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When someone has requested prayer on this board because a loved one has passed away, I've noticed that some people respond in part with, "Memory Eternal." I'm guessing it's because you want to remember the person who passed away and that they will live forever? Is that why it is said? Is it particularly significant to only one Church (ie: is it only Russian Orthodox or Byantine-Ruthenian Catholics who say it?)?

God Bless,

Jenny

Our memory is not eternal. When we pray "Eternal Memory" we are commending those who have gone before us to be remembered by God for eternity.

Dear Jenny,

Yes, the Administrator is more than correct!

One priest delivered a sermon on this and said that it would be impossible for people to eternally remember someone etc.

"Memory" is a living and powerful reality with God. God does not remember shadows of what once was, as we do.

When God remembers someone, it is the same as keeping their living being and presence with Him at all times.

It is to keep them as eternally living persons with Himself and unto Himself always.

So a reposed Christian lives eternally - because God remembers him or her.

Alex

Obviously the meaning of this prayer has been lost on most of our people, Byz. Catholic or Orthodox.

Ever walk through one of our cemeteries and see inscribed on a tombstone "Eternal Memories" ? (I sure have...)

Yep. They really don't know what it means.

Dear Lemko,

My uncle would say it's because "they're Hutsuls!"

East Slavs are notorious for this, but sometimes a misinterpretation can be fine as it can be adopted as "our own."

For example, the icon of the Deisis on the iconostasis was habitually called "Deisus" by our forefathers and the name stuck. They didn't know what "Deisis" meant, and so, for the benefit of those who don't know the Slavic, they called it "De Isus" or "Where Jesus is."

The "NIKA" or "He Conquers" on the icon of the Cross was also not understood by our forefathers who took the letters to mean: "Naholhofti Iskupyl Kroviu Adama" or "On Golgotha He redeemed Adam by (His) Blood."

And again, there is nothing wrong with that.

But "memories" doesn't sound right, to be sure . . .

Alex

The Latins do it too Alex...for example: IHS which was originally an abbreviation the name of Jesus, was later said to stand for "in hoc signo" and surmounted by a cross. Don

Bless, Father Don!

In Hoc Signo? Wonderful!!

I love it!

Our Basilians took it to mean "Isus HrystoS" and when they were reformed along Jesuit lines, they adopted the Slavic form "IXC" on their coat of arms too!

But "IHS" is simply the Latin for the Greek form of "Jesus" is it not?

The Jesuit emblem is something I'm very familiar with as the image of the Jesuit Martyrs up here has it and each Martyr separately has it above his aureole.

Thanks for sharing!

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Alex

I have noticed that in Romanian they use a phrase that is similar to that of the Latins (more than that of the Eastern tradition )

Dumnezeu sa-l odihneasca in pace

Thanks, guys, for your replies!

God Bless,

Jenny

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Glory to Him Forever!

Hmmm...so does this mean that my family in heaven no longer remember me as part of their family on earth? This seems like a removal of personality and an abolishment of eternal filial ties. Please clarify.

Adam

I don't have the theological expertise to clarify it for you, but personally, Theosis, my instinctive reply to you is, "Don't worry!" Surely those in heaven would have the most accurate perceptions possible ... far more 'complete' than we have here.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Yes, I'm sure it will all be better than we could imagine !

Adam