Chapter 10: Summary of the Orthodox Teaching on the Fate

[尼古拉前执事]

Chapter 10: Summary of the Orthodox Teaching on the Fate of the Soul After Death

[Reader Benjamin]

I am from a protestant background. All the dead that I personally knew are non Orthodox. After reading this summary, I wonder, what can I do to perhaps “Pray” these friends and relatives into the Kingdom of God. I have been told before that my prayers lessen the sufferings, but now I have hope that perhaps, if they have not done some unforgivable sin,(I have no idea what these might be, nor if these people have committed any or not), that they may indeed be prayed into Heaven. But it must be noted as in this chapter, that unless the person wanted to be saved in his life and struggled to save it in some way, prayers will not bring them into Heaven.

Now my first question, can we commemorate unorthodox dead in the Liturgy? I know that we can not commemorate unorthodox living in the Liturgy. Probably not, because the Liturgy is for the Church. I am hoping that I am wrong. But at leas I can pray for them at home.

In my daily prayers I mention these people by name, is that sufficient or is there more that I can do. I looked at the services for the departed and I think that they are for the Orthodox. Any comments?

[romiosini]

I am from a protestant background. All the dead that I personally knew are non Orthodox. After reading this summary, I wonder, what can I do to perhaps “Pray” these friends and relatives into the Kingdom of God. I have been told before that my prayers lessen the sufferings, but now I have hope that perhaps, if they have not done some unforgivable sin,(I have no idea what these might be, nor if these people have committed any or not), that they may indeed be prayed into Heaven. But it must be noted as in this chapter, that unless the person wanted to be saved in his life and struggled to save it in some way, prayers will not bring them into Heaven.

Now my first question, can we commemorate unorthodox dead in the Liturgy? I know that we can not commemorate unorthodox living in the Liturgy. Probably not, because the Liturgy is for the Church. I am hoping that I am wrong. But at leas I can pray for them at home.

In my daily prayers I mention these people by name, is that sufficient or is there more that I can do. I looked at the services for the departed and I think that they are for the Orthodox. Any comments?

First answer: It is impossible to commemorate the unorthodox death and living because they, being outside of the Church cannot recieve and commune the Holy Mysteries.

Now regarding the prayer for the unorthodox in private depends on the instruction of your spiritual father. There are many ways. I can give you only an example of a nun who is still alive today. Her father wasn't a religious man, and battled her (the nun's) desire to go to a monastery. Having died, (her father) from cancer, she decided to pray for him and fast for him. Later in the future, when she recieved the Schema, and was gifted with the Grace of the Holy Spirit, she decided again to struggle for her father's salvation. (Another contemporary example is Saint Xenia of Petersburg for her husband) Having asked her Eldress for spiritual advice on what to do, she was advised to fast 40 days. At the 40th day, she still didn't feel that she helped her father. And asked the Eldress for another 40 days of fasting. This went on for another set of 40 days. In total, 120 days. At the evening after vespers at the 120th day, she fell asleep while doing her prayer rule. All of a sudden she found herself in her old home again with her father with her. She kissed him and hugged and was overjoyed to see him. And then, her father told her to listen to him. His smile changed and started crying and told her to stop praying for him, it is impossible (in his case only of course) to beg GOD to save him from eternal torment, because he beared mortal sins which he did not confess. She immediately wanted to tell him that she won't give up begging God, and he did a small metania to her and went to kiss her hand. At that moment she pulled her hand back, when she found herself standing in her cell again with her hand pulled back tramatized! She realized from then that in her father's case, she wouldn't be able to save him, but still did memorial services to help him stand the "flames" (not literate, but theoretical) of Hell.

Now those who didn't find the Church, it is obvious that they have a better chance than the person used as an example above. Of course, those who didn't find the Church and persecuted Her (the Church) then it would be hard for them to be saved with our prayers. But, the last confirmation is done by God.

[Reader Benjamin]

Thanks Romiosini