The commemoration of the departed is an integral focus of Syriac prayer. Unique to the Maronite liturgy until recent liturgical reform was even a remembrance of the departed believers following the communion of the faithful during the Qurbono. The departed are usually remembered in the context of looking forward to apocalyptic events, as illustrated by this sedro:
The morning is the time when the apocalypse is fixed in Syriac eschatology because it was in the morning that Jesus rose from the tomb and ushered in the new reign - man was restored and creation created anew. But we do not exclusively point to the crucifixion and resurrection as the sole events of soteriology - the last line of the first paragraph is demonstrative of this, as a faithful death (referred to as laying down in hope) is required of each faithful but so is the cleansing through holy baptism, given to us at the Jordan, and the consumption of Jesus's flesh and blood, given to us through the Eucharistic institution.
On the great morning when You dawn to the world, our Lord, our God and our Savior Jesus the Messiah; when You will cause to quake heaven, earth and all in them, and make obsolete their establishment; when Your command will go forth suddenly and the messengers will fly out from before You to collect all those asleep in the tombs; when the ensign of Your divinity will be revealed to the shame and ignominy of paganism and to the pride and glory of Your Holy Church; when the prophets rejoice, the apostles dance, the martyrs are crowned and the confessors are merry; when the impious are disgraced, the infidels are shamed, the iniquitous wail, the Adversary and his hosts are tormented in fire - at that fearful hour and that time of trembling, forgive Your servant, Lord, who have been baptized in Your name, have eaten Your body, drank of Your blood and have lain down in Your hope.Make them worthy of the supreme station on Your right side and to hear the blessed word of the voice that says, “come, blessed ones of my Father; enter and inherit the kingdom of heaven which was made ready for all of you since the foundations of the world.” May we be worthy to hear this word of the voice and of the blessed things that are promised to Your holy ones. With them and amongst them we will raise to You, Lord, glory and to Your blessed Father and Your living and Holy Spirit, now and forever, at all times.
The apocalypse will not be a light matter - it does not say Jesus will come with rainbows and it will be a fun hour - but it will be a "fearful hour" with "trembling." However, it will not be a time of unnecessary and cruel punishment. As the sedro says, at Jesus's manifestation to the "the pride and glory of Your Holy Church." Those who have disobeyed God, however, in paganism, infidelity and impiety, though, will be severely punished. It should not be mistaken that there is any room for apokatastasis in Syriac theology.
Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!
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