Limitless
and without consolation would have been our sorrow for close ones who are
dying, if the Lord had not given us eternal life. Our life would be pointless
if it ended with death. What benefit would there then be from virtue and good
deed? Then they would be correct who say: "Let us eat and drink, for
tomorrow we die!"
But when
it leaves the body, the soul finds itself among other spirits, good and bad.
Usually it inclines toward those which are more akin to it in spirit, and if
while in the body it was under the influence of certain ones, it will remain in
dependence upon them when it leaves the body, however unpleasant they may turn
out to be upon encountering them.
For the
course of two days the soul enjoys relative freedom and can visit places on
earth which were dear to it, but on the third day it moves into other spheres.
At this time (the third day), it passes through legions of evil spirits which
obstruct its path and accuse it of various sins, to which they themselves had
tempted it.
According
to various revelations there are twenty such obstacles, the so-called
"toll-houses," at each of which one or another form of sin is tested;
after passing through one the soul comes upon the next one, and only after
successfully passing through all of them can the soul continue its path without
being immediately cast into gehenna. How terrible these demons and their
toll-houses are may be seen in the fact that Mother of God Herself, when
informed by the Archangel Gabriel of Her approaching death, answering her
prayer, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared from heaven to receive the soul
of His Most Pure Mother and conduct it to heaven. Terrible indeed is the third
day for the soul of the departed, and for this reason it especially needs
prayers then for itself.
Then,
having successfully passed through the toll-houses and bowed down before God, the
soul for the course of 37 more days visits the heavenly habitations and the
abysses of hell, not knowing yet where it will remain, and only on the fortieth
day is its place appointed until the resurrection of the dead. Some souls find
themselves (after the forty days) in a condition of foretasting eternal joy and
blessedness, and others in fear of the eternal torments which will come in full
after the Last Judgment. Until then changes are possible in the condition of
souls, especially through offering for them the Bloodless Sacrifice
(commemoration at the Liturgy), and likewise by other prayers.
Therefore,
panikhidas (i.e., Trisagion Prayers for the Dead) and prayer at home for the dead
are beneficial to them, as are good deeds done in their memory, such as alms or
contributions to the church. But especially beneficial for them is
commemoration at the Divine Liturgy. There have been many appearances of the
dead and other occurrences which confirm how beneficial is the commemoration of
the dead. Many who died in repentance, but who were unable to manifest this
while they were alive, have been freed from tortures and have obtained repose.
In the Church prayers are ever offered for the repose of the dead, and on the
day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, in the kneeling prayers at vespers,
there is even a special petition "for those in hell."
Every one
of us who desires to manifest his love for the dead and give them real help,
can do this best of all through prayer for them, and particularly by
commemorating them at the Liturgy, when the particles which are cut out for the
living and the dead are let fall into the Blood of the Lord with the words:
"Wash away, O Lord, the sins of those here commemorated by Thy Precious
Blood and by the prayers of Thy saints."
We can do
nothing better or greater for the dead than to pray for them, offering
commemoration for them at the Liturgy. Of this they are always in need, and
especially during those forty days when the soul of the deceased is proceeding
on its path to the eternal habitations. The body feels nothing then: it does
not see its close ones who have assembled, does not smell the fragrance of the
flowers, does not hear the funeral orations. But the soul senses the prayers
offered for it and is grateful to those who make them and is spiritually close
to them.
O
relatives and close ones of the dead! Do for them what is needful for them and
within your power. Use your money not for outward adornment of the coffin and
grave, but in order to help those in need, in memory of your close ones who
have died, for churches, where prayers for them are offered. Show mercy to the
dead, take care of their souls.
Before us
all stands the same path, and how we shall then wish that we would be
remembered in prayer! Let us therefore be ourselves merciful to the dead.
As soon
as someone has reposed, immediately call or inform a priest, so he can read the
Prayers appointed to be read over all Orthodox Christians after death.
Try, if
it be possible, to have the funeral in Church and to have the Psalter read over
the deceased until the funeral.
Let us
take care for those who have departed into the other world before us, in order
to do for them all that we can, remembering that "Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
By St. John Maximovitch
Source: http://artoklasia.blogspot.com.by/2014/12/what-happens-first-40-days-after-death.html
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