The dead see us. What does the church teach, my dears? One of the most
Frequent questions that arise in the heart of man after the death of a
loved one are the following. Do the dead see us? Do they hear us when
We pray? Do they know what is happening in our lives? It is not a simple question. It is a need
of the soul. Our church does not answer with fantasies, but with the word of Christ
and the Holy Fathers. First of all, we must know something basic. Death
is not the end of life. It is a separation of soul and body. The soul
continues to live with full consciousness. Christ himself shows this in the parable
of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man, after his death, sees Lazarus.
He remembers his relatives on earth. He speaks and worries about them. Therefore, he has memory
and awareness, and interest. Souls are not inactive. St. John the
Christ clearly says, "The souls of the deceased know what is happening in the
world by God's permission." That is, God allows them to know much
of what is happening to the living, and he adds that they are especially happy when they see prayers and memorials being made for them. That is why the church
insists so much on praying for the dead. It is not formal. It is
acquires a clearer spiritual sense. It understands spiritual things
better than when it was in the body. It sees the truth more clearly. St.
Gregory the Dialog mentions many cases in which God allowed souls
to appear to living people. But always for spiritual good, for
correction. For consolation, never for curiosity. Now let us look at some
incidents narrated by spiritual fathers. A woman who had lost
Her husband was immersed in grief. One night while praying, she felt a strong peace
and as if someone was standing next to her. And in her heart she heard, "I am."
Well, do not cry. Pray for me. From then on, she found the strength to continue
her life. Another man saw in his dream his mother telling him,
"My child, return to God." He woke up shocked and changed his attitude towards life.
He began to go to church and confess. "Spiritualists say that
Many times God allows such experiences to awaken a person.
There are also cases of people who, shortly before they die, say they see
loved ones calling them in peace. Many doctors have
recorded this. The church sees it as a preparation of the soul for the other life.
However, discernment is needed. Not every sensation or every dream is from the soul.
Many are also from the evil one. The church does not call us to seek
experiences. It calls us to pray. Because prayer is the real
Love is not cut off by death. The relationship continues spiritually. That is why the church says that memory is eternal. Not as a remembrance, but as a living presence
before God. So to answer clearly, yes, the dead live. Yes, they have
a conscience. Yes, they know much of what happens when God allows it, and
above all, they feel our prayer. But everything happens spiritually, not like in the
movies. That is why it should not scare us. On the contrary, it should fill us
with hope. Because it means that death is not the end. It is a passage. A passage
to eternal life. But our church does not stop here. It gives us other
testimonies to better understand the life of the soul after
are in a state of light and joy and are aware of what is happening on earth
when God allows it. He says characteristically that souls rejoice
when they see the repentance and salvation of the people they love. This
shows us that they are not indifferent. They participate spiritually in our lives.
Saint Theophanes the Ecclesian states that after death the soul passes into another
form of existence, but does not lose its consciousness. On the contrary, it often
perceives reality more clearly than before, and Saint Nicodemus the
Athonite, speaking about the state of souls, emphasizes that the prayer of the
Church is a great comfort and help for them. That is why the church prays unceasingly for the departed. I will mention one more
incident narrated by spiritual fathers. A man had lost
his brother and never prayed for him. One night, he saw him in his sleep,
sad, saying to him, "My brother, you forgot to pray for me. Don't
leave me without help." He woke up shocked and from then on began
to pray and remember every day. And as he himself said, he felt
great peace in his heart. Another incident. An elderly woman
prayed every day for her husband, who had passed away. One night
she saw him in her sleep, bright and happy, saying to her, "Thank you very much for
your prayers. They help me a lot. "Spiritual fathers explain that God often
allows such experiences to strengthen people's faith and hope. All this shows us one basic thing. Death does not separate
love. It transforms it. The relationship continues in Christ. That is why
The church calls us not to sadness without hope. But in sorrow with faith. And as
the apostle of the nations, Paul, says, "We do not want us to be ignorant about those
who have fallen asleep or to grieve as we grieve, having hope. That is, not to
grieve like those who have no hope because we have the resurrection
And this is the great truth of our life. We will all live again. We will all be
resurrected. That is why we will meet again. Therefore,
my brothers, let us keep alive the prayer for our deceased. Let us
Remember them. Let us love them. Because love does not die. It lives eternally in
Christ. Next week, on Friday, we will talk about something that
Many ask, but few know. What exactly happens at the moment
a person dies? What is the path of the soul after death, and what are the
The soul is tested, not purified.
