Here the author obviously has in mind the words of the Gospel: If anyone speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; and whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the next (Matt. 12:32). From these words of the Savior, many naturally concluded that, in principle, remission of sins is possible even after the death of a sinner. Metropolitan Macarius (Bulgakov) in this regard notes: “The Church does not pray for those who died with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, or, what is the same, in mortal sin, and who did not repent, and that is why, as the Savior said, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven to a person either in this age or in the future” [6, p. 451].
The Monk Theodore the Studite did not allow open commemoration at the liturgy of the deceased heretical iconoclasts [13, p. 634].
Let us cite a number of statements by the Holy Fathers in which, while calling for prayer for the dead, they did not allow it to be performed in the Church for those who died outside church communion - heretics and the unbaptized.
Blessed Augustine: “The whole Church observes this as a tradition from the Fathers, to pray for those who have died in the communion of the body and blood of Christ, when they are remembered in due time at the very sacrifice” [6, p. 455].
Saint Gregory of Nyssa: “This is a very godly and useful thing - to commemorate those who have died in the right faith with the divine and glorious sacrament” [6, p. 453].
St. John of Damascus: “The mysteries and self-seers of the Word, who conquered the earthly circle, the disciples and divine Apostles of the Savior, not without reason, not in vain and not without benefit, established the commemoration of the faithful departed in terrible, pure and life-giving mysteries” [6, p. 453].
Saint John Chrysostom: “When all the people and the sacred cathedral stand with their hands stretched out to heaven, and when a terrible sacrifice is presented: how can we not appease God by praying for them (the dead)? But this is only about those who died in faith” [6, p. 455].
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