How to Benefit from the Holy Liturgy - Pope Kirillos Scientific Family

In this paragraph, the church fulfils her holy work towards all
her children, the departed and the living. Interceding for her
departed children for the Lord to repose their souls, and to
give them the eternal kingdom in the heavenly Jerusalem.
"The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell
with them, and they shall be His people and God Himself
will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe
away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more
death, nor sorrow nor crying and there shall be no more
pain for the former things have passed away" (Revelations
21:3-4). Here the great care of the church for her children is
manifested not only in their lives but after their departure as
well.
The intercession of the living for the departed is a fixed
doctrine in the church. St. John Chrysostom witnessed the
prayer for the departed as an apostolic tradition, and said:
"The apostle did not uselessly oblige performance to
commemorate the departed at the time of completion of the
awesome sacraments, because they well know how beneficial
and useful it is."
As a compassionate mother, the church cares for her
departed children, asking for their repose and does not forget
her living children, but asks God to keep them in the
Orthodox faith until the end, giving them His Divine peace
which, "Surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Jesus Christ" (Philippians 4:7).
How beautiful are the feelings of the humble church when
she describes herself and her children as "foreigners in this
place". The world in which we live is a foreign land for us,
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