In the Eastern Christian world, it is common to wish people a hearty “many years” whenever they are celebrating any meaningful life event whether that be a birthday or an anniversary or when they become chrismated into the Church. This is not said to suggest that there is anything special about having a long earthly life, as if that is the criterion for God’s blessings. If that were the case, we’d have a major issue because the vast majority of the saints we commemorate and imitate did not live long lives. So why do we say this? Because we are mortal and our lives will come to an end whether we’re ready for it or not. And when death comes, judgment follows. So when we wish that God will grant our fellow Christians many years, we are wishing that God will grant them more time to repent. Because it is not the length of years that signifies holiness, as we will soon discover, but how faithfully we lived as an abdullah - a slave of God.

Intro and outro music Copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission. All rights reserved.

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