I had never experienced the loss of someone close until one gray winter day when the news arrived: my grandmother was unconscious. My beloved, dear grandmother, whose prayers I felt every day, was now on the verge of death.

She rarely went anywhere, but unexpectedly, her friends took her to the local monastery for the Liturgy. As they entered the gates, my grandmother, overjoyed, knelt in the snow and thanked God for being in such a holy place! It was the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, and she received communion. However, as soon as she stepped away from the Chalice, she immediately lost consciousness.

The Presentation translates to a meeting. That evening, my grandmother passed away. On that day, her soul met the One she had always aspired to. For Whom she patiently endured all the hardships of life. It was a heavy blow for us, as if a piece of my heart had been cut out. But when we learned how my grandmother died, there was a bright feeling in the soul. Every Christian dreams of such a final hour – to die, purifying the soul through confession and uniting with Christ in the Holy Communion.

I had mixed feelings at that time: sorrow and joy, peace and tears of bitter parting. After the funeral, our entire family gathered. We reminisced about her, and we laughed! We even thought about what the neighbors would say: they buried a loved one and laughed loudly for the whole street to hear.

I thought about how she no longer endured her illnesses, nothing saddened her, and there was no need to exert energy on everyday matters. She was light and joyful.

My grandmother gave me faith, and now I also know that the soul does not die but transitions into eternal life. And during my grandmother's memorial, we all felt it so vividly. Just a bright sadness and warmth in the soul. This is how Christians bid farewell to their loved ones. We don't mourn them; we precisely send them off to the embrace of the Heavenly Father!

Original article: https://radiovera.ru/babushkino-sretenie-jana-kapaeva.html