THE PARASTASMEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE REPOSED

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• Aren’t you worshipping Idols?

• Why do they look so Weird?

• What good are they?

Where is the Funeral Mass?• It is the Service the Church prescribes as

proper & most appropriate

• the best prayer the Church can offer– for the Salvation of the person reposed.

• the best spiritual and psychological Comfort & Consolation the Church can offer

– those who mourn.

• the best Service for the proclamation of the Holy Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ and his power to save

– Evangelisation of the congregation!!

The “Reposed”• The Church refers to the person whom we

mourn as Reposed” • meaning “asleep in the Lord –• awaiting Resurrection from the dead”.

• The Bible says: all who have been baptized into Christ

• i.e.: those who have committed their whole their lives to the Lord

• are not “dead” • but have only “Fallen Asleep” in the Lord, • to be “awakened” (i.e. Resurrected) by Him on

the Last Day.

The Parastas• The word = a Wake (night vigil service)

– Not so any more– Though for Funerals (cf. Christ’s during Great Week)– There remains the tradition of doing a proper Vigil with the Body

• reading the Psalms throughout the night• Reading the Gospels (if a Priest)

• An abbreviation of the Funeral Service: • “The Order of Burial”

• The Funeral Service is opined by Theologians as probably a Sacrament

– Thought undefined as such as yet

• Served during 6 x during the Great Fast & Paschal Season– Due to the Themes of Death and Resurrection– Not only the Christ’s– But of course OURS, who have been baptised into His Death/Res.– Saint John Chrysostom beautifully observes:– “The Jews of the Old Testament wept for Jacob and for Moses for 40

days

The Parastas: Structure 1

• Psalm 90– God’s Protection & Salvation

• Great Litany for the Reposed• Tropars:

– The Reposed has place their hope in God

• Psalm 118 in three Stations– Concludes with the Evlogitaria

• Adapted for the Memorial

The Parastas: Structure 2

• Irmologion Topar– Give Rest with the Saints to your

servant– Establish them in your Courts– Disregard their Transgressions

• Voluntary & Involuntary• With knowledge & in ignorance

– O Philanthropos

The Parastas: Structure 2

• Psalm 50: penitential psalm• Canon of Teofan

– Irmos (opening hymn)– 4 tropars– Katavasia (closing hymn)

• Hymn to the Theotokos• The Panakhyda

Psalm 119

• the verbal icon of the righteous man who has total trust in God and total devotion and love for his Divine Law

• —the verbal icon of Jesus Christ —• is chanted over the Reposed, • with its praises and supplications for

life in God. • It is this same psalm which is

chanted over the tomb of Christ on Great Friday.

Psalm 119• My soul cleaves to the dust, give me life

according to Thy word. (119:25)

• Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; and give me life in Thy ways. (119:37)

• Behold, I long for Thy precepts; in Thy righteousness give me life. (119:40)

• Thy testimonies are righteousness forever; give me understanding that I may live. (119:144)

• Plead my cause, and redeem me; give me life according to Thy promise. (119:154)

Voices 1• Byzantine Funerals & Memorials fly in the face of N.

American culture

• Popular:– Celebrations (not mourning)– Celebration of Life (not mourning the dead)

• Byzantine Memorials seem shockingly Morbid and Harsh

• Popular culture is pagan• Cannot deal with death• Therefore its popular mythology is one of denial• So much so, there is some pretense there is no

funeral (cover the dirt, not lower the coffin, etc.)

Voices 2• Byzantine Memorials help not just the Reposed but also

the bereaved:• By Psychologically & Spiritually• Helping them to actually Mourn

• All Fears & Emotions are expressed• All Voices are heard:

– Mourners & Bereaved: grief, loss, and sorrow– The Reposed: fears, dread, existential angst, prayers for

Salvation– God’s

• All prayers and hopes are expressed• & God’s Response to our darknesses and hopes are

Proclaimed– In His mercy, love, and promise of Resurrection into the

Kingdom• Thus we are consoled

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• 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?

Vichnaya Pamyat• “Grant them Memory Eternal”, • not praying that we don’t forget the deceased or that

they be remembered infinitely• 1:It is from Eternity that God’s remembrance of the

departed keeps them existent and in peaceful repose in “paradise” in Hades--until the Resurrection

• 2: Bishop Hlib of London explains:• the prayer originates in Christ's Crucifixion. • The Good Thief prayed to Jesus: • "Lord, Remember me in Your Kingdom." • The Christ responded: • "Today you shall be with me in Paradise!" • This prayer asks Christ to “remember” our Reposed

from God's Eternity (i.e. to resurrect them into God’s eternal Kingdom).

• If the Messiah "Remembers" us at death, we “shall be with Christ in Paradise”.

THE THEOTOKOS

The Gospels in Colour Healing the Soul