Dormition of the Theotokos (Orthodox Tidbits): The Last Judgment

Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Oakmont, PA

The Last Judgment

The Sunday of the Last Judgment is the third Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent.

The Sunday of the Last Judgment is also known as Meatfare Sunday. This is the last day that meat can be eaten before the Lenten fast. Dairy products are allowed on each day of this week, even Wednesday and Friday. The next Sunday is the Sunday of Cheesefare, It is the last day that dairy products can be eaten prior to the commencement of Great Lent.

On the Saturday before this Sunday, the first of three Saturdays of the Souls are held. This is a special commemoration on this and the next two Saturdays, when the Church offers a Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service for the departed faithful. This is considered a universal commemoration of the dead. It is closely related to the theme of the Sunday of the Last Judgment since the services focus on the Second Coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. Through the memorial services, the Church is commending to God all who have departed and who are now awaiting the Last Judgment.

Every Sunday, during the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostym, between The Great Entrance and The Prayer of the Proskomide, the faithful pray the following petition:

"For a Christian end to our lives, peaceful, without shame and suffering, and for a good account before the awesome judgment seat of Christ, let us ask the Lord."

This prayer, of course, refers to The Last Judgment, which is commemorated today on the Sunday of the Last Judgment.

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When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

Then the King will say to those of his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'

Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'

Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me."

And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

— from the Gospel according to St. Matthew (Ch. 25, vv. 31-46) St. Joseph St. John Choir of All Saints Theotokos Christ is seated on the throne between the Theotokos and St. John the Baptist on the right. Seated on smaller thrones are the Apostles. Adam bows before Christ. The scrolls pronouncing the judgment are at Christ's feet. Eve bows before Christ. St. John the Baptist St. Peter and the Apostles seated on smaller thrones. St. Sava St. Alexander Moses foretells the Crucifixion. An Angel of the Lord foretells the Crucifixion of the Lord to the Prophet Daniel. The Righteous enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The dead rise from their tombs. The earth gives up bodies of the dead. An angel shows the way of righteousness to the man bound to sin. Thieves Idolsters The Proud The Uncharitable Drunkards Usurers Murderers Hypocrites Sorcerers Harlots Gluttons Misers The Despondent Heretics Fornicators The eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil, his demons, and those who are not worthy of inheriting the Kingdom of God.

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