The Orthodox Church sets a few days of the year to specifically commemorate all those who have fallen asleep in hope of the Resurrection. My home parish didn’t have a Memorial Liturgy this morning, but St. Athanasius Orthodox Church livestreamed their service on Facebook.
The intercessory prayer that begins at 1:42:01 (16:22 before the end of this video) and especially the hymn that follows immediately after are especially poignant for me today. My father passed into eternal life on March 15, 2019. None of my family are Orthodox, but as Fr. Justin led his community in prayer, I added my own prayers — for my father and my grandparents. I am grateful to my old friend and former classmate for making it possible to pray along with him today.
“O God of spirits and of all flesh, Who hath trampled down death, and made powerless the Devil, and given life to Thy world: Do Thou, the same Lord, give rest to the souls of Thy departed servants in a place of brightness, a place of verdure, a place of repose, whence all sickness, sorrow, and sighing have fled away. Pardon every sin which they have committed, whether by word, or deed, or thought; for Thou art good, and lovest mankind: for there is no man who liveth and sinneth not, and Thou only art without sin, and Thy righteousness is to all eternity, and Thy law is truth. For Thou art the Resurrection, and the Life, and the Repose of Thy departed servants, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine All-Holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.”
With the Saints give rest O Christ
to the soul of Thy servant
where sickness and sorrow are no more,
neither sighing but life everlasting.
Thou only art immortal
who hast created and fashioned man.
For out of the earth were we mortals made
and unto the same earth shall we return again
as Thou commanded when Thou madest me, saying unto me
for thou art dust and unto dust shalt thou return.
Whither we mortals all shall go
making our funeral dirge the song:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
