The death of a loved one is always a great sorrow and pain, which over time only dulls a little. But when we talk about the departure from the life of a mother or father, then recovering from this disaster is doubly more difficult. Moreover, according to the Orthodox canons after death, the relationship between children and parents does not stop. The Lord can always ask the mother for an unreasonable child left on earth. And the child, in turn, is not relieved of the obligation to pray for his dead parents. These prayers, read on special days, can even save the soul from imminent going to hell.
The clergy say that a person who so earnestly beats the souls of his loved ones also receives a blessing from God and after death falls into paradise. Therefore, prayer for the deceased mother from a daughter or son will bring spiritual benefit to both sides. However, not everyone knows how to properly ask for their loved ones before the Almighty. Today we will tell you what prayers to read about the deceased mother in different periods that have passed since the day of death. Keep in mind that in this way you can also beg the soul of a deceased father or other loved ones.
What happens to the soul after death?
According to Orthodox canons, each prayer of children for the deceased mother should be pronounced in due time. This or that text matters on certain days after death, so you need to clearly understand what exactly happens to the soul of the deceased after moving to another world. Orthodox priests advise loved ones to never mourn their deceased parents. After all, death is not the end, but just a transition to another state. And in it, the soul will not experience pain and suffering, especially if during life a person was a sincere believer and honored the laws of God above all. Even the most sinless, according to the relatives of the deceased, the soul has its sins, and therefore it will await the temptations of demons and the judgment of the Most High.
Have you ever wondered where the rules came from to remember loved ones on the third, ninth and fortieth day after death? Many Orthodox do not understand the significance of these days for a departed soul. Some perform commemoration according to the rules, while others believe that it is not too important. However, we must not forget that it is on these days that a strong prayer for the deceased mother or father is very necessary for them, because at such moments it is decided where exactly the soul will be determined.
Keep in mind that in the first few days after death, demons tempt the soul and try to take it to hell. However, the earnest prayer for the deceased mother, recited by children, can help the soul cope with all the temptations and stand before the judgment of God.
Do not forget that this court can be called private. It decides where the soul will be sent before the Last Judgment. If it is recognized as sinless and allowed in heaven, then this decision will not be reviewed in the future. But in the case when the sins are too strong, and the soul is set to hell, only a prayer for the deceased mother, read regularly and with a pure heart, can become the basis for reviewing the decision on the Day of the Last Judgment, when the fate of everyone who lives and when Anyone living on earth.
Since the soul itself can no longer ask for itself and repent of what was done in life, it is the children who, with their prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased mother, can save her from eternal torment in hell. Ministers of the church always specify that even a moment in hell cannot be compared with all the suffering on earth. Therefore, you should always remember your deceased relatives and work spiritually to help them find peace in the best of the worlds.
The first forty days after death: what does the soul do at this time?
Praying for the deceased mother is especially important forty days after her death. No wonder this period is defined as a certain milestone, after the transition of which it is practically impossible to change anything.
- In Orthodoxy, it is generally accepted that after the soul leaves the body, it is still on the ground for two more days. Two angels meet her: the keeper and the guide. They will accompany the soul in the first days after death. The soul can lead them near their loved ones, visit the most memorable places or those where they never had time to visit during their lifetime. This time can be called farewell to its earthly existence.
- The third day is considered one of the most difficult. Angels must lead the soul to the Creator, but demons begin to tempt along its path. They strive by all possible means to lead her to hell, recalling all the sins committed during the earthly journey. It is very difficult to overcome the temptation, but prayer for the deceased mother can become that beacon that will guide the soul and help her.
- Over the next six days, the deceased stays in paradise, he gets acquainted with everything that is there, resting before the court, which every soul fears.
- The ninth day is dedicated to fellowship with God, after which the disembodied spirit goes to hell. He is there until the fortieth day, after which the trial itself takes place. On this day, the soul receives its verdict until the Last Judgment.
From the foregoing, it becomes clear why in the first days after death, children should actively pray for the departed parent to help him overcome all the trials.
Church ceremonies that must be performed on the body of the deceased
If death has come to your family, then, of course, it is very difficult to remain rational and remember all the rites. However, it is precisely on children in the event of the death of one of the parents that responsibility for observing all the rituals lies. Therefore, this issue must be taken very seriously. Moreover, all church ceremonies are not too complicated for heartbroken relatives.
At the very moment when the soul has departed from the body, it is necessary to read the “Follow”. This is not one prayer, but a whole collection of prayers and songs. They help the deceased to completely separate from the body and say goodbye to his earthly existence. Next, you need to read the Psalter and order a few memorial services in the temple. We will talk about them a little later.
On the third day after the death of the deceased, the funeral service is held in the temple. For this, the coffin with the body is brought to the church, where the priest performs the necessary prayers. After the burial, all relatives and friends should remember the deceased. Also, the memorial meal is repeated on the ninth and fortieth day after death.
How to pray for a dead mother?
Grief always comes unexpectedly, so it is so difficult to think sensibly at these moments. Praying for the deceased mother does not require special preparations, however, when reading it, certain rules must be observed:
- Do not pray in a state of deep depression, try to renounce your grief a little and turn to the Creator without sorrow and with a pure heart. If the appeal to God is accompanied by tears, then such a prayer will become a heavy burden for the soul in the afterlife. She will not bring joy and will not become support in the upcoming trials.
- Of course, it is worth ordering special prayers in the temple, but they should only supplement those words that the child will pronounce for his departed mother in the silence of the house. Only such prayers have real power and value in the eyes of God. They need to be read by any icon and with a lit church candle. However, if there are no icons and candles in the house, then you can pray without them. The main thing is that the words are pronounced with love.
- Of course, one prayer will not help your dead mother find peace. Therefore, it is necessary to ask God for her in the days of remembrance and at any other time, because the prayer for the deceased mother after forty days is no less important than before the expiration of this period. It is believed that daily appeal to the Creator will help the soul to be cleansed from sins and find peace in paradise.
What prayers to read for the deceased mother: Sorokoust
Forty liturgies are customary to order in the church immediately after the death of a person. Moreover, this can be done simultaneously in several churches, it is permissible if they are located in different cities or even countries. Sorokoust is a prayer of remembrance, which the priest reads at the liturgy. This happens for forty days, until the soul falls into the judgment of God and receives its determination.
According to the Orthodox canons, a forty-day commemoration during the service makes it easier for the soul to undergo trials and to clear itself of its lifetime sins in which it did not have time to repent. It is believed that after the first three liturgies served for the deceased, the angels turn to the Almighty with a request to go to hell for the soul to ease its torment. In the following liturgies, they ask for the communion of the newly presented soul.
For ten dinners, the angels beg the Creator about the opportunity to bring the deceased to the gates of hell. Until the twentieth service, the soul is in hell and only then receives permission to leave it. Angels everywhere accompany her and in the following days put on the disembodied spirit in white robes, return to his usual appearance and enter into paradise with the blessings of the Creator. That is why it is so important to offer prayers for the deceased mother up to 40 days in church and at home.
What prayer to read at home?
Prayer for the deceased mother up to 9 days should be daily. It is best to read the following text, which we provide in its full version without abbreviations.
The same prayer must be said on all days of the commemoration of the mother who passed away. This is usually done on the ninth and fortieth day. In the future, the deceased is remembered on church holidays specially designated for this and on the anniversary of the death.
On such days, you need to come to the grave of loved ones and say a prayer there or at home if you cannot get to the cemetery.
Prayer for deceased mother up to 40 days
In addition to what we have already voiced, those close to the deceased should read the Psalter. This is done at the same time by agreement, thus the power of prayer increases at times. Until forty days, it is very important to constantly ask the Lord for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased. This can be done using the text below.
The priests also advise to have a special booklet, where the names of all close relatives who are no longer alive will be recorded. This will help you remember them at any time and pray to the Lord. You can pronounce it at the behest of the soul, regardless of its location, as it is quite simple and easy to remember.
If necessary, you can read another prayer presented above. Priests often call her one of the first when they advise children to ask for their late parents.
When to remember the dead?
Of course, no one can forbid us to remember about the parents who left this world. But the Orthodox Church sets aside several days on which this must be done without fail. On such dates, loving children always commemorate their relatives in the church and at the grave in the cemetery. Naturally, the first such day is the anniversary of death. After 40 days, prayer for the deceased mother or father should not be as intense as before. Do not count any other dates, the Orthodox Church does not support this.
Another date when we all remember not only the deceased parents, but also other people who are no longer with us, is Radonitsa. This holiday does not have a certain number. It is associated with Easter and is reckoned from the Bright Resurrection.
In addition to these days, several more Saturdays were allocated in Orthodoxy, when it is customary to recall their deceased loved ones. In fact, there are not many, so these days are pretty easy to remember:
- Meatless Saturday (before Shrovetide).
- Saturdays of Great Lent (second, third, fourth).
- Before Pentecost.
If your mother was related to military service, which is not uncommon in the modern world, then it is necessary to remember it on the ninth of May and on Saturday before the eighth of November.
How to remember the dead?
Not always people, even coming to the cemetery, behave correctly and according to the canons of the Orthodox Church. But they are quite simple and include only a few points:
- keep the grave clean;
- do not swear;
- do not drink alcohol.
It is also necessary to visit the temple on the day of commemoration and write a note with the name of the deceased, so that the church minister pronounces it during the service. It is also advisable to order a requiem, but this is done at the request of a relative.
How to pray for an unbaptized mother?
It happens that children belong to the bosom of the Orthodox Church, but their parents never received the baptism, having passed away from their lives not being compared with God. How to pray for the deceased mother in this case? After all, everything that we told earlier is done only for Orthodox Christians who have been baptized. Is it possible to leave mom’s soul without repentance and prayer?
These questions, as it turned out, concern many parishioners of the Orthodox Church. On this account, clergymen advise to pray at home in their own words. This cannot be done within the walls of the temple. Also, if you wish, you can read a prayer to St. Huar, but to do this, we repeat again, it is possible only in a home setting.
Our parents have always been with us in life, they do not leave their children even after leaving it. Often, it’s through their prayers that we cope with our troubles and life’s trials, therefore our primary duty is to ask God for the souls of our mothers and fathers.