Adapted from

 

“THE HOUSE OF GOD

& THE CHURCH SERVICES”

 

By the Priest N. R. Antonov

 

Continuation

 

§ 146 cont’d.  …  In the funeral service itself we recite two of the Psalms of David (90 & 118), in which it speaks of the blessedness of the soul which has lived in accordance with God’s commandments and of its hope on the mercy of God.  Psalm 118 is read at Mattins on every Saturday, the day on which we particularly remember the faithful departed in our prayers, and so we, the living, are reminded of the fact of our own approaching funeral.  After the psalms follow verses which are composed on New Testament concepts and are chanted with the refrain, “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy righteousness.”

 

The choir of the Saints have found the Fountain of Life and the Door of Paradise.  May I also find the right way through repentance.  I am the lost sheep. Call me, O Saviour, and save me. Refrain.

Ye who preached the Lamb of God, and like unto lambs were slain, and were translated unto life eternal, which waxeth not old, ye holy Martyrs, pray ye unto Him that He will vouchsafe us remission of our sins. Refrain.

Ye who have trod the narrow way most sad; all ye who, in life, have taken upon you the Cross as a yoke, and have followed Me through faith, draw nigh: Enjoy ye the honours and the crowns which I have prepared for you.  Refrain.

I am the image of Thy glory ineffable, though I bear the brands of transgressions. Show Thy compassions upon Thy creature, O Master, and purify him / her by Thy loving-kindness, and grant unto me the home-country of my heart’s desire, making me again a citizen of Paradise.  Refrain.

O Thou Who of old didst call me into being from nothingness, and didst honour me with Thine image divine, but because I had transgressed Thy commandments hast returned me again unto the earth from which I was taken: restore Thou me to that image, and to my pristine glory. Refrain.

Give rest, O Lord, to the soul of Thy servant / handmaid, and establish him / her in Paradise.  Where the choirs of the saints, O Lord, and of the just shine like the stars of heaven, give rest to Thy servant / handmaid who hath fallen asleep, regarding not all his / her transgressions.

Glory:  Devoutly do we hymn the Triune Effulgence of the One Godhead, crying aloud: Holy art Thou, O Father, Who art from everlasting, O Son co-eternal, and Divine Spirit!  Illumine us who, with faith, do worship Thee, and rescue us from fire eternal.

Now and ever:  Rejoice, O august one, who for the salvation of all men didst bring forth God in the flesh; through whom, also, mankind hath found salvation.  Through thee have we found Paradise, O pure, most blessed Theotokos. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

 

After a litany, and three further troparia, we read the Fiftieth Psalm, the psalm of repentance, and then we begin the funeral canon.  Each of the odes has prayers for the faithful departed addressed to the martyrs, beseeching their intercession before God.  And in each this earthly life is likened to the passage across a stormy sea, while death for the Christian is portrayed as a haven of quiet.  As throughout the service, the clergy, the relatives and friends of the departed stand around the open coffin, holding lighted candles in their hands.  They pray to the Lord that He might grant rest to the soul of the departed with the Saints in the Kingdom of the heavens.

 

… to be continued in the next issue

with the rest of “The Burial of the Dead”

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