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Church of God or Cave of Robbers?translated

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

By Fr Dimitrios Bokus

Coming to the country of the Gergesenes, Christ met two demon-possessed people who were coming out of the cemetery of the area, since the tombs were their place of residence. He was in a terrible state, "very poor." No one dared to stand in their way. Christ healed them, allowing the demons that dwelt within them to enter, at their request, into a herd of swine grazing beyond. The pigs then all rushed together to the adjacent cliff and fell into the sea (Matthew 5th Sunday).

The presence of Christ in their place was the most amazing event that could ever happen to the Gergesians. God clothed in human form was so close to them, he walked among them. Such a thing had never happened before in human history.

However, the people of Gerges, despite the appropriate evidence that was given to them to appreciate the unprecedented and unusual event, remained completely unsuspecting, completely strangers, completely uninvolved in it. They missed the chance to change. What change could they achieve?

Christ did not come to simply improve man's good or bad daily life, but to call him to become...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (21) 🌐 Show original

Григорий Зайцев

Reminds me of how in our village there is a cemetery next to the Church of St. Nicholas. Yesterday at the service the priest said: “The world of the dead and the living is one space.” How did these Gergesenians not see Christ among them when he walked through their cemetery?

Андрій Бойко

Our priest on Velika Vasilievska often says: "The world of the dead and the living is one space." But don't we, like the Gergesenians, often overlook Christ who walks with us after the burial?

Сергій Кузьменко

On Velyka Vasilievskaya, after the burial, the elders always stop at the cemetery gate, but no one sees how Christ follows them. Aren't we, like the Gergesenites, oblivious to Him and simply move on?

Юрій Коваленко

Yes, Sergey, that's exactly how it turns out. After the funeral on Vasilievskaya Street, we stand at the gate, talk about the deceased, and then leave as if nothing had happened. Christ is walking next to him, as he was with the Hergesenes, and we, like them, simply do not notice. Maybe it's worth looking around at least once?

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ანა კაპანაძე

I remember how yesterday in the church I read Father Dimitri's words and thought that we are exactly like that in Telavi - we lay the dead in the cemetery, we pray, then we stand at the gate, talk about food and go home as if nothing happened. Christ comes next to us, but we do not see him like the Gergesians.

Мария Колева

Yesterday, after the service in our church, exactly this came to my mind - how many times after a funeral in the cemetery in Sofia we stand at the gate, talk about the meal afterwards and go home as if nothing had happened. And Christ was there, just like with the Gergesenians. Maybe we really should turn around at least once.

George Miller

The Gergesenes had the Lord right there walking among the tombs and they still missed Him completely. Same as us — we stand at the cemetery gate after the funeral, chat about the food, then head home like nothing happened. Makes you wonder if we’d even notice if He joined us on the way back.

Галина Беляева

After the funeral service in the church, we also often stand at the cemetery gates, talking about the deceased, and then about what to put on the table. And just like these Gergesinians, we disperse as if nothing has changed. But Christ is walking nearby, as the article says. Maybe it’s really worth looking back at least once?

Елена Смирнова

Василь Олійник

Yes, Father Dmytro noticed well. After a funeral at our cemetery, people often simply leave, as if nothing had happened, and Christ walks alongside just then, as with those two demoniacs. Maybe it would be worthwhile to stop at the gate and pray quietly, instead of rushing home right away. And what do you think, Andrei?

Богдан Панченко

Yes, Andriyu, the father is right on Velyka Vasylivska Street - there is only one space, and we often hurry after the funeral, as if there is nothing there anymore. Last year, after my mother's funeral, I myself stood at the gate and suddenly thought: maybe He is waiting for us to at least look back at this very moment. Don't you think that after the cemetery it would be easiest to say even one word to Him?

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ლელა ნოზაძე

It's true, Anna, Father Dimitri's words speak of exactly that. In Telavi, we often hear "Father, what can I do for the dead?", but we don't even think about meeting Christ himself. It would be good if we stopped for a moment and thought about what he tells us every day.

Іван Коваль

Yes, Bohdan, you made a good point. After my aunt's funeral, I also stood by the fence for a long time and suddenly realized that we were running away from the place where it would be possible to quietly say "Lord, have mercy." Maybe it really is easier after the cemetery, because everyone there is already without masks. And do you often then return to your mother's grave and just keep silent?

Katherine Davis

Yeah, that hits home. We do the same thing at funerals — stand there talking about the casserole someone brought, then drive off like the whole thing was just another errand. Makes me wonder what it would actually take for us to really see Him standing right there.

Антон Лебедев

Galina, they definitely noticed about these conversations at the gate. In Kazan, too, after the funeral service, we most often switch to appetizers and salads, as if the service was just a formality. But indeed, Christ stands nearby, as in that article. Maybe next time one of us will say something about this out loud, so as not to disperse like the Gergesinians.

Наталія Руденко

Yes, Yuri, I definitely noticed. After the funeral on Vasylkivska Street, we often stand, talk about the deceased, and then leave as if nothing had happened. Perhaps, indeed, it is worth looking back at least once and asking ourselves why we so quickly get used to the fact that Christ is near. And what do you think prevents us from noticing?

Ирина Воробьёва

Anton, that’s right, after the funeral service we also immediately start talking about “should we make a salad with chicken or tuna”? It's as if the service is a check-box and not a meeting. I wonder if in Kazan it is often one of the elders who is the first to say this out loud, or is it more and more young people?

Валентина Соловьёва

Irina, in Yaroslavl, too, young people often start talking about salads right next to the church. The elders will still remain silent or quietly among themselves. In Kazan, after the funeral service, do they generally run straight to the table or do they at least stand for a while?

Роман Киселёв

In Yekaterinburg, after the funeral service, people often immediately start talking about food, but usually it’s the elders who start - “let’s quickly set the table before everything gets cold.” Young people are more silent or bury their heads in their phones. In Kazan, after such services, does anyone stay in the church to pray longer or does everyone leave immediately?

Роман Богданов

After the funeral service, we also often immediately talk about the table and salads. I remember how last year, after the service at Aunt Valya’s, everyone started talking about cabbage pie, and I stood and thought: Christ was just here, and we, like those Gergesinians, are passing by. Anton, have you already tried to tell someone about this out loud in Kazan, or is it just in your head?

Татьяна Смирнова

Roman accurately noticed about the funeral service. In our country, too, after a memorial service they quickly switch to “let’s have a salad with herring, like last time.” And about Kazan - no, I haven’t spoken out loud yet, I only discussed it with our priest in Minsk. I wonder how they would react there.