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https://vimeo.com/1236570842 Dimitria 2026: Prayer and Almsgiving for the Departed

Part 1: Do the Departed See Us?

Fr. Matthaios:

“Do the departed see us? Well, isn’t that the question? We all want to know: do our parents see us now and know what we are doing?”

Nun / Sister:

“I remember a story about Father Anthony Bloom, who was trying to explain that the departed do see us. He had gone to a house where someone had passed away and said: ‘Look, just as we are now in this room, the departed person is in the other room and the door is open. He sees you, but you don’t see him. We cannot see him.’

“So, we know that our departed see us. And many times people say, ‘Ah, I felt his presence.’ They come and tell us, ‘I felt their presence.’ Yes, we all experience this—feeling the presence of a departed loved one.

“Of course, this happens through the grace of the Holy Spirit. They do not see us with physical eyes like the ones we have now. And that is why we meet them in prayer. This is why we hold memorial services.

“Therefore, we can be certain that the departed see us and that they retain their consciousness. They know our problems and our concerns.”

Part 2: A Story About Awareness After Death

Nun / Sister:

“A sister, Sister Protokleti, who comes from a village, was telling me about a relative of hers who owed some money. He had actually paid the money back, but then he passed away.

“His wife did not know whether her husband had cleared that debt or not, and she was constantly worrying and talking about it, saying, ‘Does he still owe it? What is going to happen with this debt?’

“Then he appeared to her in a dream and told her: ‘Stop it already! I do not owe anything!’

“So, we have many such examples. They see us, they have consciousness, and they watch over us. That is why our lives should be lived accordingly.”

Part 3: Living in Connection With the Departed and Preparing for Death

Nun / Sister:

“This is a beautiful lesson and a preparation for our own death. When our loved ones leave this life, apart from the sorrow of separation and the deep longing to reach them and find them again, we also think: ‘How can I do something wrong now, knowing that they see me?’

“How could I act improperly? I might have been able to hide from my spiritual father before, but now I cannot—it becomes much harder.

“Therefore, all of us should strive to live according to what we received from our Holy Fathers and our Church. Every day of our lives should be filled with doxology (praise) and reference to Christ. In this way, our life becomes beautiful, giving joy to our departed as well.

“If we weep excessively, they grieve too. We cause them pain. We should not grieve excessively, as those who have no hope. Pain is pain, but it must be accompanied by longing, love, and prayer—not plain, raw grief. Raw grief hurts, and it even hurts the departed and creates distance.

“After all, we are one Body—the Church Triumphant and the Church Militant. The Church Militant consists of us who are still fighting the good fight here. In a little while, we too will be over there.”

Part 4: Togetherness, Prayer, and Almsgiving

Fr. Christos Mitsios:

“And they see us now, and most importantly: up there, we will be together again. We will be together; we cannot escape it. The ‘bad’ thing is that I’ll have her with me again!” (Jokingly, laughter from the panel.)

Fr. Matthaios:

“All of this, of course, happens through the Grace of the Holy Spirit. That is why the righteous, who already taste the joy of eternity, rejoice and intercede for us.

“And for those on the other side, who may not yet experience that great joy, we must commemorate them continuously. They are waiting for us. They wait just like a hungry person waits for a plate of food.

“And do you know what they are waiting for? Not our tears, nor the elaborate things we put on tombs like marbles and flowers. They are waiting for prayer and almsgiving.

“If we show mercy to others on their behalf, mercy will be shown to them. If we do not show mercy, they do not receive mercy.”