Often one has to hear questions, especially from young people: “Radonitsa - what kind of holiday is it and when is it celebrated? And if its name comes from the word “joy”, then for what reason? ”Now, when the Orthodox culture returns to the everyday life and consciousness of the people, it will be very appropriate to talk about it.
Radonitsa: what is this holiday
The Orthodox Church in the second week after Easter, on Tuesday, established the day of special commemoration of the dead - Radonitsa. In his name, the word "joy" really sounds. Firstly, because the most joyful Christian holiday continues - Easter. Secondly, because our loved ones, having completed the mortal earthly path and having left their labors and hardships, did not die, but moved to that world where Jesus Christ prepared the way for us with his death and resurrection. The realization that separation from them is only temporary and that we will connect again some day cannot but inspire joy in the heart of a believer.
On this day in the churches after the evening service, and sometimes after the liturgy, a special memorial service is performed. Unlike usual, it is accompanied by Easter chants, which carry the joy of giving eternal life. In addition, prayers for the dead are performed in cemeteries, while visiting the graves of loved ones.
Replacing real traditions with imaginary
It is a sad fact, but over a long period of the atheism, when the Orthodox culture was supplanted from the consciousness of people, the day of remembrance of the dead - Radonitsa - was forgotten. What kind of holiday was that, few remembered. Pious Christian traditions were replaced by purely pagan customs. And this is not surprising, because wild superstitions always arise in the place of the persecuted true faith.
First of all, this refers to the tradition that has developed in our time to drink alcohol on graves. Remembering the deceased with vodka or wine is an exclusively Soviet innovation. The Church teaches that the souls of our loved ones need a prayer for them and good deeds done by us on their behalf. The booze, arranged in cemeteries, only offends their memory.
Also among the customs rejected by the church, there is a habit of leaving food and Easter eggs on the graves . As for the supposedly pious tradition of putting a stack of vodka, brown bread and a photograph - this is absolutely absurd.
Currently, the church is doing a lot of work to revive forgotten traditions and holidays. Answers are given to questions related to the holiday called "Radonitsa" - what kind of holiday, how to celebrate? The signs of a new attitude towards the national tradition are becoming more visible.
The proper maintenance of the grave
In all the peoples of the world, the territories on which the ashes of the departed rest are considered sacred places. Even pagan laws guaranteed their integrity. Moreover, in the Christian cemetery, the graves of people who have passed away but are awaiting a future resurrection should be kept in proper order.
Even our distant ancestors who lived in paganism marked the burial places with hills. Even now they underlie the construction of modern graves, transforming into various forms and compositions. The common among them is the symbol of our future salvation installed on the grave - the Holy Life-giving Cross. It can be depicted on a gravestone or mounted above a tombstone.
In the Orthodox Church, it is customary to call deceased people deceased. This is no coincidence. The Savior has given us eternal life, and therefore the grave is only a temporary refuge. The day of resurrection will come when everyone will rise to eternal life. Therefore, the duty of every Christian is to keep the grave of a person close to him in order.
The cross is the oldest and most important element of the tombstone
Particular importance is attached to the cross. Over the grave of the Orthodox Christian, he symbolizes that under him in the earth is a seed hidden, ready to grow for a new life. It is always placed at the feet of the deceased. It is necessary to ensure that the cross never squinted, was well-groomed and painted in a timely manner. For the soul in the underworld, even the most modest and discreet-looking cross is more important than expensive and magnificent tombstones. The abundance of granite and marble more often serves the vanity and pride of the deceased's relatives, and not his soul.
Radonitsa in the writings of theologians
Radonitsa is a holiday, worship, traditions and all the ordering of which dates back to ancient times. This is testified by St. John Chrysostom. In his writings, he writes that in the time of the early Christians in cemeteries there was a special memorial day associated with Easter. The joy of the transition to a new life, and not grief, is the meaning inherent in the holiday called Radonitsa (Radunitsa). The history of the holiday was the subject of research by a number of theologians. A lot of attention in her works was given to her by the most famous religious figure, Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh.
Radonitsa - what kind of holiday, how to celebrate?
According to the Orthodox tradition, before going to the cemetery, you should visit the temple, submit a note on the commemoration of the deceased at the altar, and after the liturgy to serve a memorial service. Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ is also recommended. Arriving at the grave, first of all, you should light a candle and perform a lithium established by the church. It is advisable to invite a priest for this, but if it is not possible, you can limit yourself to its short version, the text of which is easy to find in the prayer book. After that, it was supposed to put the grave in order and just for a while to be near it in silence, remembering the deceased.
Always, except for prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased, good deeds done by us on his behalf bring him great benefit. A particularly convenient time for this is Radonitsa. What kind of holiday is it if there is no sense of joy left after it? It is this consciousness that will be created by the consciousness of the benefits brought by us to both the deceased and the living. Radonitsa is a celebration of joy both for those who have departed from earthly life, but who have infused into eternal life, and for the living, who have received the hope of immortality.