Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church
(Ukrainian Catholic--Eparchy of Toronto),
St. Catharines, ON Canada.
Video: Maria-Lynn Turi, June 27, 2011
The funeral of Mitrophoric Protopresbyter Dr. Mykola Komar , long-time pastor at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church.
THE "MEMORY ETERNAL" (Vichnaya Pamyat) - This hauntingly and heart-wrenchingly beautiful refrain, typical of the Byzantine rite Memorial Prayer, does not mean that we are praying to remember the deceased person forever. Bishop Hlib (Lonchyna) explains that it comes from the Jesus the Christ's dialogue during His Crucifixion. The Good Thief prayed to Jesus: "Remember me, Lord, in Your Kingdom." Jesus responded: "Today you shall be with me in Paradise!" This prayer of Vichnaya Pamyat asks the Christ to remember the Reposed in God's Kingdom (i.e. from Eternity). If the Messiah "Remembers" us at death, we shall be with Him in Paradise. This is what we mean when we pray: "Memory Eternal" for the reposed.