Commemoration of Strangers

Commemoration of Strangers

St. Severus the Great of Antioch speaks about the "strangers" in his Cathedral Homily 76 (LXXVI) entitled, "When we celebrated, according to custom, remembrance and supplication for all the poor and strangers who were buried in the places called πανδέκτασ, that is to say, those who receive all, and are buried in it."https://www.doaks.org/research/byzantine/fellows/doerfler-2013-2014Hymn of St. Severus of Antioch on the Cemeteries (πανδέκτης) Which Are Called 'Pandektai' or 'Receiying All'; Which Among the Syrians Are Named 'Strangers' graves':"The eyes of all men hope in thee" (Psalms 145:15) "So are our eyes toward thee, Lord our God" (Psalms 123:2)"Lifting up the hidden eyes of our mind toward thee, Christ, Maker of all, Who dwellest in heaven, and think­ing upon Thy saving and life-giving Cross, which of Thine own will Thou in Thy grace took upon Thee to undergo in the flesh on behalf of the righteous and on behalf of sinners, on the present day we celebrate the memory of those who have fallen asleep, the poor and the strangers and those who have returned and gone with them to the earth from which they were taken, and we commemorate those whose memorial is with Thee, in the infallible hope of the resurrection from among the dead that is promised us; and we entreat Thy mercy with them to admit us also, when we shall end in peace the span of the life of time, to the portion and inheritance and the mansions of the just whom thou hast loved, through the intercession of all thy saints, according to the abundance of Thy great mercy."St. Severus the Great of Antioch Cathedral Homily # 76BL17134