A mother lullabies her son, and a father rejoices in the resurrection.

An amazing demonstration of grace and hope today at the funeral of 27-year-old Artemiy Julian Dymyd, who was killed by Russian shelling in the Donbas.

Fr. Michel Dymyd said his son’s last words were “I’ve survived.” And while he ended up dying, his soul survives. “Heroes do die,” said Fr. Michel, acknowledging the human condition. It’s the opposite of the Ukrainian war cry “heroes never die!” But what heroes are able to do, he said, is sow the seeds life for generations to come. The willingness to give up one’s life to protect one’s family takes great hope: there’s something better awaiting all of us.

“Sleep, my son, sleep,” sings pani Ivanna. Then we all sing “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs bestowing life.” As the coffin was carried out, the choir sings the verses of Pascha, “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee from before his face! As smoke vanishes, so let them vanish; as wax melts before the fire! So the sinners will perish before the face of God; but let the righteous be glad. This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

Then spontaneous chants of “Kyrie Eleison!” followed by bugles in front to city hall. The melody of Taps, known to Ukrainian scouts, to which the deceased and I belong, echoed in the city square where all shops stopped momentarily. Not a sound, except for the trumpet and one wailing passer-by. “Sleep well, without trouble, God is with us.”