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Questions:
1. If a relative or
friend is having a difficult time dying - have you ever heard of
praying to remove the spirit that is blocking our loved one from
passing this life? I've looked everywhere and heard that
sometimes people who are trying to die have a difficult time
passing this life because they're being blocked by
someone/something. Any thoughts on this plz or in which area of
the Ukraine or Russia does this originate?
2. While the casket is opened up at the cemetery, have you ever
heard of "veiling" the face of the deceased and then the
covering of the eyes with his hands, of the priest, reciting the
prayers (to reflect Moses at the Burning Bush, not being able to
see God, so he covered his eyes with his
hands?) Our family does the veiling and the covering of the eyes
which I notice the covering of the eyes, strict Jewish people do
as well, the representation of not being able to see God.
Expound please.
3. Lastly, Feast Day of the Birth of The Forerunner St. John the
Baptist - July 7th - aren't we suppose to bring flowers to
church to be blessed (ancient tradition), like in August the
Transfiguration of our Lord, the Blessing of the Fruit, and then
the Dormition of The Mother of Our God with the Blessing of the
"GRAINS"?
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Answers:
Dr. Alexander Roman
alex@unicorne.org
When someone is dying after a long illness,
we are called to pray in earnest for them that God's Will may be done in
their lives and to assist them.
There is no such thing as "last rites" in the Eastern Churches as one
can only pray for the recovery of the health of the sick one, if it be
God's Will for them. We may also pray for their sufferings to cease.
It is at this time that the forces of evil make their presence felt to
try and discourage the person in the throes of death. This is why prayer
is all the more important and especially that of the Church through her
priests in the Mystery of Anointing and Holy Communion.
It is traditional to veil the face of the reposed with a cloth and this
is inherited from the Jewish tradition.
To cover one's head and face is a sign of deep respect before God in the
East (it was also done before worldly kings), just as uncovering one's
head is a sign of respect in the West. Veiling was a sign of mourning as
well.
Sometimes people veil mirrors in the belief that the spirit of the dead
person might be reflected in them. But in general, veiling indicates
mourning and this is why in the Roman Catholic Church religious images
were veiled over during Lent. Russian Old Believers veil icons while not
praying before them to prevent them from being looked upon by
non-believers and so desecrated. Some traditions veil religious images
in the bedroom of married couples as a sign of respect during times of
copulation etc.
The Ethiopians often carry a handkerchief with them and cover their
mouths during prayer or when addressing higher clergy. In addition to
respect, this was also a way of shielding against bad breath . . .'
The veiling of the face, which can include covering the eyes with coins,
in the Christian tradition also reflects the manner in which OLGS Jesus
Christ was entombed after His death, according to the Flesh, on the
Cross.
As we know, when the apostles Peter and John ran to the tomb, they saw
the shroud with which Christ's body was covered and then they saw the
veil with which Christ's Head was wrapped that was folded up neatly in a
separate spot.
The fact that it was neatly folded up was, for them, proof positive that
Christ had risen from the dead. Had Christ's Body been stolen in the
night, there was no reason for the veil to have been folded up with such
care and placed away. The position of the grave-cloths indicated not a
hurried theft of a body, but Someone rising up as from a bed of sleep.
In addition, perhaps the way in which the cloth was folded indicated
something about a mannerism of Christ that the disciples recognized
instantaneously. In short, the folded veil signified the resurrection of
Christ and so does the veil that covers the face of the reposed
Christian, as Christ Himself will one day take it off and fold it away
as we are called to new life in Him!
Flowers are indeed traditionally blessed on St John the Baptist's
Nativity that indicate the spiritual fragrance and beauty of the "flower
of the desert", St John the Baptist and Precursor of our Lord.
Not all our traditions are observed in North America, but they are very
enriching if we but take some time to appreciate and practice them!
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