The Last Liturgy of the Saint's Life

Saint Mar Okeen returned to his monastery joyful, his soul glad at the work of God with him and through him. The saint sensed the time of his departure, so he called some of the brothers and said to them, “Prepare the church and ring the monastery bell so that all the rest of the brothers may gather for the Divine Liturgy, and let us all delight in the communion of the Holy Mysteries of our Lord, God and Master Jesus Christ.” The brothers did as the saint commanded. Together they prayed the glorious Liturgy and partook of the Holy Mysteries, received the saint’s blessing, and each went to his cell.

The Saint’s Disciple Sees the Angel Sent by God

The disciple who attended the saint was a virtuous man. When the time of the saint’s departure drew near, this disciple saw the angel of the Lord whom God had appointed to carry the saint’s soul. When he saw this sight, he cried out with a loud voice and said, “Come, all you brothers, and receive the blessing of your father, Saint Mar Okeen! For the angel of the Lord has come to cut down the tree that shades us and feeds us, our shining pillar and our spiritual father. In a little while the ray that shines on our dark and sinful souls will go out.”

In that hour all the brothers gathered, each one eager to receive his blessing, and they wept bitterly before him, saying, “Woe to us after you, our father! Who can help us as you did in the warfare against the enemy and the assaults of the demons? Pray for us, our father, and for the whole world, that the Lord may deliver us from the snares that are set for us.”

The saint opened his eyes, signed them with the sign of the holy Cross, and blessed them as Jacob blessed his sons, calling each one by name and blessing him.

The saint’s prayer before his departure → · The departure of Saint Mar Okeen →

Sources

• The Life of Saint Mar Okeen, by His Grace Anba Matthaeus, Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of the Virgin Mary (El-Sourian)