting… The Final Judgment –The 2d and Glorious Coming –Resurrection and the Kingdom

txt Aren’t you worshipping Idols? Why do they look so Weird? What good are they?

txt Aren’t you worshipping Idols? Why do they look so Weird? What good are they?

txt Aren’t you worshipping Idols? Why do they look so Weird? What good are they?

txt Aren’t you worshipping Idols? Why do they look so Weird? What good are they?

THE THEOTOKOS

The Gospels in Colour Healing the Soul