Category Archives: Readings

~ Words of the Church Fathers ~

If someone wants to be protected from tricks and remain healthy in the faith, he must confine his faith first to the authority of the Holy Scriptures, and secondly to the Tradition of the Church. But someone may ask, is not the canon of Scripture sufficient for everything, and why should we add thereto the authority of Tradition? This is because not everyone understands the Scriptures in the same way, but one explains them this way and another that way, so that it is possible to get there from as many thoughts as there are heads. Therefore it is necessary to be guided by the understanding of the Church. What is tradition? It is that which has been understood by everyone, everywhere and at all times…that which you have received, and not that which you have thought up…So then, our job is not to lead religion where we wish it to go, but to follow it where it leads, and not to give that which is our own to our heirs, but to guard that which has been given to us.

St Vincent of Lerina, Notes of a Pilgrim

“Our religion is perfectly and profoundly conceived. What is simple is also what is most precious. Accordingly, in your spiritual life engage in your daily contest simply, easily, and without force. The soul is sanctified and purified through the study of the Fathers, through the memorization of the psalms and of portions of Scripture, through the singing of hymns and through the repetition of the Jesus Prayer. Devote your efforts, therefore, to these spiritual things and ignore all the other things.”

St Porphyrios,Wounded by Love

Why do we pay for the dead? It is true that the dead are judged by how they lived. Generally, the Church teaches our future in eternity is based on our faith, life, deeds, virtues, love, compassion and goodness (or their absence) in this life, before our death. Yet, since we are never fully sure of the place of each soul before God, and because God Himself is merciful and loving, we pray for any help which might come to the soul of the deceased.

The Church teaches that our prayers help the deceased in some way. We do not know how or how much. There is an interesting passage in 2 Maccabees which addresses this question. Some soldiers of Judus Maccabees, the Jewish leader, fell in battle and were found to have idols on their persons, a grave sin. Their death was blamed on their sin (12:42), A collection was taken for funds to be sent to the temple “to provide for a sin offering” (12:43). The book comments on this by connecting this act with the resurrection. “For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore, he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin” (2 Maccabees 12:44-45). These words were written about 50 years before the birth of Christ.

The Orthodox Church: 455 Questions & Answers, S. Harakas