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Question 414

Good morning pater, It’s my father’s six months mnimossino on Sunday, I just wanted to ask why is it we have a 3 months, six months and nine months mnimossina. I understand after a year and then every year after but why so many in the first year.   

 

 

Answer to Question 414

 

Officially the only mnymosina the church says you should do is the first 40days and the yearly mnymosino. The 3, 6 and 9 months came about from the need of the living to remember their loves ones in prayer and in time became a sort of tradition.

 

Same member

thank you for responding, I just feel every time we have another mnimossino in the first year it feels like the funeral all over again. But I know it’s what my father would of expected from us. Thank you 

 

Reply

We can do nothing better or greater for the dead than to pray for them, offering commemoration for them at the Liturgy. Of this they are always in need. The soul senses the prayers offered for it and is grateful to those who make them and is spiritually close to them.

 

Another member

Morning Pater  can our prayers change anything for them, if say they were not believers in life?

 

Reply

The dead can do nothing to help themselves, but we believe the prayers of the living can be beneficial for them. The Church firmly believes that prayer for the dead in Christ is helpful to them because in the Orthodox view, sanctification is seen not as a point-in-time occurrence, but as a process which never ends. As Saint Paul says, “And we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corin. 3:18). And in another place St. Paul says: “For preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish; but unto us who are being saved it is the power of God”, the phrase “who are being saved” suggests that we are continually being saved. For this reason, Orthodox Christians look upon salvation itself as a continual growth in holiness, purity, and closeness with God, which continues even in heaven. Holiness is rarely achieved or completed in anyone's life while on earth - no one becomes sinless. It is the Orthodox understanding that sanctification continues on, in some way, into the world beyond. The Church believes that our prayers for the departed can help them in this process of healing and purification.