Death and the Departure of the Soul.

— Father, how is it that in times past our ancestors lived and died in peace, whereas today—as you know—we end our lives in great turmoil, passing from sorrow to calamity, and from hardship to suffering?

— I shall explain this to you as best I can.

You see, people in the past held great love for one another. Their relationships were founded upon integrity and justice.

Moreover, their love for God was so profound that they strove, in every way, to fulfill His will. Consequently, they found in Him a Helper and Savior in all the circumstances of their lives, right up until the moment of death.

We, by contrast, have made a god of our own bellies, indulging every one of their whims—even though this insatiable appetite offers us no benefit or salvation, but only sorrow.

— Father, since I can see that your most wise mind has been illumined by God, I beg you to resolve one more question for me:

When the soul separates from the body, does it depart with pain and violence, or with serenity and ease?

— Well, I cannot speak from personal experience—for, you see, I have not yet died! the Venerable one said with a smile. I can, however, explain it to you in theory. Take note: There are virtuous people who experience a bitter death, and there are sinners who experience a sweet death.

However, the bitter death of the virtuous person washes away the sins they committed during their life—for no one is without sin, save for God alone.

Conversely, the sweet death of the sinner offsets the few good deeds they may have happened to perform. Thus, the virtuous person departs from this life completely cleansed, while the sinner departs completely unclean.

And I assure you, my brother, that the temporarily bitter death of the righteous person secures for them eternal joy and exultation.

Whereas the temporarily sweet death of the sinner consigns them to the unquenchable fire and eternal hell.

— Well, are there not sinners who both die a bitter death and end up in hell?

— Indeed, there are many sinners who experience a bitter death before being sent to hell.

Just as there are righteous people who experience a sweet death and are subsequently led into eternal blessedness.

What can one say? The judgments of God are manifold.

He grants each person a death that corresponds to the life they have led. In truth, death itself is not as terrifying, my child, as the judgment that takes place at that very moment.

For as soon as the soul departs from the body, Angels arrive to receive it. Yet, at the same time, throngs of demons also gather. The Angels present the soul’s good deeds, while the demons present its evil ones. Then, all stand waiting for the verdict—of salvation or condemnation—to arrive from Heaven.

But until this awesome verdict arrives, what agony the soul endures! One moment, it fears it will be cast into hell, and it melts with terror; the next, it hopes for salvation, and leaps with joy and gladness.

Then, doubt returns; it raises its hands toward heaven, pleading not to be surrendered to those who gnash their teeth against it. The Angels, too, experience great anxiety at this time—as do the demons—for the Angels hope for a verdict of salvation.

Thus, wherever the righteous Judge commands, the soul is delivered: either to the Angels of God—to find deliverance—or to the demons of darkness—to face perdition. This, my child, is the true source of fear and dread—namely, that the soul might be condemned to perdition, that it might fall into the hands of unclean demons… Otherwise, death is a natural occurrence that awaits us all…

Saint Niphon – from the book "An Ascetic Bishop."