The Approach of Death - the Moment of Death

Now we will talk about death. What are its stages? Upon getting a grave diagnosis, one first does not believe it, then becomes indignant and protests, then calms down; there follows a kind of humility. This happens with people of little faith. Believers need time to compose themselves so that they can quickly arrange their affairs. Do you comprehend that your time is short? Glory to God that you know that your time is limited, because then you can prepare. I have already talked about debts. I have already talked about the word of God. I have already talked about virtues that you need to begin to exercise, and about self-examination. If you can go to church, try to attend, try to spend time in church. You can even be there at times when there are no church services. You can sit with a book, with God's Word, with the Holy Fathers.

Train your mind to think more often about God. Try to watch television as little as possible, for it is an unnecessary distraction. Especially at this moment, you have absolutely no need of distractions. Get together with, talk with, your relatives, and absolutely do express your last will to your children. What kind of will? Not only as to finances. Convey to them your spiritual will; direct them toward the light of God, for they are your responsibility. Our ancestors did not fear death. In the past, princes wrote extensive wills describing their finances, their lands, and most important, conveying their spiritual will - what to do, and what not to do. They did not fall into hysterical panic; hysteria is something that has spread in our times.

-- Everyone has always been terrified of death.
Not true!

-- There was no hysteria, but they always feared death

Not true! Not everyone feared death. Christians were not afraid to die. People who had a serious approach to the Faith were not afraid of death.

Now death begins its approach. How can we tell? First of all, you need to remember that in cases of cancer, quite often one day before death, as the body is failing, the pain abates; this is a great merciful kindness from God. As I said, you need to commune of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Of course, it is vital to gather together and talk to your family and relatives, and then to be by yourself, so that you can be with God in prayer. Someone near and dear to you can sit nearby, in silence.

You can ask someone to read the Holy Gospels aloud. Such reading has enormous power: at the time of your death, it can ready the soul for its fate. That is why you should try not to leave people in the hospital, not to unload them on hospitals. It is better to die at home. Glory to God, there are many Orthodox hospitals; still, it is better not to do that [i.e. to leave the dying in the hospital].

Quite often before death one's eyes gradually begin to open. He begins to see the other world. Often, he is visited by relatives and by Angels of God, or by evil spirits. You need to be ready for that, as the film that has covered people's eyes since the moment man first fell into sin gradually thins, and his eyes open to the other reality. Here, you need to remember that Satan is a prattler. He has far less power than people imagine. As it was said in the Scriptures, "...the swords of the enemy have utterly failed..." (Psalm 9: 7). That is, from the moment Jesus Christ was Crucified, the enemy was completely deprived of his weapons.

Therefore, should some ghosts, some demons suddenly appear to try to frighten you, remember that it is their job to frighten you. They are powerless. Remember what I once said about how a demon visited St. Antony the Great. An enormous red-eyed demon, a black giant rising up into the clouds. St. Antony simply laughed at him:  "So, why have you come to me?" says Antony the Great, "If you God has given you power over me, please take me. If not, why did you come to me? Well, why have you come to me?! What is it you need of me?!! Look, I will make the Sign of the Cross over you; go away."Antony made the Sign of the Cross over the demon, and he ran away.

When God sent His Angel to kill the Assyrians, the Angel did not stage any kind of demonstration before them. He simply went, slew them, and left. When God sent His Angels to slay the first-born among the Egyptians, did they put on any kind of show? Well, no, they simply went, did what they were sent to do, and departed. Understand this without reservation: that is how it often was. That was how the Saints treated the will of God, and that is how you should as well.

Do you understand? The Sign of the Cross, a prayerful appeal to God, but without any pride. Remember that the power of the Cross is with us, but only on the condition that we pray to God. That is why we say, "Protect us o Lord through the power of Thine Honorable and Life-creating Cross, and preserve us from all evil." We sign ourselves with the Cross. As St. John Chrysostom said, at those words, no satanic power can harm us.