The importance of the commemoration for the departed

[Nina]

I received this by email.

"On the Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion

In the skete of St. Anne lived a certain hiermonk Savvas, the famous "Papa-Savvas" as he was called. Fr. Joachim Spetsieris had him as his spiritual father. The Empress of Russia, Catherine, also had him as her spiritual father. He served the liturgy every day; he was a God-bearing, clairvoyant teacher of noetic prayer.

Once some people asked him, "What motivates you to commemorate so many names in the proskomidi?" He answered, "When I was younger, we called the bishop to consecrate the church above the Holy Monastery of St. Dionysios" (It was there that he first practiced hesychasm, with his elder, Papa-Hilarion, another famous spiritual father.) "After the consecration, the bishop said to my Elder, 'May I give Papa-Savvas some names to commemorate for forty days, since he serves liturgy every day?" My Elder told him, 'Give him as many as you want.' So he gave me sixty-two names. When I had completed thirty-nine Liturgies and was about to serve the fortieth, I leaned against the chanter's stand and waited for my Elder to come, so that I could say the entrance prayers to serve Liturgy. I fell asleep and saw in my sleep that I was wearing priestly vestments and was standing before the Holy Table. On the Holy Table was the holy diskos for the Liturgy, and the holy chalice full of the holy Blood of Christ. Then I saw Papa-Stephen come and take the communion spoon and the paper from the proskomidi, approach the Holy Table, and put the paper on it beside the holy diskos. Then he dipped the spoon into the holy Blood of Christ and a name was erased. He dipped it again and another one was erased, and so forth until all were done and the paper was clean. Then I awoke, and in a little while my Elder came. Immediately I told him what I saw. The Elder said to me, 'Didn't I tell you not to believe in dreams?' After the Liturgy he added, 'You are not worthy for their sins to be forgiven; through the power of the Blood of Christ their sins were forgiven.' So this is the reason why I commemorate the names of everyone. "

Selected from Counsels from the Holy Mountain
From the Letters and Homilies of Elder Ephraim

[Peter Farrington]

And on a similar theme, I was very touched by reading the life of Papa Nicholas Planas several times, and he seemed to always have a very long list of commemorations which he offered at the Liturgy.

I think you are right that this is an important ministry. Often I am torn between wanting to pray for everyone I know by name, and yet also wanting to rest in simply praying the Jesus Prayer, and so I pray, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us...meaning to encompass all those who are on my heart.

How do Fathers here advise balancing prayer for oneself, family, intercessions and commemorations of the departed? There are so many who need prayer but it does not seem possible to name everyone.

Peter

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

And on a similar theme, I was very touched by reading the life of Papa Nicholas Planas several times, and he seemed to always have a very long list of commemorations which he offered at the Liturgy.

I think you are right that this is an important ministry. Often I am torn between wanting to pray for everyone I know by name, and yet also wanting to rest in simply praying the Jesus Prayer, and so I pray, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us...meaning to encompass all those who are on my heart.

How do Fathers here advise balancing prayer for oneself, family, intercessions and commemorations of the departed? There are so many who need prayer but it does not seem possible to name everyone.

Peter

The prayer rope can also be used for prayers such as, "Lord have mercy on Thy people", "Lord have grant peace to Thy people" "O most holy Theotokos save us" etc which can then be repeated the length of the rope. According to particular concerns these words can easily be varied.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Nina]

And on a similar theme, I was very touched by reading the life of Papa Nicholas Planas several times, and he seemed to always have a very long list of commemorations which he offered at the Liturgy.

I think you are right that this is an important ministry. Often I am torn between wanting to pray for everyone I know by name, and yet also wanting to rest in simply praying the Jesus Prayer, and so I pray, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us...meaning to encompass all those who are on my heart.

How do Fathers here advise balancing prayer for oneself, family, intercessions and commemorations of the departed? There are so many who need prayer but it does not seem possible to name everyone.

Peter

Yes, Peter! Isn't Papa Nicholas Planas amazing?!!! I was so moved by that book.

I also feel sometimes torn for whom to pray first and almost follow the same path as you. I think God sees your heart and intention. And you can never go wrong with the prayers you say and what Fr. Raphael suggests above.

[Nina]

Last Saturday (Saturday of the Souls at my church) one of the ladies had submitted, for commemoration, the name of the mother of St. Phanourios. It was so wonderful of her to remember and submit the name, and I felt happy to hear it, but embarrassed that I had forgotten about submitting it as well, since when I have lost things I have always asked St. Phanpourios for his help.

Last December also while reading about the life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, I read something interesting, which I never knew before (obviously it is beneficial to read and reread the lives of the Saints): that the Saint "has promised to help those who remember his parents, Theophanes and Nonna."

It is amazing to witness such love from those particular saints for their parents! I was wondering if there are more saints who have asked for prayers for their parents.

[Andreas Moran]

St Sergius of Radonezh had such respect for his parents, Kyrill and Maria (in schema) that he said that pilgrims should visit their graves and venerate them before coming to the Lavra.

[M.C. Steenberg]

It seems a renewed appreciation for the value of one's parents is a regular part of a truly saintly life. St Nicholas of Myra also promised to look after those who remembered his parents in their prayers; as did St Seraphim of Sarov and a host of others.

INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

St Nicholas of Myra also promised to look after those who remembered his parents in their prayers; as did St Seraphim of Sarov and a host of others.

I should have included this in my original post, but St Nicholas' parents were called Theophanes and Nonna, and Fr Seraphim's were Isidore and Agathia.

INXC, Matthew

[Nina]

St Sergius of Radonezh had such respect for his parents, Kyrill and Maria (in schema) that he said that pilgrims should visit their graves and venerate them before coming to the Lavra.

Wow! Thank you!

[Nina]

I should have included this in my original post, but St Nicholas' parents were called Theophanes and Nonna, and Fr Seraphim's were Isidore and Agathia.

INXC, Matthew

Thank you Matthew! Great! St. Seraphim of Sarov (is this the Fr. Seraphim you say?) is one of my beloved Saints, so it is a pleasure to learn this additional fact about him.

[Nina]

I received this by email:

On the Departed

"Do you know much help the departed seek! Since there is no repentance after death, and as humans they also departed with stains and blemishes, and since they see that the help of the living greatly assists them to be perfected and find rest, they yearn, seek, and long for someone to commemorate them. They also long for one of their descendants to become a priest or a virtuous Christian who will care for them.

Let me tell you about a vision of a certain bishop which he himself told me while we were serving together years ago. He told us there was a priest who had a drinking problem and often got drunk; this was going on for many years. Other than this, though, the priest was virtuous and pious. One day he drank wine as usual and got drunk, and then before he was fully sober, he went and served Liturgy. So God allowed an accident to happen: he spilled the holy Body and Blood of the Lord! The poor fellow froze with fear, while also thinking about the heavy penance his bishop would give him!

Finally, after he confessed, his bishop told him, "Go--I will notify you when to return, and then I'll give you the penance." So as the bishop was all alone reflecting and pondering, and as he picked up a pen to write his decision to depose him, he saw an endless multitude of people of every age, kind and class unwind before him like a movie. The bishop was stunned by this vision but was also overcome with fear. Then all those people together said to him, "Your Eminence, do not punish the priest; do not depose him." Then, little by little, they disappeared.

Afterwards, the bishop called the priest to come. The poor priest was terrified, thinking about being deposed. The bishop said to him, "Tell me something, do you commemorate many names when you serve Liturgy?" The priest answered, "In the proskomidi, Your Eminence, I commemorate names for a long time--from kings and emperors down to the last pauper." The bishop then said to him, "Go, then, and whenever you serve Liturgy, commemorate as many people as you can, and take care not to get drunk anymore. You are pardoned." Thereafter, the priest--with the help of God--was delivered from drinking."

Selected from Counsels from the Holy Mountain
From the Letters and Homilies of Elder Ephraim

[Robert Hegwood]

How should we pray for/commemorate our non Orthodox ancestors.

My godfather told me that we should pray, "Lord Jesus Christ seek out the lost souls of (name) and have mercy on them. Account not my prayer as sin, not as I will but may Thy holy will be done?

In one parish I was a member of non Orthodox were not remembered the same way as Orthodox, but in my current parish it seems like anyone departed we love and desire prayer for can be commemorated.

Any insights?

[Father David Moser]

My godfather told me that we should pray, "Lord Jesus Christ seek out the lost souls of (name) and have mercy on them. Account not my prayer as sin, not as I will but may Thy holy will be done?


The above is a quote from the reply of the Elder Joseph of Optina when he was asked that question. His reply is actually much longer, and worth reading. It is in the appendix of the book The Elder Joseph of Optina published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery.


In one parish I was a member of non Orthodox were not remembered the same way as Orthodox, but in my current parish it seems like anyone departed we love and desire prayer for can be commemorated.

Standard Orthodox practice is that only those who were Orthodox Christians at the time of their death can be remembered in the services of the Church (commemorations at the liturgy and pannykhida/memorial services). Certainly we can and should remember all those who have departed this life who are dear to us in our private prayer.

Fr David Moser

[Nina]

Dear Father David, Your Blessings!

Thank you so much for your recommendation for the book of the Elder Joseph of Optina and your advise!

Dear All,

I would like to share with you a prayer from the book Saint Nephon: An Ascetic Bishop. At the end of this prayer our God appeared to Saint Nephon and promised him something:

Prayer for one about to die

"O Lord, the God of powers, great and awesome,
abundant in might and transcendent in goodness,
full of mercy and compassion,
incline and hear me who am vile and sinful.
O my Christ, Who saved Jonah out of the belly of the whale
and Daniel from the mouths of lions,
deliver me at the time of death
from the dreadful darkness of the prince of evil.
Do not let the devil come over the deathbed of Your servant.
May my soul, O Lord, never see the darkness of the demons,
neither in this life, nor in the future one,
neither in the agony of death, nor at my ascent to heaven.
May not the accursed dragon deride my miserable soul
when it abandons this depraved body.
Do not let the filthy spirit of fetor and stench snatch it,
O my Lord, my Christ, my Jesus, my God, my Light,
and carry it away to perdition.
O my Master, God of Heaven and earth,
may my eyes never see his hideous and darksome face.
But at the time of my end,
O my Holy, Thrice Holy, and glorified King,
send me Your mercy and Truth.
O my God, at that time send Michael, the commander-in-chief,
over your servant.
Send me Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael,
the great and bright generals,
with all their immaculate and thrice-blessed army,
to crush the insatiable dragon of Hades who gnashes his teeth
and wants to snatch and devour anyone living piously.
O my God, at the time of my departure,
sink him and all his filthy army into the abyss, in Tartarus,
into outer darkness and the 'gnashing of teeth.'
At that time, O my Lord Jesus Christ,
my Delight, my Resurrection,
send the merciful and philanthropic Comforter,
the Spirit of Truth,
to receive my own spirit
in His incomparable sweetness and immortal holiness.
Send him to strengthen me with a flaming sword
preceding me and crushing the evil rulers of darkness.
For, if these abominations of iniquity plunge into the fire,
into darkness, into the abyss, into Hades,
I will be able without pain to cross the ethereal spheres
to come close to You, the Triune Sun,
to fall before Your compassion, to kiss Your immaculate feet,
to be filled with the Deity, with Your Holy Spirit,
and confess the countless wonders You did for my sake:
How You brought me to repentance, gave me life, 'and
out of the depths of the earth again Thou broughtest me up'!
I will enumerate them all before the holy angels,
that I may be overcome by the effulgence
of the sweetest and most delightful divine pleasure.
And transported by Your ineffable fragrance,
grace, and divine beauty,
I shall chant to You then the great Song of Songs!...

Hear me, o my God,
even though I may transgress Your law before You every day.
Hear me, my King, My Redeemer,
and make me worthy to enter Your glory,
just as I beseech You night and day, and pray to You,
and supplicate Your immortal and life-giving majesty.
O my Lord Jesus Christ,
I ardently beg You again and always:
at the time of my departure, send me the resplendent Virgin,
the most pure temple, the sacred treasury of Your wealth,
O my Christ, to strengthen me.

Send me at that time
the holy Forerunner and Baptist John,
the luminous stars - the Apostles -
the prophets and the martyrs,
the preachers and evangelists,
confessors, ascetics, and righteous,
that Your creature may be glorified.
Yes, immortal Lord, hear me, the sinner,
and enable me to attain Your inexpressible, never aging and
thrice blessed glory.
But, my Lord, give rest also
to every servant of Yours in the throes of death,
wherever this prayer will be heard,
that the foul demons be disgraced.
Crush them, O Master, with Your mighty hand.
Disperse them, O Mighty One, with Your flaming sword.
Burn them with the lightning of Your fire-breathing power,
O You Who are the plenitude of greatness, loftiness and awe.
My God, may this prayer be for refreshment and comfort,
repose and tranquility, sweet fragrance and joy,
support and refuge, courage and help
to all those who are on their deathbeds.
Yea, Lord, God of my holy Fathers,
who pleased You from the beginning of time to the present,
do not scorn my petition, O Holy One.
Do not turn away from my supplication, O Compassionate One.
But implant within my prayer a double-edged sword,
divine, heavenly, deadly to the demons
and vengeful against the spirit of wickedness;
yet filled with sympathy, forgiveness, compassion and goodness.
If by chance the one dying has many sins
and this prayer is read over him,
may You lighten his burden at that time, O Lord,
have mercy on his soul, O Holy One,
and sanctify his ascent toward You.
Crown him with Your compassions,
inscribe him in the book of Your mercy,
grant him the bliss of Paradise.
Overlook his iniquities
with the immensity of the wealth of Your loving-kindness.
Forgive him, have mercy on his miserable soul and save it.
Have pity on him, help him, have mercy on him,
shield and protect him according to Your great mercy.
Show him Your love for man.
Send him angels of peace.
Send him Your immaculate love.
Open to him Your glorious embrace,
flood him with all the immaterial fragrances, that
the loathsome and deceitful demons may flee from him in shame.
O Lord, turn them into ashes in the fire of Gehenna,
for they dare to disturb and frighten the poor soul.

O Lord, let this take place
wherever my poor supplication is heard.
Yea, O Master, Jesus Christ, Light of light,
hear me, O Good One, and impart grace and mercy to my prayer.
Be a helper and protector for salvation to everyone
who invokes the name of vile Nephon.
Hear me, O Lord;
Hear me, O Lover of mankind, Holy One,
and grant my request beseeching Your mighty Name.
Amen!..."

When he finished this prayer, suddenly an extraordinary light flashed around him and in it the Lord Jesus Christ appeared filling his heart with delight, because He embraced him three times with a holy kiss, while the saint with each kiss joyfully cried out, "Amen! Amen! Amen!..." Then the Lord spoke to him:

"Good and faithful servant! I heard your supplication and I will grant liberally what you ask for the salvation of Christians! To anyone who commemorates your name, in his prayer or in church, I shall stand by him a helper in all his temptations, dangers and sorrows, particularly in the last moments of his life. I shall have bountiful mercy on all those who will glorify Me by your name. I shall strengthen and fortify all those who call upon Me in your name, and with My divine authority I shall crush every demonic battalion under their feet.

And when the hour will come for you to abandon this life, too, I, Myself, shall come to you with My holy army of angels. I shall receive your spirit in My hands and give you 'rest in peace' in the bosom of Abraham."

With these words the Lord blessed him flooding all his senses with His Truth and divine Grace. Filled with joy and delight, Nephon began to glorify God, saying:

"Sweet and beautiful Jesus, You came to the last of Your creatures! The life, joy, and fragrance of the immaculate angels, You came to delight Your vile servant. Welcome, You Who fill all things and transcend every delight! Blessed and glorified be He Who comes. Remember me in Your glory, in the beauty of Paradise. Remember me in Heaven, in the songs of the angels. Remember me, O blessed by the Cherubim and the Seraphim, full of grandeur and light, divine reflection and perfect imprint of the Father. Remember me, O endless sea of immortal philanthropy. My Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me as long as I breathe. Never depart from my side. Shield me and show me the way to eternity."

When the saint finished this outburst of doxology, the Lord looked at him with divine affection and bid him farewell: "Peace be to you, Nephon, My child!" and ascended into heaven.

From the book Stories, Sermons, and Prayers of St. Nephon: An Acetic Bishop. pp 50-55

[Nina]

Tomorrow is the Saturday of the Souls before the Pentecost.
I have heard that one of the reasons is that the souls of those in hell return after Pentecost to hell, after a period of some relief from Resurrection day until Pentecost. Does anyone know more on this, please?

God have mercy on all your departed children and may Your Holy will be done and not ours!

Kyrie Elesion!

[Archbishop Lazar]

The Commemoration of the departed is an act of love and also a confession of the fulness and wholeness of the Church. Of course, the memorials for the departed and the days themself are not of Christian origin, but the interpretation the Church has given them are: We commemorate the departed on the Third day because of the Resurrection of Christ, conquering the power of death. The ninth day, because the souls, not able to enter the fulness of their reward without the body, are kept by the 9 orders of angels. The 40th day, because Christ, having ascended with His human body assures us that our bodies likewise will be raised on That Day, and, reunited with the soul, enter into paradise. There are a number of pagan mythologies about these services, but both the Didascalion and St. Symeon of Thessaloniki have expressed the actual teaching of the Church on why we commemorate the departed on these days. The commemorations, which are known in nearly every culture on earth are very ancient and formed a series of "stepping away from grief" rituals. The 40 day memorial among the Hebrews originated in Egypt. Recall that both Joseph and Moses were mourned for 40 days 'according to the customs of the Egyptians" (The period of time it took to embalm a nobleman). The Orthodox Church gave a new dimension of meaning and revelation to these specific days for memorials. All is based in love, and awareness of the Resurrection, of Christ's victory over death for us and our confession of the fulness of the Church. Since God is love, no act of love goes unfulfilled. Our prayers have a great impact and meaning to the departed, all of which is too long for us to discuss in a "message." But unselfish love is the matrix for all acts and prayers in the Church, and particularly for the prayers offered for the departed, as well as prayers offered for those still in this life.

[Nina]

http://www.monachos.net/forum/memberimages/77764658edf1b580b.jpg

http://www.monachos.net/forum/memberimages/77764658edf14865e.jpg

I was preparing the koliva today early in the morning for the Saturday of the Souls, when I hear the father of my fiancé saying to his mother (they are visiting): "Come quickly, because Nina is baking a special cake!" I giggled as always and continued because I was running out of time. But then I see them sit in front of me like two children with so many questions about "the special cake" (koliva) while I continued the preparation and felt like a chef in a Japanese restaurant cooking in front of the customers. :) The parents (one Catholic and one Protestant) of my fiancé could not stop asking and asking. It was the cutest thing! :)

While answering, it occurred to me that I had so many people to ask (grandmothers, mother etc) always and I never did. I always took all the things of faith for granted and now when I would like to make sure that mint goes in before pomegranate in the koliva for instance, I do not have anyone to ask since the specialists (my mom and grandmothers) have departed. However the fact that I commemorate them makes me feel at peace, because it is hard when birthdays come around... however I have the memorial days to look forward to for giving something back to those wonderful people of my life.

Also it is so amazing that I can ask all of you here, my brothers and sisters of Monachos. :) Thank you!

[Trudy]

I do not have anyone to ask since the specialists (my mom and grandmothers) have departed.

Those dearly loved "specialists" have taught you, who is now the "specialist." Imagine the joy you will have when you teach the next "specialist" and tell the stories of your grandmother and mother!

Athanasia

[Angie]

Wow Nina, your Koliva look great! Your mother must have been a truly remarkable christian to teach you our Orthodox faith! She would be so proud of you!

Nina you mentioned about St Phanourios, would you have a site I can look into to learn more about him? Also what is his mother's name?

I also love St Nicholas Planas and St Nephon is fantastic. I have his book in English and it it so helpful. It is one of my special books. (I say that about all my spiritual books!)

Those email stories that you sent are great. Keep them coming!

In Christ
Angela+++

[Nina]

Dear Athanasia and Angela,

Thank you for the encouragement and for your kindness! However if you look close the koliva has maaaaany flaws. I can never make a perfect koliva... but I am happy that God and the priest take it from there and have the major role to play in it; and He through His priests makes our kolivas and other things perfect! :) However it does not hurt to know all the 'ins' and 'outs' like all the specialists know them (and I neglected). I love very much Abel! He wanted to offer God only his best! :)



Nina you mentioned about St Phanourios, would you have a site I can look into to learn more about him? Also what is his mother's name?

It is so moving to read about the love our dear St. Phanourios had for his mother! Even during his departure he did not stop his prayers for his mother. She was so blessed to give birth to such a son! And what a son! A Saint! I have a soft spot for all the Saints who loved their parents. And Andreas and Dr. Steenberg were so kind to submit some information above for other Saints asking from us all to commemorate their parents.

This (http://www.orthodox.net/saints/st-phanourios-life-hymns.html)site has very good information about the Saint. Also this (http://www.stmaryofegypt.org/devotion/stphanourios.htm)site. And here (http://www.serfes.org/lives/phanourius.htm)you can also view an icon of Saint Phanourios.

In regard to the second question, the name of the Mother of Saint Phanourios is not known.

From the first website above we read:

"There is a tradition concerning him and his mother, who was a harlot and great sinner. His love for his mother caused him to pray for her incessantly. At the time of his martyric death by stoning, he could not even then forget his mother, and with the boldness that is peculiar to athletes of Christ, prayed: "For the sake of these my sufferings, Lord, help all those who will pray to Thee for the salvation of Phanourios' sinful mother".
Many to this day pray for his mother, and have her listed in their personal diptychs used for commemorations in the Divine Liturgy as "The Mother of St Phanourios" since her name is not known."

In the second site above, I also read something about St. Phanourios being an intercessor for heterodox relatives and their conversion. I never knew this before! Thank you Angela because you are the reason I came across it!



I also love St Nicholas Planas and St Nephon is fantastic. I have his book in English and it it so helpful. Yes for St. Nicholas Planas and yes for St. Nephon! I read St. Nephon and it reminds me always that I am nothing and that without God's love and mercy there is no possibility for me to enter Heaven. I often am embarrassed to even glance at St. Nephon's book because he is such a Saint! Even his written word is fire. This happens to me with all Saints, but St. Nephon has a greater influence. When I need some strict fatherly language I go to him (read his book). When I feel overwhelmed from things and need a more tender word I read some other Saint. Oh they never stop helping us!!!



It is one of my special books. (I say that about all my spiritual books!) Giggles... You have at least a friend! :)

[Angie]

You are right there!!!


Can it be made anytime and eaten? It seems like a good fasting cake!

Thanks Nina for those sites. I actually had them in my favourites!


Also a tip I have learnt for keeping the icing sugar smooth, is to lay a paper serviette on top of icing sugar and firmly smooth. Then lift off paper towel and you have a smooth surface.

[Archbishop Lazar]

We Serbs also make Kolivo also for Nativity Eve. In the Serbian tradition, the only thing that is prepared by cooking on Nativity Eve is the boiled wheat (my Baba always made it some days ahead of time and then combined the ingredients on the eve of the feast). Nothing else cooked is permitted on Nativity Eve among pious Serbs. Kolivo is also served on the Saturday of St Theodore the Recruit (Tyron) because of the revelation of the boiled wheat by the Saint. It is variously made with ground walnuts added or crushed almonds.

[Nina]

Also a tip I have learnt for keeping the icing sugar smooth, is to lay a paper serviette on top of icing sugar and firmly smooth. Then lift off paper towel and you have a smooth surface.

Thank you Angela for this advise. I do what you say but with wax paper. Is that maybe the reason why the surface of the Koliva is not so smooth? Ufffff.... I never thought about such things before (because I had my pillars of faith, life and everything: grandmothers and mother) but it comes a day when I regret for not parting with my book to look more attentively at what they prepared when they would beg me to. I thought I knew every single thing they did...

[Nina]

Since the Saturdays of the Souls are approaching:

Pray for the Reposed! (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/death/pray_reposed.aspx)

by the New Hieromartyr John of Riga

[Nina]

For those who will prepare koliva for tomorrow (1st Saturday of the Souls, Lent 2008) please find prayers before during and after the process here (http://www.goarch.org/en/archdiocese/departments/youth/youthworkers/sessions/goya_koliva.asp).

[Alice]

I should have included this in my original post, but St Nicholas' parents were called Theophanes and Nonna, and Fr Seraphim's were Isidore and Agathia.

INXC, MatthewI understand that it is a pious custom to commemorate the name of Andrew the husband of St. Xenia of Petersburg, who died in an unrepentant state.

I have given his name on more than one occasion for commemoration of the dead in Proskomide.

St. Xenia of Petersburg is a very miraculous saint and a dear and understanding friend in Heaven for women of all stations and walks in life, just as she was when she was on earth.

I humbly thank her for a prayer answered, and continue to beseech her for intentions I have for my adult children.

May the Lord God have mercy upon the soul of His servant Colonel Andrei. AMEN!

In Christ, who is our every Hope,
Alice

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[Nina]

Tomorrow is the first Saturday of the Souls. May God have mercy on all the souls departed. Who is preparing koliva?