Kohane – Sunday of all Departed Priests (English)

The Sunday after the Three Day Lent is commemorated as the Sunday for remembering our departed priests who have been our spiritual guides at every point of life. The Church remembers its fathers who had baptised her, taught her, nurtured her, and fed her with the Holy Body and Blood of her Master and Saviour Jesus Christ. Though we remember the departed fathers of the Church, St. Paul through his letter to Thessalonians remind us that –

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus… And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14, 16-17
With the reading from St. Paul’s letter to Thessalonians, the Church is telling her children that her spiritual children (who have now reposed in the Lord) are very much alive in spirit and are waiting for the blessed day when they will rise up again in the presence of her Master and be with Him.