Fr. Evan Armatas Answers Questions on Occult, Eucharist, Sin, and Death

Father Evan Armatas and co-host Mike answer listener questions in a pre-recorded mailbag episode. They first address how to respond to a friend entering occult practices. Father Evan emphasizes prayer, inviting her to experience Christian community, and discussing the differing outcomes of demonic versus angelic possession so she understands the choice.

He notes that Christian life is not about dispossession but about being possessed by the Holy Spirit; baptism begins with prayers of exorcism and then the person is clothed in Christ. He contrasts pagan societies ruled by demons, which practiced ritual child rape, absolute patriarchal authority, slavery, and had no charities, with Christianity which refashioned what it means to be human and transformed civilization.

On the Eucharist, he affirms it is essential to salvation but notes God is not bound by it, citing Abraham and the thief on the cross. He explains the common chalice has never been a source of contagion; priests consume the remainder after every liturgy and do not fall ill, a fact observed during the COVID pandemic when parishes continued sharing the chalice without clergy outbreaks.

He adds that individual cups and wafers are an innovation without basis in Scripture or church history, and those communities generally do not believe the elements become the actual body and blood of Christ. Regarding whether sexual immorality is the worst sin, Father Evan says certain sins have greater impact but warns against minimizing lesser sins.

He describes confession as requiring honesty rather than listing major sins or excusing them, and identifies two ditch banks of bad confession: minimizing sin and presumption, as well as blaming others. On death, he confirms the soul separates from the body and for the faithful is present with the Lord, while the unrighteous also stand in God's presence but experience it as pain.

He stresses salvation is faithfulness shown in works of love, not mere intellectual assent, since demons also believe and tremble. Finally, he advises a catechumen facing roadblocks to trust God's timing, noting the church extends pastoral care even to those not yet formally received. He gives the example of a bishop who ordered a funeral for a woman who died before baptism because her attempt to enter the church was equal to the accomplishment, extending sacramental care to her and her family.