Death is not the end, but only the beginning of something else, as all religions say. There are many customs related to how to remember the dead. Orthodoxy actually refers to the deceased as well as to the living, with common services their names are pronounced in a row, without any emphasis.
Memorial rites are not held only on Easter, all the rest of the time you can remember the departed. However, in the Orthodox tradition there are also separate days, church holidays, in which the deceased are given more attention than usual.
What days stand out?
According to the Orthodox tradition, the days of special commemoration of the deceased are:
The first day is considered to be the day of death, and not the subsequent ones, even if a person died a few minutes before midnight. The anniversary of the departure to another world stands out.
In addition to these days, other dates of the church calendar, called Parent Saturdays, are important in remembering the dead correctly.
- Meat;
- Trinity;
- Four decades.
In addition to Parental Saturdays, when the commemoration of the deceased is accompanied by a funeral service, the date of Radonitsa is also important.
Day three
The third day following death opens a series of obligatory commemoration. In the customs of how to remember the deceased after the burial, the third day is important and not only in Christianity. For example, the custom of trisny adopted in Russia was nothing more than a remembrance. Each culture has traditions associated with death and the third day after it. In Christianity, the third day is associated not only with the resurrection of Christ, but also with the Holy Trinity.
It is generally accepted that until the third day the soul of the deceased visits those places with which a person has been connected with much in life. Whether the Angel accompanies the soul with it or not, there is no consensus in church philosophy on this issue.
It is believed that a calm soul, happy in life and righteous, not rushing about under the influence of passions and regrets, does not travel anywhere, but is located next to its body. That is, it stays in the place where the body of the deceased lies in anticipation of burial. Virtuous souls, full of compassion, visit those places in which they did good during life. That is, if a person, for example, maintained a shelter or was a volunteer in a hospital, his soul will visit these places.
The clergy explain such visits by the fact that the soul goes to what it was "sick" for, during which it was "restless." This applies not only to the virtuous dead, but also to souls filled with disappointment, sorrow or - dreams of seeing something. If a person passionately wanted to go somewhere, but did not do it, there is a high probability that in the first three days after death the soul will visit this place.
On the third day, the Lord calls the soul to himself. This is reflected in the way the deceased is remembered in the church - on the third day in the text of the Lord’s prayer they pray for mercy for the soul, which will soon appear before it.
Day nine
The ninth day is associated with the number of angelic ranks. It is generally accepted that a soul called to heaven is awaiting the judgment of the Lord for six days. At this time, she contemplates paradise, and nine Angels will know her deeds and thoughts.
The number "nine" is present in one form or another in many descriptions, customs or rituals. "Nine Gates", for example, a symbol that arose long before the birth of Christianity, it is rooted in the culture of the Entre Rios and Ancient Kingdoms of Egypt. There is a “nine” in Hindu beliefs, it was present in the northern epos, and, of course, in Slavic traditions.
The Orthodox believe that the ninth day is the time of the judgment of the soul of the Lord. In how to correctly remember the dead in the church, this day is important. The memorial services of the ninth day are dedicated to prayers for mercy, for the establishment of the soul with saints and righteous people, and for the recollections of the deeds of the deceased.
Fortieth day
The number forty is important in the Jewish tradition. It was from there that it converted to Christianity. However, Judaism and Christianity are inextricable concepts. Faith in Christ grew out of the ancient religion of the Jews. Therefore, most of the symbols and rites also came from Judaism.
The Prophet Moses received the tablets from the Lord only after fasting for forty days. And the journey of the Jews through the desert lasted forty years. Jesus Christ took a place next to Heavenly Father again - on the fortieth day.
It is believed that on the fortieth day the soul appears a third and last time before the Lord. And after that he settles in his place, that is, goes to heaven or to hell, where he is waiting for the Last Judgment.
In how to carry out the commemoration of the dead, the rules of the Church require that a prayer service be ordered that day. Pray should be for the smoothing and forgiveness of the sins of the deceased and his placement with holy and righteous souls. After the fortieth day, the time for prayers "for peace" comes.
Year after death
The Church unambiguously considers how to commemorate the departed on the anniversary of death, if one does not go into the philosophy and order of the liturgical year, then this date is like a birthday, but not of a person in the body, but of the soul.
According to church traditions, a person’s birthday is not celebrated. It is not necessary, from the point of view of Christianity, to go to the cemetery on this date or to allocate it somehow differently. Place of date of birth is the anniversary of death. How to remember a person on this day is a question to which there is also a definite answer. You need to order the service "for peace", to pray at home. Of course, it is not forbidden to go to the cemetery.
As for dinners, lunches and other traditions associated with food and drinks, they are in every culture, but they are alien to Christianity. These are more ancient customs, to which the church has nothing to do. However, although the feast is not included in the list of church recommendations on how to remember the deceased at home, Christianity does not prohibit such customs.
Memorial Saturdays
These are special days that are present in all Christian denominations. They were established by the heads of the Churches “together”, and this happened due to necessity. Since the Christian religion does not actually separate the dead from the living, it was necessary to restore order in the construction and themes of general worship. The result of this was the Sabbath, called "Ecumenical." In Orthodoxy, a different name was assigned to them - “Parental”.
In these days, the commemoration of the deceased, the dead and at home after the remission of sins, and suddenly, and in principle - all the deceased Christians, regardless of how they died, is accepted.
Memorial services that serve these days are also called "Ecumenical." During the service there is a general commemoration of the dead. How to remember a specific deceased on such days is a question that has become relevant only in the last century. The church does not yet give clear instructions, but it recommends to pray first for all the departed Christians, and then to mention relatives.
Meat day
This Saturday concludes the Meatless Week, during which churches and cathedrals recall the upcoming Doomsday. Services remind parishioners that this day is inevitable and everyone, both living and dead, are in his constant expectation.
In connection with this tradition, a series of Memorial Saturdays begins Meat. There is the following peculiarity in how to remember the dead on this day - in addition to the fact that all Christians need to remember at the prayer, the subject of the text should concern the expectation of the Last Judgment. The clergy themselves recommend on this day to put two candles "for peace" - for everyone and for a loved one.
Trinity Day
The tradition of recalling the deceased this Saturday, unlike the rest, developed on its own and within Orthodoxy. Most of the Orthodox texts for prayers, carried out on Trinity Day, during the lifetime of St. Basil the Great.
St. Basil especially emphasized prayers for the evening Pentecost, claiming that at this time the Lord would accept soothing for all sinful souls, even those that have long been in the underworld.
However, although Trinity Day was included in the list of Saturdays approved by the Ecumenical Synod for commemoration, the church clearly prescribes praying at this time only for the departed pious Christians.
This is due to the theme of the date of the Trinity or, as was customary to say in Orthodoxy, Holy Pentecost. It is believed that at this time the Holy Spirit descended and the creation of man was completed. That was the primary meaning of the Trinity festival. Divine services with funeral services for the dead are performed on the last Saturday before the bright day of the Trinity and go all day, especially in Orthodoxy the evening prayer stands out.
On the symbolism of these days and the features of commemoration
Theology, or, in other words, church philosophy, gives Meat Day and Trinity symbolic meaning.
Meatless Saturday represents the end of the world, the cessation of the existence of this world and the onset of the Last Judgment. It is believed that it is during the week before this day, which in the Orthodox tradition is also called Meat, the horsemen of the Apocalypse will sweat. That is why churches representing any of the Christian denominations are extremely wary of any natural disasters occurring this week. But they absolutely calmly accept any forecasts for other days. For example, not so long ago, scientists around the world were alarmed by the approach to the trajectory of the Earth meteorite. Of course, parishioners asked spiritual tutors questions related to news stories. The position of all representatives of the clergy of different faiths was the same - nothing will happen. This belief was conditioned only by the fact that the date of a possible disaster did not fall into the Meatless Week.
Trinity Saturday symbolizes a completely different thing. Pentecost represents universal redemption by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is considered the day of the end of the kingdom of the Old Testament Church and the subsequent disclosure to people of all the splendor of the Kingdom of Christ. That is, in simple terms, this day marks in Church philosophy a change of Jewish Christian beliefs.
It was these theological nuances that left their mark on how to remember the dead right this Saturday. But then again, if there are no questions regarding the services of the Meat-Keeping Memorial Day - they pray for all those who died on the eve of the Last Judgment, then Trinity Saturday is a matter of debate. The position of the Church is unambiguous and corresponds to the rule established by the Synod - pious Christians are remembered.
But it’s natural for a man to find loopholes in laws. In Orthodoxy, it is accepted almost as officially as the rules to remember the deceased sinful, not pious, suicide or not baptized.
However, this is done in a completely different way from the traditional commemoration of the deceased. There is no talk of any orders for prayers or mention in memorial services. If you want to remember the sinful soul this Saturday, they put a candle in front of the image of St. Basil the Great and pray for his intercession before the Lord.
There is such a sign associated with a prayer to St. Basil the Great for mercy for sinful souls. After the evening service, during which they turn to the saint with a request for intercession, one should not communicate with anyone, go to bed, and visit the cemetery in the morning.
If birds fly to the grave or flowers bloom on it, any, it can be a lilac bush or planted daisies, or some other sign will be given, then the prayer is heard and the Lord forgave the sinner. If there was no sign, then the Lord did not heed the intercession of St. Basil the Great.
After visiting the grave, you need to go to the temple and put a candle to the saint with a thankful prayer.
In the absence of a burial place, which also happens, or its inaccessibility, you just need to go outside and wait for a sign. If you believe the signs, then St. Basil the Great does not ignore a single plea, and you can appeal to him more than once.
Fourth Days
These are the Saturdays ending the second, third, and fourth weeks during Lent. On the weekly days of worship, "for peace" is not held. All ordered prayers of this type are postponed to Saturdays.
In Orthodoxy these days do not have much significance, unlike Catholicism. In our churches on these dates they read a short general commemoration and conduct “targeted” prayers.
These Saturdays in churches are held:
- litany for peace;
- lithium;
- funeral services;
- “Personal” commemoration;
- shrikes.
It is considered a very bad sign if commemoration by day, that is, the third, ninth and fortieth, falls on weekdays. The deceased remains without a traditional prayer service, that is, to put it more simply, the commemoration is transferred to the next Saturday day, following the calendar day.
But the Orthodox Church does not prohibit such weekly weekly activities as commemorating the departed at home prayer, visiting cemeteries or otherwise recalling the departed loved ones, for example, putting a candle in front of the image of a saint.
Radonitsa Day
In addition to church rites, it is traditionally customary to visit burial places in Radonitsa. Christianity does not prescribe anything concrete about how to behave in a cemetery, how to remember the dead sinners at their graves, except for the requirements to refrain from drinking.
This date in church philosophy is associated not only with the end of the Holy and Bright Week and Sunday of St. Thomas, but also with the story of how the Lord descended to the Underworld and triumphed over death.
It is in Radonitsa that you need to go to cemeteries, according to the customs of Christianity, dedicated to how to remember the dead, folk traditions to visit the graves of loved ones in Easter arose under Soviet rule and are not approved by the church.
In Easter, memorial services are not held, graves are not visited, and in principle, nothing is done that is somehow connected with death. Everything that was done during the Soviet era on this day should be transferred to Radonitsa. It is this date that Christian faiths set aside to prepare the dead for the message of the resurrection of Jesus.
What is a commemoration?
In various explanations on how to remember the dead, this name is often found. The commemoration is a diptych, consisting of two plates, which is a notebook in its functional value. The names of the living are written on one side, and the deceased on the other, which should be mentioned in prayer.
Such memos are:
- church, "altar";
- at home;
- petitioners.
"Altar" are used during the service of the clergy. Their size and weight can be very large, and only the names of the chosen ones are entered into permanent lists. That is, people who have done many good and pious deeds, distinguished themselves by strong faith and who have benefited the Church. For example, in every Russian church, the list included the names of merchants whose funds erected a particular church and those who made donations.
In church memos there are two sections in the part relating to the deceased:
The first includes the names of those who have received eternal remembrance. And in the second - the names of the deceased, prayers for which were ordered.
Home memos differ only in that the names of loved ones are painted in them. Home diptychs can be family and tribal. Accordingly, generic are carried on for centuries and are passed from generation to generation.
In home books, it is customary to write down not only names, but also important dates, days of a name day and much more related to the person mentioned on the pages. Explain how to keep a home commemoration, can in any temple.
The petitioners, on the other hand, are an important part in the list of customs regarding how to remember the dead.
These are the commemorations that can be purchased in any church in the same place as candles. They also consist of two components, on the one you need to write the names of the living, on the other - the dead. The completed commemoration is handed over to the clergyman. That is, it is actually a note asking to mention during the service those people whose names are listed in it.
If you wish to take advantage of the petitioner’s commemoration, you should come to the temple in advance in order to have time to fill out the pages and pass the note to the clergyman. The handouts sent during the service remain at the discretion of the priest. That is, by default they are read only at the next service. Reading on the current is a personal initiative and the “good will” of the clergyman.
What is Magpie?
Sorokoust is a series of prayers for the deceased, completed within forty days. There are no restrictions for this rite, it can be ordered immediately after the end of the liturgy for the deceased.
In addition to Sorokoust, you can order memorial services for a period of one year and six months. Also, many monasteries accept petitions for eternal remembrance. By “eternal” we should understand the term - “while the Temple is standing”, that is, the time that a certain monastery is operating. Applications for eternal commemoration are not accepted in city or village churches, since the time of ministry there is limited. But the monks have the opportunity to offer prayers to the Lord almost round the clock.
Do I need to pray for the deceased at home?
In the modern world, this question is the most relevant. Traditionally, it is customary to have a “Red Corner” in the house with images, candles and other attributes. It is also customary to pray daily, traditionally they do this before bedtime.
Of course, prayers also imply the mention of deceased loved ones. It is considered especially important to pray to the Lord for mercy on the soul of the deceased in the first forty days after his death.
However, in the modern world, the piety of people is concentrated within their hearts. Few people have religious ritual attributes in the house and read aloud prayers before bedtime. This is especially true of Russia, in which godlessness reigned for a long time. It's about the years of Soviet power and the forcible education of people in atheism. The concept and role of religion was replaced by the party, education in Christian values ​​- public children's organizations.
Therefore, you do not need to put icons and pray out loud if there is no inner need to do this. In prayer for the departed, sincerity is important, not "copying a template." It is enough to come to the temple and pray at the image to yourself, asking for mercy for the deceased loved one. Such a prayer will be honest, and the Lord will surely hear it.