Brethren:
I ask all of you to pray for the newly reposed (April 4th) servant of God, Serge (Sergei). He and his family were friends of mine for the last 12 years, and his sudden passing is a very sad event during this Paschal Season. May our Lord God grant rest to his soul, and let his memory be eternal.
Vechnaia emu pamiat!
Sinful and unworthy Reader, Miguel.
Kybihetz21,
Christ is Risen!
The sadness is for those who miss him, but rejoice for he is celebrating Pascha in God's Kingdom. He reposed on the 4th; that means that his third day was on the 7th(Saturday). He entered God's Kingdom during Pascha!!
God called him home during the most sacred time, Holy Week. This is actually a great blessing and also for those who repose during Bright week.
For those who repose during Bright week, the saints teach that the doors of heaven are open to receive their souls, just like the main door of the Holy Altar is open all week(and Sergei entered right from the beginning). They go straight to Heaven. All sins are forgiven for God's love is beyond our feable understanding.
In Sergei's case, his 3rd day of judement was on Pascha. See?
The Paschal season is a time of spiritual hope and glorification. It is the Feast of all feasts. Even in death, during this time, there should be joy, for that soul is received into God's Kingdom. The angels are rejoicing. The demons are hiding.
Let his family know that he is in a better place than we are. We still need to face our battles, but he is in spiritual rest. He received a first class ticket to God's Kingdom. Pass this message on to his family. Help them turn their sadness into joy, for we musn't forget that the most important part of our faith is hope in Christ. Help them to turn their darkness into light.
Sergei was given a great blessing. God chose him to have eternal life. He must have been a very faithful man.
We should be saying Lord have mercy, for ourselves, for mercy is needed where spiritual struggles abound, but Sergei is with God now.
Joanna
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Ps. 50)