In church life, such a thing as a magpie is often found. What is it and why is this rite necessary ? Such a question is often asked by believers who are not sufficiently knowledgeable about prayers. The answer must be known to all Orthodox Christians in order to turn to God for help through a priest in special periods of life.
Sorokoust: a story
The number "forty" is special in Orthodoxy. So, it is precisely such a number of years that the Israeli people, led by Moses, wandered through the wilderness before setting foot on the promised land. The same prophet prayed and fasted for forty days so that the Lord would give his commandments to him. It took the Son of God the same time to spend in the wilderness before entering public service for people. Forty days - so much has passed since the Resurrection of Christ to His Ascension. No wonder the disciples of the Lord set the same period for the commemoration of the soul of a newly deceased person. Subsequently, this custom was also transferred to living people. Often it is used for petition for seriously ill patients.
Sorokoust: what is it
This rite is a daily prayer for a certain person for forty days. Often, immediately after the death of a person, a magpie is ordered. What it is is evident from the very specifics of understanding bodily death in Christianity. It is believed that the soul of the newly deceased is on the earth for forty days, and only on the last of this number the day appears at the judgment of God. In this case, people associate this rite with the supplication of the sins of the deceased before God so that he would go to heaven. It is not necessary to order a magpie just for the newly deceased. You can perform these prayers at any time after death. In addition, the condition of death is also not mandatory. The practice of this rite is also practiced in relation to living people to solve their problems, atone for sins, and instruct on the true path. Often for prayers for a seriously ill, a magpie is ordered. What it is? Such prayer is a request to God for healing from the illness of the specified person. Sorokoust is carried out by the priest before or during the service of the liturgy, when reading the psalms and during prayers. At the same time, a special procedure is performed at the proskomid - a piece is taken from the prosphora for each of the people who ordered the magpie. Then, in the liturgy, all the pieces are immersed in the Blood of Christ, and the priest says a special prayer in which he asks God to forgive all sins to these people. Thus, there is constant strong prayer for a certain person. There are no restrictions for this sacrament. Unless only baptized people can take part in it.
How to order magpie
This action is performed in each and every Orthodox Church. Therefore, if you want to order a shrike, you need to go there. To perform this rite, only the name of the person to whom it is intended is required. How much it costs to order a magpie, you can find out only in a particular church, and a single price for this rite has not been established. The approximate amount in Russia is 350 rubles.