Why Pray for the Departed?

In this letter I would like to explain why the Orthodox Church prays for those who have departed this life. For many Christians from Protestant backgrounds, this may seem unfamiliar, but it is deeply rooted in our belief in the love of Christ and the unity of His Body.

Death does not separate us from the love of Christ. Saint Paul writes, “For I am sure that neither death, nor life ... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). Because the departed remain alive in Christ, we continue to pray for them, just as we pray for the living.

We believe the faithful who have died are still part of the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ, and all believers—both living and departed—remain members of that Body. “Whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8). This means we are united with our loved ones in Christ, even after death.

The Bible shows prayer for the departed. In the Old Testament, Judas Maccabeus and his men prayed for their fallen companions, asking God to forgive their sins (2 Maccabees 12:44–45). This shows that God’s people have long prayed for the departed, trusting in His mercy.

Our prayers are acts of love. Saint Paul urges us: “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). Prayer for the departed is simply love expressed in prayer, asking God to grant them rest and mercy. The book of Revelation shows the saints in heaven offering prayers before God like incense (Revelation 8:3–4). Our prayers join theirs.

We trust in God’s judgment and mercy. Only God knows the hearts of men, and He alone is Judge (2 Timothy 4:8). When we pray for the departed, we do not try to change His judgment, but we humbly commend them to His mercy, asking Him to grant them peace and rest in His Kingdom.

Prayer for the departed is an act of faith, hope, and love. It shows that the Church is one family, united in Christ, whether in this life or the next.

With love in Christ,
Fr. Charles

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