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The Remembrance of Death (Part II)

By Father Steven Kostoff Taken in isolation, “remembrance of death”—especially among those who “have no hope” [1 Thessalonians 4:13]—can have a horrible effect upon the soul. It only makes sense to forget about it!  The Christian practice of the “remembrance of death” needs to be the result of a lively faith in Christ, the Vanquisher of death, for it to be the spiritually positive practice it is meant to be.  Saint Paul has said it

The Remembrance of Death (Part I)

By Father Steven Kostoff In the Orthodox Prayer Book under the heading “Before Sleep,” we find “A Prayer of Saint John of Damascus, said pointing at the bed.”  This particular prayer begins, “O Master Who lovest mankind, is this bed to be my coffin?  Or wilt Thou enlighten my wretched soul with another day?” As Saint John was a monk, we could, of course, dismiss or ignore such a prayer as “monastic excess,” or even