In the Christian tradition there are a large number of church holidays, large and small fasts, days of remembrance of the holy saints. But, in addition to this, Orthodox believers pay attention and memory to ordinary people who have gone to another world. This is a day of remembrance - parental day.
But it applies to all close people, friends, relatives, including parents. The days when they are remembered are collectively called parental Saturdays. About such days and how many parental days should be celebrated, and will be described in the article.
Orthodox canons
According to the liturgical charter, the Orthodox Church on each day of the week remembers Jesus Christ, angels and archangels, John the Baptist and so on. Whereas on Saturdays services are held dedicated to the memory of saints and all dead people who adhered to the Orthodox faith in life.
At the same time, the church established both individual and common days for the memory of the departed. The days when a special general commemoration is performed are called the parental days of remembrance of the dead, or parental Saturdays. But it should be noted that at that time a tribute to memory is paid not only to parents, but also to other deceased Orthodox.
Why are funeral days “parental"?
Teachers of the Orthodox branch of the Christian Church put forward two versions of why the days of remembrance are parental days, and not just funeral days. The first version says that when it comes to the memory of departed people, first of all, the closest relatives and friends come to mind - his parents.
The second says that the name of this day originates in the idea that people, dying, go to the “parents”, who used to call everyone who has departed to another world, and also are among them. Both versions appear to have a right to exist.
What is the parent day?
It is difficult to answer this question unequivocally, because, firstly, there are not one, but several such days, and secondly, each year it can be different dates. Among all, one main day stands out, called Radonitsa or Radunitsa, on which the so-called universal commemoration of the dead takes place. It can be traced in written sources since the XIV century.
When is this year's parental day called Radonitsa? In 2018, as in other years, it is celebrated on the ninth day after Easter, which in 2018 falls on April 8. Consequently, Radonitsa is celebrated on April 17th. A universal memorial service is held in the church, called the All-Vigil Vigil.
The commemoration on this day is held so that the dead will share with the living the great joy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is a version that the name comes from here. As for other parental days, some of their dates also change depending on the celebration of Easter. When is this year parental days celebrated besides Radonitsa? Let's consider them in more detail.
Meatless Saturday
This is the very first day of the year in remembrance, called the Universal Sabbath. In 2018, it fell on February 10th. Celebrating the universal meaty Saturday, Orthodox believers remember everyone who left this world, and especially those who died suddenly.
Due to the fact that Saturday meat slaughter is held a certain number of days before the beginning of Maslenitsa, there is a folk tradition on this day to cook pancakes. In accordance with custom, the first pancake is required to be taken to the grave of parents or other relatives and given to a beggar. Such pancakes may be not one, but several, they are also given to the poor, who are asked to remember the dead.
Parent days celebrated during Lent
Memorial days are also held in the second, third and fourth weeks of Lent, on Sabbath days. In 2018, they came in March on the 3rd, 10th and 17th. These three Sabbaths, which are held in strict Christian fasting, were appointed by the Orthodox Church to honor the memory of those believers who died while fulfilling strict restrictions.
On these three Saturdays, Christians can commemorate the souls of deceased relatives, acquaintances and friends, since during the rest of Lent, private memorials are not supposed to be performed.
Remembering the fallen soldiers
A special memorial day is the Day of Remembrance of the Dead Warriors, which is celebrated on May 9 every year. The Orthodox Church dedicates it to soldiers who laid down their lives for faith, for their homeland, for the people. Including those who died in the Great Patriotic War. They also recall John the Forerunner, who died for pure and sincere faith at the hands of King Herod Antipas, by whose order he was beheaded.
Trinity Saturday
This day in Orthodoxy is celebrated one day before the celebration of the Holy Trinity. What date is the parent day called Trinity Saturday? On May 26, it falls in 2018. Since the feast of the unity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is celebrated on Sundays, the Trinity commemoration falls on the Sabbath.
It has been known since the time when the disciples of Jesus Christ lived - the holy apostles. Trinity Saturday is intended for prayers for the souls of the deceased, so that they can rest in heaven by joining eternal life with the Almighty.
Dmitrievskaya Saturday
This Saturday memorial day was set by the Christian Orthodox Church before the celebration of St. Dmitry Solunsky, also known as Dmitry Mirotochets. He is revered as a great martyr who suffered during the time of Emperor Diocletian. It was in his name that the name went.
What date is the parent day, called Dmitrievsky Saturday? It in 2018, as in others, is celebrated on November 3. At first, Dmitrievskaya Saturday was dedicated to those soldiers who died during the Battle of Kulikovo. But after some time this day was the day of remembrance of all the departed.
What are they doing on parental day?
As a rule, on parental day, Orthodox Christians go to the cemetery. But the first thing a faithful Christian must do is go to worship in the temple. It is also customary to bring treats to the church, which, after the memorial service, are distributed to the needy, something is transferred to orphanages.
Only after visiting the temple can you go to the cemetery. Candles are lit on the grave, they pray for the deceased. Then you need to sit in silence, indulging in the memories of the deceased.
It should be noted that the church fathers do not recommend following such a pagan tradition as “the decease of the dead”. You can’t put Easter cakes and eggs, other food on the graves. And even more pouring alcohol on the grave.