His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains in this lecture the true meaning of the Third Day Prayer, correcting the misconception that it is a “Prayer of Spirit Dismissal,” or that the priest comes to “expel” the soul of the deceased from the house. He affirms that such beliefs have no basis in Scripture or Orthodox tradition.

Meaning of the third day

The Third Day Prayer commemorates Christ’s Resurrection on the third day. The Church prays for the departed on this day to remind the faithful that, just as Christ rose, the dead will also rise. It is a prayer of comfort and hope, not an act of spirit expulsion.

Refutation of false ideas

The Pope denies the idea that the departed soul wanders around the house until the priest comes to release it. He cites Scripture: “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Thus, the soul immediately goes to its eternal dwelling—Paradise for the righteous, or Hades for the wicked.

The error of ghosts and wandering spirits

He rejects the notion that spirits can appear as ghosts or visible shapes. The phrase “they thought they saw a ghost” after the Resurrection reflects human misunderstanding, not doctrine. Belief in ghosts is not Biblical.

The fortieth day

The Pope explains that the prayer on the fortieth day relates to Christ’s Ascension, not to the soul’s supposed journey on earth. The righteous soul, like the Good Thief’s, goes straight to Paradise: “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Rejecting non-doctrinal traditions

He warns against confusing faith with local customs, such as lighting candles to drive away spirits or sprinkling water on the deceased’s belongings. These are social traditions, not theological truths.

Difference between human and demonic spirits

Evil spirits are demons, not human souls of sinners. Christ gave His disciples power to cast out unclean spirits, not to remove human spirits from human bodies.

Spiritual conclusion

The Third Day Prayer is a memorial of Christ’s Resurrection, meant to console the bereaved and strengthen faith in eternal life. Human souls do not roam the earth; they return to God. True Orthodox faith must rely on the Holy Scripture alone, not on human myths or cultural beliefs.

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