Prologue in Sermons: October 18

It Is a Sin to Indulge in Hopeless Grief Over Dead Children

October 18

(About Blessed Cleopatra and Her son John)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

It is difficult for parents to bear the grief of their children's death. Only those who have lost children themselves can fully understand and feel the depth of this grief. However, no matter how difficult this loss, those parents who, in their grief for their deceased children, reach the point of despondency and despair and even approach utter hopelessness, commit a sin. To enlighten such parents, we deem it useful to share the following account from the life of Blessed Cleopatra, whose memory the Holy Church celebrates on the 19th of October.

This pious widow had a special love for the Holy Martyr Varus, whose body she buried on her property. She built a church in his honor and wished to transfer his holy relics to it. On the day of their transfer, she especially fervently besought the Holy Martyr to take under his protection her only son, a twelve-year-old boy, whom she was about to send into military service. Her prayer was heard, and the Martyr did indeed become her son's protector, but not in his military service. It happened that the boy fell gravely ill that same day and died that night. Instead of submitting to the will of the Lord, whose ways are inscrutable, Cleopatra gave in to great despair. She even went so far as to attribute the loss of her son to the Martyr and harshly reproach him. The temptation, however, did not last long. Soon, Saint Varus appeared to her with her son and said, "Why do you reproach me? Is it only because I took your son into the army of the Heavenly King?" Following the Martyr, her son also addressed her with these words: "Why do you grieve so hopelessly, my mother? I have now been enrolled in the army of King Christ and stand before Him with the Angels, and yet you wish for me to pass from the Kingdom into poverty." Hearing these words and seeing her son clothed in heavenly glory, the astonished and delighted mother exclaimed, "Oh, if so, then take me with you!" "Be patient," the Martyr replied, "and arrange your estate for the glory of the Lord, and after that you yourself will come to the eternal dwellings." The vision ended, and with it, Cleopatra's despair passed. After the burial of her son, she actually did with her property as the Martyr advised her, i.e. she distributed it to the poor, and then, for a year, every Sunday she was honored to see her son, with the Martyr Varus, in angelic clothing, and then she herself died peacefully, having pleased God.

Therefore, brethren, if you have raised your children in true faith and piety, if you have taught them the Christian life not only by words but also by example, then should the Lord be pleased to call any of them to Himself, separation from them should not terrify you or lead you to despair. Under the immediate and sovereign protection of our common Father, they will be preserved from all evil, visible and invisible, will grow in all that is good and beautiful, will serve as intercessors for you while you live on this earth, and will bring you unspeakable joy when you meet again in the life to come. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.