Hokehankist (The Repose of Souls)

The Repose of Souls (or Requiem) Service is a devout ceremony conducted for the souls of those individuals who have entered their eternal rest.

Literally, the Armenian word Hokehankist means "rest for the souls." The Repose of Souls prayer or service is based on the teaching of communion with the saints.

All the Ancient Churches that profess and believe in the immortality of soul, eternal life, resurrection of the dead and the Last Judgment Day have a repose of souls service.

According to the Armenian Church, the souls of the dead rest in a special place before the resurrection — the just and the innocent on the one hand and the sinful on the other stay in a separate place meant for each.

Through this faith Christians pray for the souls of their dead relatives and ask for the intercession of the Saints. They conduct the repose of souls service, open soup-kitchens for the poor and vulnerable families, make donations to churches and elder care homes all asking for God’s mercy on the Last Judgment Day for the souls of those who passed away.

The Armenian Church has established the day following the five tabernacle feasts — Holy Christmas, Holy Resurrection, Transfiguration, Assumption of the Holy Mother of God and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross — as a day to commemorate and pray for the souls of the dead. This day is known as mourning day or Merelots.

In addition to conducting the Repose of Souls service on these five days, there are also private services conducted on such occasions as the fortieth day of the death, the anniversary, etc. There is also a custom of blessing the tombs on the mourning days of the tabernacle feasts as well as on the occasion of the fortieth day or the anniversary. During each Divine Liturgy the dead are remembered by the celebrant priest.

During the Repose of Souls Service special hymns are sung, the Gospel is read and at the end, during the prayer "Christ, the Son of the God," the names of the dead are mentioned and the priest prays that God should have mercy and forgiveness upon them on the Last Judgment Day.

Praying for the souls of the dead is based on the Holy Scriptures and there are a number of biblical chapters referencing it.

The people of Israel used to offer a holy service for the dead by abstaining from food for several days. For example, the citizens of the town of Jabesh of Galatians fasted seven days upon the death of King Saul (1 Chronicles 10:12).

Thus our Holy Fathers always remembered the dead with prayer, good deeds and abstinence so absolution, rest and heavenly kingdom should be awarded to those who have entered eternal rest with faith.

In the Gospel, Jesus repeatedly mentions the difficult conditions of being a member of the heavenly kingdom and tells them to rely on God's mercy and charity.

The church does not pray for the souls of heathens, heretics, atheists and suicides. As for those who died as true Christians the church asks for God's mercy and expiation of sins for their forgivable sins and not for their deadly sins.

No matter how much the church prays for the dead, no one must remain unconcerned or light-hearted regarding the salvation of his soul, only relying on the prayer which is read after death, because

"Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2)

The day of salvation is now while man lives on the earth and can repent, convert and believe, because he will not have these opportunities when he passes away.

— Courtesy of the Armenian Church website