From Transylvania on Halloween

Halloween is not celebrated in Transylvania. There are no trick-or-treaters, Halloween costumes or parties to attend. October 31 is much like any other day in Transylvania. However, November 1 is a significant day in the lives of Romanians in Transylvania. It is called “The Day of the Dead.” For many, it is an unquestioned tradition to go to the cemeteries in order to light candles, say prayers for departed loved ones, and to bring flowers and other gifts to decorate the grave site. For others, it is a superstitious practice which should not be practiced by Protestant Christians.

Today I had the opportunity to preach a sermon (click here to read) about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I used it as a time to share how this miracle relates to us today and how we can observe the Day of the Dead as a day to remember and honor those who have been faithful servants of God. I believe that it is important to understand why we keep certain traditions and how our faith and understanding of the Bible needs to keep those traditions in proper perspective.

We closed by singing probably the most appropriate hymn for All Saints Day. Although we sang just 4 of the verses which have been translated into Romanian, here are the original 11 verses to this great hymn which praises God for those who have gone before and looks forward to the day when we will all sing to God an unending song of praise.

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Words: Will­iam W. How, in Hymns for Saint’s Days, and Other Hymns, by Earl Nel­son, 1864. The or­ig­in­al ver­sion be­gan, “For all thy saints…”

Music: Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaugh­an Will­iams, in The Eng­lish Hymn­al (Lon­don: Ox­ford Un­i­ver­si­ty Press, 1906), num­ber 641

http://nethymnal.org/htm/f/a/fallthes.htm