Funeral and memorial rites. What day should the deceased be buried

What We Do Wrong During a Funeral

A funeral is a place where the spirit of the deceased is present, where the living and the afterlife come into contact. At the funeral, you should be extremely circumspect and careful. No wonder they say that pregnant women should not go to funerals. It is easy to drag an unborn soul into the afterlife.

The funeral.
According to Christian rules, the deceased should be buried in a coffin. In it, he will rest (be stored) until the next resurrection. The grave of the deceased must be kept clean, respectful and tidy. After all, even the Mother of God was placed in a coffin, and the coffin was left in the grave until the day when the Lord called His Mother to Himself.

The clothes in which a person died should not be given either to one's own or to strangers. Basically they burn it. If relatives are against this and want to wash clothes and lay them down, then this is their right. But it should be remembered that these clothes are by no means worn for 40 days.

WARNING: FUNERAL...

The cemetery is one of the dangerous places, this place is often damaged.

And often it happens unconsciously.
Magicians recommend keeping in mind a few practical tips and warnings, then you will be reliably protected

• A woman came to a healer and said that after she threw out the bed of the deceased (sister) on the advice of a neighbor, serious problems began in her family. She shouldn't have done that.

• If you see the deceased in a coffin, do not automatically touch your body - tumors may appear that will be difficult to cure.

• If you meet someone you know at a funeral, greet them with a nod of your head, not a touch or a handshake.

• While there is a dead person in the house, you should not wash the floors and sweep them, you can thus call trouble on the whole family.

• Some recommend putting needles crosswise on his lips to save the body of the deceased. It won't help save the body. But these needles can fall into bad hands and will be used to induce damage. It is better to put a bunch of sage grass in the coffin.

• For candles, you need to use any new candlesticks. It is especially not recommended to use the dishes from which you eat, even used empty canning jars, for funeral candles. It is better to buy new ones, and after using them, get rid of them.

• Never put photographs in the coffin. If you follow the advice, “so that he himself is not” and bury a photo of the whole family with the deceased, then soon all the captured relatives run the risk of following the deceased.

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FUNERAL SIGNS AND RITUALS.

Many beliefs and rituals are associated with the death and subsequent burial of the dead. Some of them have survived to this day. But do we suspect their true meaning?
According to Christian custom, the dead man should lie in the grave with his head to the west and his feet to the east. So, according to legend, the body of Christ was buried.
Even in relatively recent times, there was the concept of a "Christian" death. It meant obligatory repentance before death. In addition, cemeteries were arranged at church parishes. That is, only members of this parish could be buried in such a churchyard.

If a person died "without repentance" - say, took his own life, became a victim of murder or an accident, or simply did not belong to a particular parish, then a special burial procedure was often established for such deceased. For example, in large cities they were buried twice a year, on the feast of the Intercession of the Virgin and on the seventh Thursday after Easter. Special places called Wretched Houses, pitiful, buffaloes, pustules or skulnitsy . There they set up a barn and arranged a huge common grave in it. The bodies of those who died a sudden or violent death were brought here - of course, provided that there was no one who could take care of their burial. And at that time, when there was no telephone, telegraph and other means of communication, the death of a person on the road could mean that relatives would never hear about him again. As for the wanderers, the beggars, the executed, they automatically fell into the category of "clients" of the Wretched Houses. Suicides and robbers were also sent here.
During the reign of Peter the Great, anatomized corpses from hospitals began to be brought to skudelnitsa. By the way, both illegitimate and orphans from the shelters kept at the Wretched Houses were buried there - such was the practice then ... The guard guarded the dead, called "Holy man" .
In Moscow, there were several similar "depositories": for example, at the Church of John the Warrior, on the street, which was called Bozhedomkoy , at the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God on Mogiltsy and at the Intercession Monastery on Wretched Houses. On the appointed days, a religious procession with a memorial service was held here. The burial of "those who died without repentance" was carried out at the expense of pilgrims.
Such a nightmarish practice was stopped only at the end of the 18th century, after Moscow was subjected to a plague epidemic and there was a danger of infection spreading through unburied corpses ... Cemeteries appeared in the cities, and the burial order at church parishes was abolished. There were also many customs, signs and rituals, concerning the farewell of the deceased on his last journey. Among the Russian peasants, the deceased was laid on a bench, with his head in "red corner" where the icons hung, they covered it with a white canvas (shroud), folded their hands on their chest, while the dead man had to “hold” a white handkerchief in his right hand. All this was done so that he could appear before God in a proper form. It was believed that if the dead man's eyes remain open, then supposedly this is for the imminent death of one of his relatives. Therefore, they always tried to close the eyes of the dead - in the old days, copper nickels were placed on them for this.
While the body was in the house, a knife was thrown into a tub of water - this allegedly prevented the spirit of the deceased from entering the room. Until the very funeral, they did not lend anything to anyone - not even salt. Windows and doors were kept tightly closed. While the dead man was in the house, pregnant women could not cross his threshold - this could have a bad effect on the child ... It was customary to close the mirrors in the house so that the dead man would not be reflected in them ...
It was supposed to put underwear, a belt, a hat, bast shoes and small coins in the coffin. It was believed that things could be useful to the deceased in the next world, and the money would serve as payment for transportation to the kingdom of the dead ... True, at the beginning of the 19th century. this custom took on a different meaning. If during the funeral they accidentally dug up a coffin with previously buried remains, then it was supposed to throw money into the grave - a “contribution” for a new “neighbor”. If a child died, they always put a belt on him so that he could collect fruits in his bosom in the Garden of Eden ...
When the coffin was taken out, it was supposed to touch the threshold of the hut and the hallway three times in order to receive a blessing from the deceased. At the same time, some old woman showered the coffin and those accompanying with grains. If the head of the family - the owner or mistress - died, then all the gates and doors in the house were tied with a red thread - so that the household would not leave after the owner.

They buried on the third day, when the soul had to finally fly away from the body. This custom has been preserved even now, as well as the one that orders all those present to throw a handful of earth on the coffin lowered into the grave. The earth is a symbol of purification, in ancient times it was believed that it accepts all the filth that a person has accumulated in his life. In addition, among the pagans, this rite restored the connection of the newly deceased with the whole family.
In Russia, it has long been believed that if it rains during the funeral, the soul of the deceased will fly safely to heaven. Like, if the rain cries for the dead, then he was a good person ...
Modern commemoration was once called a feast. It was a special ritual designed to facilitate the transition to another world. For the feast, special funeral dishes were prepared. Kutya, which is a steeply boiled rice with raisins. Kutia is supposed to be treated at the cemetery immediately after burial. Russian commemoration also cannot do without pancakes - pagan symbols of the Sun.
And today, during the commemoration, they put on the table a glass of vodka, covered with a crust of bread - for the deceased. There is also a belief: if some food fell from the table at the commemoration, then it cannot be picked up - this is a sin.
On the forties, honey and water were placed in front of the icons - so that the life of the deceased in the next world would be sweeter. Sometimes a arshin-long staircase was baked from wheat flour - to help the deceased ascend to heaven ... Alas, now this custom is no longer observed.

The world is changing, and so are we. Many return to the Christian faith for consolation and hope. It has become customary to celebrate Christian holidays.
Christmas, Epiphany, the Holy Trinity, Parental Days... However, either through ignorance or for other reasons, old traditions are often replaced by new ones.

Unfortunately, there are no issues today that are more shrouded in all sorts of conjectures and prejudices than issues related to the burial of the dead and their commemoration.
What will the omniscient old women not say!

But there is the corresponding Orthodox literature, which is not difficult to acquire. For example, in all Orthodox parishes of our city,
brochure "Orthodox commemoration of the dead", in which you can find answers to many questions.
The main thing that we SHOULD understand is that deceased loved ones first of all need
in prayers for them. Thank God, in our time there is a place to pray. In each district,
Orthodox parishes were opened, new churches were being built.

Here is what is said about the memorial meal in the brochure "Orthodox commemoration
deceased:

In the Orthodox tradition, eating food is a continuation of worship. Since early Christian times, relatives and acquaintances of the deceased have gathered together on special days of commemoration in order to ask the Lord in joint prayer for a better fate for the soul of the deceased in the afterlife.

After visiting the church and the cemetery, the relatives of the deceased arranged a memorial meal, to which not only relatives were invited, but mainly the needy: the poor and the needy.
That is, a commemoration is a kind of almsgiving for those who have gathered.

The first course is kutya - boiled wheat grains with honey or boiled rice with raisins, which are consecrated at a memorial service in the temple

There should be no alcohol on the memorial table. The custom of drinking alcohol is an echo of pagan feasts.
Firstly, Orthodox commemoration is not only (and not the main thing) food, but also prayer, and prayer and a drunken mind are incompatible things.
Secondly, on the days of commemoration, we intercede before the Lord for the improvement of the afterlife of the deceased, for the forgiveness of his earthly sins. But will the Chief Justice listen to the words of drunk intercessors?
Thirdly, "drinking is the joy of the soul." And after drinking a glass, our mind dissipates, switches to other topics, grief for the deceased leaves our hearts, and quite often it happens that by the end of the commemoration, many people forget why they have gathered - the commemoration ends with the usual feast with a discussion of everyday problems and political news, and sometimes worldly songs.

And at this time, the languishing soul of the deceased waits in vain for prayer support from their loved ones, And for this sin of mercilessness towards the deceased, the Lord will exact from them at His judgment. What, in comparison with this, is the condemnation from the neighbors for the lack of alcohol on the memorial table?

Instead of the common atheistic phrase "Let the earth rest in peace to him," pray briefly:
“God rest, Lord, the soul of Your newly-departed servant (name), and forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant him the Kingdom of Heaven.”
This prayer must be performed before proceeding to the next dish.

There is no need to remove the forks from the table - there is no point in this.

There is no need to put a cutlery in honor of the deceased, or even worse - to put vodka in a glass with a piece of bread in front of the portrait. All this is the sin of paganism.

Especially a lot of gossip is caused by the curtain of mirrors, supposedly in order to avoid the reflection of the coffin with the deceased in them and thereby protect themselves from the appearance of another deceased in the house. The absurdity of this opinion is that the coffin can be reflected in any shiny object, but you cannot cover everything in the house.

But the main thing is that our life and death does not depend on any signs, but is in the hands of God.

If the commemoration takes place on fast days, then the food should be fast.

If the commemoration fell on the time of Great Lent, then there are no commemorations on weekdays. They are transferred to the next (forward) Saturday or Sunday ...
If the memorial days fell on the 1st, 4th and 7th weeks of Great Lent (the strictest weeks), then the closest relatives are invited to the commemoration.

Memorial days that fell on Bright Week (the first week after Easter) and on Monday of the second Easter week are transferred to Radonitsa - Tuesday of the second week after Easter (Parents' Day).

Commemorations of the 3rd, 9th and 40th days are arranged for relatives, relatives, friends and acquaintances of the deceased. At such a commemoration, in order to honor the deceased, you can come without an invitation. On other days of commemoration, only the closest relatives gather.
It is useful these days to distribute alms to the poor and needy.

Blagovest Publishing House Moscow 2001

End of human life

burial rite

Commemoration of the dead

memorial meal

What you need to know about burial (Main mistakes affecting the afterlife of the dead)

God is all alive

What does it mean to die like a Christian

Of the questions that you can ask yourself about our life on earth, perhaps the most important is how best to prepare for death. Of the questions that you can ask yourself about our life on earth, perhaps the most important is how best to prepare for death.

Father! Into Your hands I commend My spirit (Luke 23:46) — these were the last words of the Lord from the Cross. Will these be our last words? And what will we get before our death? We must always be ready for death and try to depart from this world so that our death itself will be a testament to our faith and love for the Lord and, if possible, an edification for our neighbors.

Our Savior has given us the best example. Did he not suffer on the Cross? Was his death not terrible and even diarrheic in the eyes of the whole world? And despite what patience, what love for one's neighbor, what infinite forgiveness, devotion to the will of God! Like this, each of us must die.

When we feel the approach of death, we will try to find the courage to end our life with dignity.

While we have not yet been completely twisted by a cruel illness, weakness, let's think about our past life, remember that shameful thing, which, perhaps, we have forgotten to repent of or have not yet decided. And then we will make a decision to fast for at least three days (or one day for the seriously ill), read (or so that we read) prayers of repentance, and prepare for Communion.

Before Communion, let us reconcile with those who were our enemies, ill-wisher, and ask for forgiveness from those whom we have offended ourselves.

If you still have the strength to reach the nearest church in order to repent of your sins, gather together, partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, then you definitely need to do this.

In the Sacrament of unction (anointing with oil) sins committed out of ignorance or forgotten are forgiven.

St. Elijah Minyatiy (near 1714) speaks about the significance of Communion before death in his sermon “The Greatness of the Sacrament of Holy Communion”: “A star in heaven does not shine like the soul of a Christian shines from the light of the grace of God at the hour when he takes communion. And this is because when we partake, then we become members of the Body of Christ, we unite with Christ. And if our soul were separated from the body at this hour, then it would have received a place for itself with the martyrs, virgins and saints ... My God! My redeemer! May I die, if it be Thy holy will, whether in a deaf forest or in some other deserted place, this is all for me for a long time, if only before death I would be vouchsafed the Communion of Thy most pure Body and Blood! After all, if at that hour You will be with me, then I am not afraid of death: with such parting words as Your Body and Blood, I strongly hope to reach Your Heavenly Kingdom.

If we become seriously ill, we will ask our relatives to invite a priest to our house.

Let us try, in anticipation of our death, to get rid of grumbling, indignation, envy of those who remain alive. This will manifest our courage, and our dignity, and our hope in the Lord, and surrendering ourselves entirely to the will of God.

Let's give our children and grandchildren the last instruction on how to live, talk with them about how to pray for us after death, what to read at our very death, how to bury us, what to wear.

We will divide our property between relatives so that there will be no grievances between them later. We will give (or leave) a part of our wealth to a donation to a temple or monastery, to alms in our name.

But all this is before the very end. In the meantime, we are still alive, even if we are full of strength and healthy, let's not forget about death. “The memory of death gives rise to prayer, tears, repentance before God,” the holy fathers teach us.

End of human life

How to pray for the dying. How to pray for the dying.

When a person leaves this world for eternity, a special canon is read over him, “The Canon of Prayer for the Exodus of the Soul,” which is written on behalf of a dying person, but can be read by a priest or someone close to him. Among the people, it is also called “a prayer for departure.” When a person leaves this world for eternity, a special canon is read over him, “The Canon of Prayer for the Exodus of the Soul,” which is written on behalf of a dying person, but can be read by a priest or someone close. In the people it is also called the "waiting prayer."

It does not have to be read next to the dying. If a person dies in a hospital, the canon can be read at home. The main thing is to support the soul with prayer in the most difficult moments for it. If a Christian breathes his last breath while reading the canon, then he is finished reading with a funeral refrain:

"Rest, O Lord, to the soul of your departed servant..."

In those cases when the near-death illness lasts a long time, bringing severe suffering to both the patient himself and his relatives, then with the blessing of the priest, another canon can be read - “The rite that happens to separate the soul from the body, when a person suffers for a long time.” It contains petitions for a speedy and peaceful death of the afflicted. The texts of the canons are placed in Orthodox prayer books.

Why is the retreat prayer read? At the moment of death, a person experiences a painful feeling of fear, languor. According to the testimonies of the holy fathers, a person is afraid when the soul is separated from the body and during the first three days outside the body. When leaving the body, the soul is met both by the guardian angel given to it at Holy Baptism, and by evil spirits (demons). The sight of the latter is so terrible that the soul rushes about and trembles at the sight of them.

The canon, read by relatives or friends over a dying person, is designed to make it easier for his soul to leave the body.

Relatives and friends of a dying person need to muster up the courage to say goodbye to a loved one and try to alleviate not so much bodily as mental suffering with prayer.

burial rite

Washing and dressing the deceased. Not a single nation left the bodies of their dead without care, and burial was always accompanied by appropriate rites. Washing and dressing the deceased. Not a single nation left the bodies of their dead without care, and burial was always accompanied by appropriate rites.

The holy faith of Christ teaches us to look with reverence at a Christian person even when he has completed his earthly journey. The deceased Christian is the prey of death, the victim of corruption, but he is still a member of the Body of Christ (see: 1 Cor. 12, 27). His body is sanctified by the communion of the Divine Body and Blood of Christ the Savior. Is it possible to despise the Holy Spirit, whose temple was the deceased? Sooner or later, the dead and corruptible body of a Christian will come to life again and will be clothed with incorruption and immortality (see; I Cor. 15:53). Therefore, our Orthodox Church does not leave her child without maternal care even when it has passed from this world to a distant and unknown land of eternity.

The rites performed by the Holy Church after the death of an Orthodox Christian have a deep meaning. Based on the suggestions of the holy faith, they originate from the God-enlightened apostles and the first Christians. The body of the deceased is washed immediately after death, and the washing should extend to all parts of the body, starting from the head. It is performed as a sign of the spiritual purity and purity of the life of the deceased, and also so that he can stand before the Lord in purity, but on the Resurrection. When the body is washed, the Trisagion is read: “Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us” or "Lord have mercy". A lamp or a candle is lit in the house, which burns as long as the deceased is there. Water for washing the body should be warm, but not hot, so as not to steam it. In this case, you need to use soap, a soft cloth (or sponge). Usually older people perform ablution, and if there is no such person, then a woman can also wash. After ablution, the body of a Christian is dressed in new and clean clothes. New clothes, as it were, point to the new attire of our incorruptibility and immortality. If a person did not have a cross, then they must put on a cross.

The mouth of the deceased must be closed, eyes closed, arms folded crosswise on the chest, right over left. The Christian woman's head is covered with a large scarf that completely covers her hair. and its ends can not be tied, but simply folded crosswise. A tie should not be worn on a deceased Orthodox Christian. An icon (or cross) is placed in the left hand of the deceased, for men - the image of the Savior, for women - the image of the Mother of God, it is possible in the left hand - a cross, and on the chest of the deceased - a holy image. This is done as a sign that the deceased believed in Christ and surrendered his soul to Him, that in life he foresaw (always had) the Lord before him, and now he is moving on to a blessed contemplation of Him with the saints.

Before putting the body of the deceased in the coffin, they sprinkle with holy water both the body itself and his ark (coffin), outside and inside. You can also douse the coffin with incense. A whisk is placed on the forehead of the deceased. It is given in the church when the deceased is brought for a funeral service. The deceased Christian is adorned with a crown as a symbol of the reward of the Kingdom of Heaven for the hardships of earthly life. The aureole depicts the Lord Jesus Christ, the Most Pure Mother of God and John the Baptist with the inscription "Trisagion". This shows that he who has completed his earthly path hopes to receive a crown for his exploits (see: 2 Tim. 4, 7, 8) only through mercy: the Triune God and the intercession of the Mother of God and Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John.

A pillow is placed under the shoulders and head of the deceased, which is usually filled with consecrated willow or birch leaves from the feast of the Trinity. The body is covered with a sheet.

The coffin with the body is placed in the middle of the room in front of the home icons (in the front corner), facing the exit. Candles are lit around the coffin (or at least one near the head) as a sign that the deceased has passed into the Kingdom of Light.

How to pray for a person in the first days after his death. After the body of the deceased is washed and dressed, they begin to read the canon called "Research on the Exodus of the Soul from the Body." Regardless of where a person died, at home or outside, this canon is still read on the day of his death. The reading of the canon should begin with the preparatory prayers, then Psalm 90, and then in order.

The canon is read "for one who died," that is, only for a person who died on that day. Therefore, when reading the refrain: "Peace, Lord, the soul of your departed servant (name of the deceased)", pronounce the names of other deceased acquaintances, relatives, etc.

At the end of the "Following" there is a special prayer appeal to God with the pronunciation of the very name of the deceased: "Remember, Lord our God, in faith and hope of the life of your eternally reposed servant, our brother (name) ...". After this prayer, they read: “Eternal memory to Your servant (Your servant) (name), Lord.”

“Following” is read from the face of the deceased with the aim that God’s mercy, through our prayer for the deceased, eases the bitterness of the soul at parting with the body and the first moment of the soul’s stay outside the body. Then, for three days, the Psalter is read over the deceased, which they begin to read with a petition: “Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen". Further, the initial prayers and those that precede the psalms are read.

The Psalter is divided into twenty large parts - kathisma. Before each kathisma, the call to bow to God is repeated three times: “Come, let us bow to our Tsar God. Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ, our King God. Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ Himself, the King and our God.”

After this call, the kathisma is read. At the end of several psalms, separated by the word "Glory", it says: "Alleluia! (Thrice) Glory to Thee, O God! and the prayer request for the deceased from the "Following" is repeated: "Remember, Lord our God ..." After this prayer, the reading of the psalms, the 1st kathisma (or then the 2nd, 3rd, etc.) continues. There are three “Glories” in each kathisma, therefore, three times during the reading of the kathisma, an appeal to God follows with a special petition for mercy on the deceased.

The Psalter is read continuously (day and night) over the tomb of a Christian for the entire time until the deceased is buried. Since the relatives of the deceased in the first three days have a lot of worries about organizing the funeral, one of the friends and acquaintances is invited to read the Psalter. Any pious layman can read the Psalter for the deceased.

It is no coincidence that the Church from ancient times decided to read the book of psalms over the coffin of the deceased. The Psalter reproduces all the diverse movements of our soul, so vividly sympathizes with our joy and our sorrow, sheds so much consolation and encouragement in our grieving heart. Reading the Psalter serves as a prayer to the Lord for the deceased and at the same time assuages ​​the grief of his loved ones.

Removal of the body. Shortly before the removal of the coffin from the house (or the issuance of the body in the morgue), “Following the outcome of the soul from the body” is read again. Removal of the body. Shortly before the removal of the coffin from the house (or the issuance of the body in the morgue), “Following the outcome of the soul from the body” is read again.

The coffin is carried out, turning the face of the deceased towards the exit. When the body is carried out, the mourners sing a song in honor of the Holy Trinity: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us”, in commemoration of the fact that the deceased confessed the Life-Giving Trinity during his lifetime and now passes into the realm of incorporeal spirits surrounding the Throne of the Almighty and silently singing To him the Trisagion. Church funeral. In the temple, the coffin with the body of the deceased is placed in the middle of the church facing the altar and candlesticks are placed on the four sides of the coffin. According to the teachings of the Church, the soul of a person on the third day after death, at a time when his body lies lifeless, goes through terrible ordeals and has a great need for the help of the Church. To facilitate her transition to another life, the canon and the Psalter are read over the grave of an Orthodox Christian, and a funeral service is performed in the church.

The funeral service consists of chants in which the whole fate of a person is briefly depicted for the violation of the commandment, he again turns into the earth from which he was taken: “You yourself, the Creator and Creator of man, are alone immortal; but we are all earthly, created from the earth and will return to the same earth, as You, the Creator, commanded: “You are the earth and you will return to the earth.” That's where all of us, earthly, will go, with grave sobs, proclaiming the song: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

But, despite many sins, a person does not cease to be “an image of the glory of God,” and therefore the Holy Church prays to the Lord and the Lord, by His inexpressible mercy, to forgive the departed sins and to honor him with the Kingdom of Heaven.

“With the saints, give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Your servant, where there is no sickness, sorrow or suffering, but eternally blessed life.”

After reading the Apostle (1 Thess. 4, 13-17) and the Gospel of John (John 5, 24-30), the priest reads a permissive prayer, testifying to the forgiveness of all prohibitions and sins that were on the deceased, in which he repented (or during repentance could not remember), and the deceased is released in peace into the afterlife. The sheet with the text of this prayer is immediately put into the right hand of the deceased by his relatives or friends.

The last kiss, or farewell to the deceased, is performed while singing touching stichera (prayers): "Come, let's give the last kiss, brethren, to the deceased, thanking God ..."

Relatives and friends of the deceased go around the coffin with the body, with a bow ask for forgiveness for involuntary insults, kiss the deceased for the last time (the crown on his head or the icon in the coffin). After that, the body is completely covered with a sheet, and the priest sprinkles it crosswise with earth (or pure river sand) with the words: “The Lord’s earth and its fulfillment (everything that fills it), the universe and all who live on it.” The coffin is closed with a lid. If the relatives of the deceased want to say goodbye to him at the cemetery, then the coffin is not nailed up in the temple, and the priest blesses one of the relatives to sprinkle the body with earth immediately before burial.

When the coffin with the body is taken out of the temple, feet first, an angelic song is sung - "Trisagion".

Absentee funeral. In the event that it is not possible to bury the deceased in the temple, an absentee funeral is performed for him. Relatives of the deceased, as a rule, order a funeral service at the nearest church. After the funeral service, relatives are given a whisk, a permissive prayer and earth from the funeral table. At home, a permissive prayer is put into the right hand of the deceased, a bzazhny halo is placed on the forehead, and after parting with him. in the cemetery, his body, covered with a sheet from head to toe, crosswise, from head to feet, from the right shoulder to the left, is sprinkled with sand to make a regular cross.

If the funeral service is performed in absentia some time after the funeral, the burial ground should be scattered over the grave, and the aureole and prayer should be buried in the grave mound to a shallow depth. If the grave is very far away or in an unknown place, then the aureole and prayer are burned, and the earth is scattered on any grave on which an Orthodox cross is installed.

The funeral service, as for Baptism, is performed once. But if it is impossible to truly establish whether a person has been buried, one must, without embarrassment, order an absentee funeral service, and the sooner the better. Burial. In the grave, the deceased is placed with a linden to the east for the same purpose with which we pray to the east - in anticipation of the onset of the Morning of eternity, or the Second Coming of Christ, and as a sign that the deceased is moving away from the west of life towards the east of eternity.

When the coffin with the body is lowered into the grave, the Trisagion is sung again. All those who see off the deceased on their last journey, before burying the grave, throw a handful of earth into it. Thus, the deceased is buried in the earth as a sign of obedience to the Divine determination.

The cross, a symbol of salvation, should rise above the grave of every Christian (it is placed at the feet). The deceased believed in the Crucified on the Cross and rests in the sleep of death under the shadow of the cross. The cross is placed eight-pointed, from any material, but always of the correct form. For the grave of an Orthodox Christian, a simple cross made of wood, concrete or metal is more suitable than expensive monuments made of granite and marble. It is unacceptable to place a photograph or portrait of the deceased on the headstone. If relatives want to write an epitaph, then it is best, according to tradition, to use words from the Holy Scriptures or from well-known prayers, and not phrases invented by themselves.

Cremation. The custom of burning bodies, now so popular in Russia because of its relative cheapness, came to us from the pagan East. The Orthodox Church disapproves of cremation and allows it only under special circumstances - the lack of places in cemeteries or the extreme scarcity of funds for burial.

Cremation is not approved by the Church, primarily because for those who burn their loved ones, this action is not edifying: it instills despair in the soul rather than hope for the resurrection. The posthumous fate of each deceased is in the hands of God and does not depend on the method of burial.

All funeral prayers, including the funeral service, are performed over the cremated without changes. Before burning the body, the icon or the Crucifixion must be removed from the coffin, and the aureole and leaf with the permissive prayer should be left. If the urn with the ashes is subsequently buried in the grave, the Trisagion must be read. All funeral prayers, including the funeral, are performed over the cremated without changes. Before burning the body, the icon or the Crucifixion must be removed from the coffin, and the aureole and leaf with the permissive prayer should be left. If the urn with the ashes is subsequently buried in the grave, the Trisagion must be read.

Commemoration of the dead

Special days of commemoration of the dead. The Holy Church constantly prays for all “our fathers and brothers who have died before,” but she also makes a special prayerful commemoration for each deceased, if there is our pious desire and need for it. Such a commemoration is called private, it includes thirds, nineties, forties or anniversaries. The commemoration of the dead on the third day after death is an apostolic tradition. It is performed because the deceased was baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One God in the Trinity. In addition to the theological meaning of the commemoration of the deceased on the third day, it also has a mysterious meaning, relating to the afterlife state of the soul. Special days of commemoration of the departed. The Holy Church constantly prays for all “our fathers and brothers who have died before,” but she also makes a special prayerful commemoration for each deceased, if there is our pious desire and need for it. Such a commemoration is called private, it includes thirds, nineties, forties or an anniversary. The commemoration of the dead on the third day after death is an apostolic tradition. It is performed because the deceased was baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the One God in the Trinity. In addition to the theological significance of the commemoration of the deceased on the third day, it also has a mysterious meaning, relating to the afterlife state of the soul.

For the first two days, the soul is still on earth and, with the Angel accompanying it, visits those places that attract it with memories of earthly joys and sorrows, good and evil deeds. On the third day, the Lord commands the soul to ascend to Heaven to worship Himself.

For six days, from the third to the ninth, the soul, returning from the Face of God, accompanied by Angels, enters the heavenly abodes and contemplates their inexpressible beauty. On the ninth day, the Lord commands the Angels to again present the soul to Him for worship. After the second worship of God, the Angels lead the soul to hell, where it contemplates the cruel torments of unrepentant sinners. On the fortieth day after death, the soul ascends for the third time to the Throne of the Lord, where its fate is decided - a place is assigned, which she was honored by her deeds.

That is why we must offer especially intense prayers for the dead on the third, ninth and fortieth days after death. But these terms have another meaning. The commemoration of the deceased on the third day is performed in honor of the three-day Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the image of the Holy Trinity. Prayer on the ninth day is a retribution of honor to the nine angelic ranks, which, as servants of the King of Heaven, intercede for mercy on the deceased.

The days of mourning for the dead in the deepest antiquity lasted forty days. According to the establishment of the Holy Church, it is supposed to make a commemoration for the dead for forty days (forty-mouth) and especially on the fortieth day (magnitude). Just as Christ defeated the devil, spending forty days in fasting and prayer, so the Holy Church offers prayers, alms and bloodless sacrifices for the deceased, asks him for grace from the Lord, helps him defeat the enemy, the airy prince of darkness, and receive the Kingdom of Heaven.

What can we do for loved ones within forty days of their death? As soon as a person has died, it is necessary to immediately take care of the magpie, i.e. daily commemoration during the Divine Liturgy. If possible, it is good to order forty dinners and even in several churches.

If a person's death happened during Great Lent, then on Wednesday and Friday of each week, memorial services are ordered, and on Saturdays and Sundays - Mass for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Sorokoust is not ordered during Great Lent, since there is no Divine Liturgy every day.

During the Easter week (the first week after Easter) memorial services are not served, because Easter is an all-encompassing joy for those who believe in the Resurrection of our Savior Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, during the whole week, neither mass for the dead nor memorial services are ordered. Only from Tuesday of St. Thomas Week (the second week after Easter) do churches begin to accept orders for magpies and masses for the repose. This day is called Radoniya (see about it in the section "Private Parental Days".

The day of the death of a Christian is the day of his birth for a new, better life. Therefore, we celebrate the memory of our loved ones after a year has passed from the day of their death, imploring the mercy of God to have mercy on their souls, to grant them the longed-for fatherland as an eternal inheritance.

On the third, ninth and fortieth days, as well as on the anniversary of death, it is necessary to order a Mass for the repose of the deceased in the church. At home these days, his relatives and friends gather for a meal in order to ask the Lord for forgiveness of sins and the repose of his soul in the Kingdom of Heaven in a joint prayer for him. It is also good to send a donation to monasteries so that they pray forever for the repose of the soul of the deceased. The dead should also be commemorated on the days of their earthly birth, on the days of their name days (the day of memory of the saint whose name they bore). On the days of their memory, you need to order a mass for their repose, a memorial service in the church, pray for them at home, commemorate them at your meal.

Why and how our prayers can be beneficial for the dead. Some souls after forty days find themselves in a state of anticipation of eternal joy and bliss, while others tremble in anticipation of eternal torment, which will intensify after the Last Judgment (the Second Coming of the Lord, when He will judge all the living and the dead). But before that, changes for the better are possible in the "afterlife" "fate of the soul, especially thanks to the offering of prayers to the Church for it and the creation of good deeds in memory of the deceased."

The benefits of prayer, both public and private (at home), for souls, even those in hell, are written in the lives of saints and ascetics, in patristic traditions.

Our prayers can directly affect the souls of the dead only if they died in the right faith and with true repentance, being in communion with the Church and with the Lord Jesus. Then, despite the apparent distance from us, they continue to belong with us to the Church: to the same Body of Christ (see: Eph. 1, 23; Col. 1, 18). Those who died in the right faith and true repentance transferred to another world the beginning of goodness or the seed of a new life, which they themselves did not have time to open here. But under the influence of our minds, with the blessing of God, it can gradually develop and bear fruit.

Nowadays, many people, even when they are baptized, do not go to church, do not go to confession, do not partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, or do so very rarely. For them, as well as for all those who died suddenly and did not have time to properly prepare for their death, the canon is read to the Monk Paisios the Great, a saint to whom the Lord granted special grace to intercede for the dead without repentance.

How to Pray on Memorial Day

Meaning of the 17th kathisma. During all forty days after the death of a person, his relatives and friends should read the Psalter. How many kathismas a day depends on the time and strength of the readers, but reading must certainly be daily. After reading the entire Psalter, it is read from the beginning. One should not only forget after each "Glory ..." reading a prayer petition for the commemoration of the deceased (from "Following the Exodus of the Soul from the Body"). The meaning of the 17th kathisma. During all forty days after the death of a person, his relatives and friends should read the Psalter. How many kathismas a day depends on the time and strength of the readers, but reading must certainly be daily. After reading the entire Psalter, it is read from the beginning. One should not just forget after each "Glory ..." reading a prayer petition for the commemoration of the deceased (from "Following the Exodus of the Soul from the Body").

Many relatives and friends of the deceased, referring to various circumstances, entrust this reading to others (readers) for a fee or order it in monasteries (the so-called “indestructible Psalter”). Of course, God hears such a prayer. But it will be stronger, sincere, purer, if a relative or close to the deceased person himself asks God to have mercy on the deceased. And don't waste your time or energy on it.

On the third, ninth and fortieth days, a special kathisma should be read according to the deceased (it includes the 118th psalm). It is called a commemoration, and in liturgical books it is called “Unblemished” (according to the word found in its first verse: “Blessed are the undefiled on the way, who walk in the law of the Lord”).

The Jews had a custom during the Passover supper and at the end of it to sing psalms, and especially psalm 118, dedicated to their exodus from Egypt. According to legend, Christ and his disciples left the house where the Last Supper was being celebrated, while singing a psalm, apparently on the 118th: “And having sung, they went to the Mount of Olives.”

With the verse “Blessed be this one, Lord, teach me Thy justification,” the Lord buried Himself, going to suffering and death. This verse is always sung by the Church at the burial of the dead, and kathisma a is read on the days of their special commemoration. This kathisma depicts the blessedness of those who walked in the Law of the Lord (that is, the blessedness of righteous people who tried to live according to the commandments of God).

At home, it is read just like any other.

Kathisma verses: 1, 2, 12, 22, 25, 29, 37, 58, 66,73, 88 are read with the refrain: “Remember, Lord, the soul of Thy servant (Thy servant).”

The final verses of the first half of the kathisma (92, 93): “If it were not for your law to be my consolation, I would perish in my distress. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life,” they sing three times. After that, the chorus is repeated again.

In the second part of the kathisma (after the word "Wednesday"), verses: 94, 107, 114, 121, 131, 132, 133, 142, 153, 159, 163, 170 - are read with the refrain: "God rest, Lord, the soul of Thy servant ( thy servants). In conclusion, the final verses of the 118th psalm (175, 176) are sung three times: “May my soul live and praise You, and may Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant, for I have not forgotten thy commandments. After them, the refrain is repeated again with a request to repose the soul of the one for whom they pray.

After "Glory..." a prayer request is read.

After the kathisma, the prescribed troparia are read (they are immediately indicated after the 118th psalm in the prayer book), and after them - the 50th psalm and the troparia are immaculate, or the troparia for the repose (number 8) with a refrain to each verse from the 118th psalm: “ Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy justification."

After these troparions, the canon "Following the Exodus of the Soul from the Body" is read.

It should be noted that in the church during the memorial service, the 17th kathisma is divided into two halves (articles) and it is read somewhat differently.

Days of special remembrance for all dead Orthodox Christians

There was a custom among the Russian people to call the dead, their own and others, old and small, parents. The expression "to go to the parents" meant visiting the graves of the dead. The Russian people had a custom to call the dead, their own and others, old and small, parents. The expression "go to parents" meant visiting the graves of the dead.

Representation of all the dead by "parents", i.e. already belonging to the family of the fathers to whom they have departed, arouses in us reverence for their memory. On some days, especially Saturdays, an ecumenical commemoration of the dead is performed. These days are called parental Saturdays.

It is on Saturday that it is supposed to pray for the dead because it is established by the Holy Orthodox Church: on every Saturday of the week, on the day of rest, to commemorate the dead relatives and friends.

How to remember? In every "Orthodox prayer book" at the end of the morning prayers, prayers for the living and the dead are placed. We will not be too lazy to read this small commemoration for our deceased relatives, naming their names, adding to them a prayer request from “Following the Exodus of the Soul from the Body”.

The days of the special (special) commemoration of the dead are five ecumenical Saturdays.

Meatless Parental Ecumenical Saturday is celebrated two weeks before Lent. On this day, the Holy Church prays for all Orthodox Christians, including those who died suddenly during the flood, earthquake, warrior, etc.

Instead of the daily commemoration of the dead during the Divine Liturgy, which does not happen during Great Lent. The Holy Church has decided to make an intensified commemoration on the next three days, the parental second, third and fourth Saturdays of Great Lent.

Trinity Ecumenical Parental Saturday is celebrated before the day of the Holy Trinity (on the 49th day after Easter). On this day, the memory of all the departed pious Christians is celebrated.

Private parenting days. Tuesday of St. Thomas' week. The week is called Thomas because the Apostle Thomas is remembered on it. This very day, when the living rush to the cemetery to greet the dead parents with the joyful news of the Resurrection of the Lord, is usually called Radonia. The living christen with the dead, taking painted eggs with them to the graves. This is the ninth day after Easter (Tuesday is the second week after Easter).

On September 11 (according to New Style), on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist (a strict fast is required), a commemoration of Orthodox soldiers is performed, for faith and the fatherland on the battlefield killed.

This commemoration was established in the Russian Church under Empress Catherine II (by decree of 1769), during the war with the Turks.

Demetrius parental Saturday takes place a week before November 8 (according to New Style; Commemoration Day of Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica). It was established by Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy. Having won the famous victory at the Kulikovo field on September 8 (21st) September 1380, Prince Dmitry Donskoy commemorated the fallen soldiers before the day of his Angel.

Subsequently, on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist and on Demetrius Saturday, they began to commemorate not only Orthodox soldiers, but also all the dead.

Finally, by the decision of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1994, Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War (May 9) became the day of a special annual commemoration of the deceased soldiers who laid down their lives for their faith, the Fatherland and the people, and all those who died suffering during the Great Patriotic War. These days, order a Mass or commemoration at the proskomedia (translated from Greek as an offering) for your loved ones, relatives. This is a sheet with the heading "On the Repose", which lists the names of the dead (baptized and not committed suicide).

On such days, it is good to visit the graves of the dead, to pray in church during a memorial service for their repose, and at home to read the 17th kathisma. Do not forget to remember the dead during the meal. It is very important to involve your children in the commemoration of the deceased loved ones. If they are small, take out an album with photographs and remember, together with the children, the deceased grandfather, grandmother, and other relatives. tell about them. Teach the children to turn to God at least in a short prayer: “God rest the souls of the departed Thy servants, all our relatives and friends, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.”

When there is no commemoration of the dead. Requiem services, correspondence funerals and any prayers for the dead, except for commemoration with notes on proskomedia, are not performed in churches from Thursday of Holy Week (the last week before Easter) to Antipascha (the first Sunday after Easter). In-person funeral services are allowed these days, except for the Easter holiday itself. The rite of the Easter funeral differs from the usual one in that it contains many joyful hymns.

On the Nativity of Christ and other twelfth feasts, the funeral prayer is canceled by the Charter, but can be performed at the discretion of the rector of the temple.

memorial meal

The pious custom of commemorating the dead at a meal has been known for a very long time. It is described by the prophet Jeremiah, whence it is clear that the ancient Jews used to break bread for them as a consolation for the dead (Jer. 16:7). The pious custom of commemorating the dead at a meal has been known for a very long time. It is described by the prophet Jeremiah, whence it is clear that the ancient Jews used to break bread for them as a consolation for the dead (Jer. 16:7).

But how exactly at the dinner table to commemorate the deceased relatives and friends? Unfortunately, the commemoration often turns into just an occasion to get together, discuss the latest news, and have a delicious meal, while Orthodox Christians should also pray for their brothers in faith at the commemoration meal.

This chapter summarizes the experience of people living an Orthodox life, bringing disparate advice and wishes together.

During Great Lent, if the commemoration (third, ninth, fortieth days, anniversary) falls on its first, fourth and seventh week, the relatives and friends of the deceased do not invite anyone. These weeks are especially strict. Let only the closest ones be at the table: mother or father, wife or spouse, children or grandchildren.

If memorial days fall on weekdays of other weeks of Great Lent, then they are transferred to the next (upcoming) Saturday or Sunday. This commemoration is called counter. This is done because Saturdays and Sundays are considered to be the feast days of Great Lent, when the Divine Liturgy is served.

In the first eight days after Pascha, prayers for the dead are not read, no requiem services are performed for them. The Easter canon is sung in the Church. The Holy Orthodox Church allows to commemorate the dead only from Tuesday of St. Thomas' week, Radonitsa, which was mentioned above. From this day on, in the temple for the deceased, you can order magpie, mass, proskomidia and memorial service. From the day of Pascha until Tuesday of St. Thomas' week, only the Paschal canon is read for the deceased.

You should not commemorate the deceased at the table with vodka or other strong alcoholic drinks. Commemorations are days of grief, days of intense prayer for the soul of the deceased, which, perhaps, is very difficult. So will it really be easier for the soul in that world if we drink wine here?

The memorial meal, which is arranged by the relatives and friends of the deceased, is a kind of almsgiving for everyone who is present at it. Hence the desire of the owners to treat those who came more tasty and satisfying. But at the same time, fasting days must be observed. established by the Holy Church. The dead are commemorated with the food that is laid on the day of the commemoration: on Wednesday, Friday, on the days of long fasts, fasting in meat-eating.

Before the memorial meal, the 17th kathisma or rite of lithium performed by a layman is read. Prayers are read in front of holy icons with a lighted lamp or candle. At this time, a petition to have mercy on the deceased should sound with special force.

Immediately before meals, the prayer "Our Father" is read. Kutya is the first dish, which, by right of kinship and closeness to the deceased, is first tasted by his closest relatives and friends. These are boiled grains of wheat (rice) mixed with honey (raisins). Grains serve as a symbol of the Resurrection, and honey (or raisins) are sweets enjoyed by the righteous in the Kingdom of Heaven, Kutya: consecrated in the temple during a memorial service. Then it is tasted by all those present. They serve her. according to custom, on the third, ninth, pancakes and jelly are considered traditional funeral dishes in Russia.

After the meal, thanksgiving prayers are read: “We thank Thee, Christ our God...”, “It is worthy to eat...”.

But the most important thing is a prayer for the repose and mercy of the soul of a deceased person. Even if it happens that there is nothing left in the house but water and crackers, the commemoration will not be worse from this. If there is no prayer book in the house, then we will read those prayers that we know from memory, we will turn to God in our own words, if only sighing for the souls of the dead would come from our hearts.

During the commemoration, it is customary to leave a place, a plate, a dinner set, some of the dishes in the name of the deceased; this is a very ancient custom.

During the funeral, there is another custom to cover the mirrors in the house with cloth. This is done out of a sense of piety, so that nothing superfluous dispels grief and sorrow for the deceased.

It is better for a Christian invited to the funeral of a loved one in an unbelieving family not to reject the invitation. Since love is higher than fasting, you need to be guided by the words of the Savior: Eat what is offered to you (Luke 10:8), but observe moderation in eating and talking.

What you need to know about burial

(Basic errors affecting the afterlife of the dead)(Main errors affecting the afterlife of the dead)

It is necessary to draw the attention of the Orthodox to some important features that complement the knowledge of believers about the rite of burial and about the commemoration of the dead.

The custom to commemorate the dead on Easter at the cemetery is secular. Until Radonitsa, the Church does not openly pray for the dead, only secretly, at the proskomedia.

You can not leave the dead in the temple for more than one day: the church is not a mortuary.

You can’t make a quick memorial table during fasts and on Wednesdays and Fridays, and also on these days bring a quick meal to church on the eve. In no case should you commemorate the dead with vodka, because this gives them great torment.

You can put and light candles on the grave of the deceased only in front of a cross or an icon, but not in front of a monument. In general, erecting monuments on the grave is not an Orthodox custom; the deceased themselves are close and say that they put a weight (monument stone) on the grave, and the wreaths are like collars. It is impossible to interfere with the photograph of the deceased on the tombstone, and even more so on the Holy Cross.

It is impossible to funeral, as well as to make any church commemorations, of unbaptized people, as well as those of other faiths. You can give alms for them without naming them.

The Church does not pray for a person who deliberately commits suicide. But if the suicide before his death was under the supervision of a doctor and committed this act in an insane state, then you need to bring a certificate of his illness. Alms can be given, but without naming the suicide. God knows and sees for whom such a sacrifice is made.

It is very good to give spiritual alms for the departed (especially spiritual books). Spiritual charity is as much more valuable than bodily charity in the eyes of God, as much as the soul is more precious than the body. In any intractable cases, it is necessary to turn to the priests or to the diocesan administration.

God is all alive

God has no dead, but all are alive. The Savior Himself speaks of this. Have you not read what God said to you: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matthew 22:31-32). Many of us, "philosophizing" about the objects of faith and about the afterlife of the dead, forget or evade the deeds of real help to our dead. Many do not know at all or refuse the Orthodox burial rite and at the same time willingly resort to various pagan cult actions and rituals (abundant feasts - funeral feasts, marble tombstones, wreaths, etc.). God does not have the dead, but everyone is alive . The Savior Himself speaks of this. Have you not read what God said to you: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matthew 22:31-32). Many of us, "philosophizing" about the objects of faith and about the afterlife of the dead, forget or evade the deeds of real help to our dead. Many do not know at all or refuse the Orthodox burial rite and at the same time willingly resort to various pagan cult actions and rituals (abundant feasts - feasts, marble tombstones, wreaths, etc.).

Meanwhile, our deceased relatives and friends are waiting for our help. They need her! From my priestly practice, I know many cases (according to the stories of parishioners) when the deceased appeared to their living relatives (in a dream) and directly expressed their needs, spoke about their errors during their lifetime or gave instructions, warned us about something. The Holy Fathers teach us not to trust dreams, since most of us do not have the spiritual reasoning to determine the nature of sleep, i.e. whether it is a reflection of real events and experiences in life or a consequence of the movements of the flesh (passions, illnesses, etc.) is it the influence of the dark world of fallen spirits or, finally, is it really spiritual communication with the afterlife, hidden for us until the time . In any case, if the dream seemed to be significant, important, warning about something, you should first of all consult with your confessor, parish priest, or at least a spiritually experienced person.

I will tell you about several events that I remember, related to the topic of our conversation. A fellow villager appeared in a dream to one of my parishioners. During his lifetime, he was a convinced unbeliever, a persecutor of faith and the Church. She dreamed that this man stood near the ruins of the chapel, which was once on the edge of the village, and said, pointing to them: “If earlier, during my life, I would at least occasionally look at this holy place, at least once I would hold my gaze now it would be easier for me."

That is the power of the sacred! Even broken and desecrated...

My uncle in his youth and middle years was a believer, visited the temple of God, read the Holy Scriptures. But, succumbing to the spirit of the times, he lost faith in God. He stopped going to church, removed the holy icons from the house. Moreover, even in his thoughts he became an atheist, preaching atheism. Instead of praying, he began to do gymnastics. But death came to him. Being eighty years old, he is blind. On his deathbed, he tossed about, croaked, trying to say something, and all the time pointed with his hand to the holy corner where the icons should have been hung (but the icons were not hung. Something terrible surrounded him, approached, crushed, and there was no his defenders, intercessors, intercessors to God, for he himself once voluntarily abandoned them.

A relative of one of my parishioners died. He was unbaptized. Moved by a feeling of compassion, this woman came to me and asked how to alleviate his afterlife. Church prayer for the unbaptized is unacceptable, so I advised her to give alms for the deceased, namely, soul-saving books: maybe someone, after reading such a book, will accept the Sacrament of Baptism, change their life for the better, and this will be the most charitable sacrifice for the deceased unbaptized. After some time, this woman came to me and told me that she saw the deceased in a dream. He sat and read one of those books that she handed out, which means that the Lord accepted this sacrifice. Many people, even believers, have confused and distorted ideas about our duty towards the departed. They believe that first of all it is necessary to arrange a magnificent commemoration with a plentiful feast overflowing with vodka and rare dishes, then put an expensive monument on the grave so that friends do not condemn for stinginess. How wrong these people are and, moreover, what harm they bring to their dear and beloved dead, relatives and friends. Think about the fact that vodka, drunk for the repose of the souls and the deceased, flows like a stream onto that scales on which the burden of his sins already lies, and yet it is so heavy! Instead, you need to make it easier. Like a Church Prayer - Mass, magpies. prayer at home - reading the Psalter, alms: There were such cases in my official practice. Once a woman came up to me and told me that they had recently buried their relative and put a granite monument on the grave. And now the deceased appears to her in a dream and complains that this heavy gravestone presses and torments him very much. I explained to her that the grave is consecrated by a cross, preferably a wooden one. After all, the cross is the instrument of our salvation, our redemption. During life, we wear a cross on our chest, we kiss the cross in the temple of God, we overshadow ourselves with the sign of the cross, and after death, the place of our rest should be consecrated with a cross, but not with a piece of granite or marble. Another of my parishioners appeared in a dream, shortly after the funeral, He said: "Everything is fine, but only the clamps bother me a lot." Collars are wreaths with which we fill up the graves of our dead. But this is a legacy of pagan rites, the Orthodox burial rite does not require this.

There was another case. Once I served a lithium for the deceased. After that, at night she appeared in a dream to her sister and thanked her. She said: “Until now, it’s as if a stone lay on me, but now it has been removed.” That's the meaning of lithium!

One day they invited me to perform trebu at home. This village, where I should have gone, was located five kilometers from our parish. I was able to get out only in the evening, it was already getting dark. Finished quite late, so had to stay overnight. At dawn I was awakened by a knock on the door. A young woman came from the village. She seemed to be in a state of great agitation. At first, when she saw me, Oka froze, as if shocked by something, then she quickly began to explain. And here's what happened. At night, her father-in-law, who had died several years ago, appeared to her in a dream and said: “A priest came to the village, he is there and there (named the place where I spent the night), go. ask him to bury me, otherwise I am lying unburied with you. The woman told me that at the time when her father-in-law died, they did not have a priest, so they buried him without a funeral. And what was especially surprising, this woman saw her father-in-law only once - when he was already lying in a coffin, during his life she did not know him and never talked to him. I must say that I don’t like funerals in absentia, but there was a special need here (God’s Providence about the deceased was seen), so we buried him on the same day.

One Friday during Bright Week, a woman catches up with me and says with tears: “Father, shouldn’t I sing my daughter’s funeral again?” And the following happened: at the time when this woman was away, a dead man was arbitrarily buried in the grave of her daughter. The woman came home and on the first night she sees in a dream a daughter who died ten years ago, who tells her: “Mom, I myself am a sinner, but why did you put a drunkard in my grave?”

“Indeed, it turned out later that a woman was buried, to death; drunk with vodka). In the morning, the mother rushed to the cemetery and was surprised to see a fresh grave. I explained to this woman that her daughter's funeral was not required a second time. but it is necessary to serve a memorial service. One ninety-year old woman said that on the fortieth day after her death, a familiar psalmist appeared to her in a dream. During her lifetime, she helped him with the housework: she washed floors, dishes, and did laundry. He sadly said: “Why do you pray so little, because there is no better help for us than reading the Psalter.” Once a girl came to me to be baptized with her sister, a girl. After receiving Holy Baptism, they told that their mother twice had a dead husband in a dream and said: "Baptize the children."

Archpriest Valentin (Morbasob)

From the answers of Fr. Valentina (Mordasova) to parishioners' questions

There is a belief that until the fortieth day nothing can be given away from the things of the deceased. Is this true?

This is a belief inspired by the devil. On the contrary, it is necessary to do good for the deceased. Donate Cahors wine (for the Holy Mysteries), flour (for prosphora), wax (for candles), distribute from the things of the deceased, buy sacred books (and distribute to believers) before the fortieth day, and not after. When is it necessary to intercede for the accused - before the trial or after the trial? So here the soul goes through ordeals, judgment is made, it is necessary to intercede for it to pray and do works of mercy, but people do not do this.

Is it possible to place a photograph of the deceased on the grave or grave cross? Should I take care of the grave? Is it possible to put tables, benches, eat?

Under no circumstances is a photo allowed. Pious believers put a case with an icon and a lamp. Also, you can not put tables, benches, and eat. This is a pagan custom. Believers commemorate the dead with a prayer, some read the Seraphim Rule.

Is it possible to put a monument on which a cross is carved on the grave?

On the grave there should be only a cross.

There is a custom to light candles or lamps on the grave. Is it correct?

You can put candles on the grave provided that these candles burn in front of the icon, and not in front of a monument or photograph of the deceased.

Who and by whose blessing can use those left from the eve? Who are these products for?

This is the job of the priest who blesses. The bad thing is that we are busy in the temple “not with JESUS ​​.. but. KUSOM".

Is it allowed to bring fast foods on the eve of fasting days?

Better fast.

Many people go to the cemetery on the first day of Easter .. Is this custom correct?

This is a modern custom. Believers know that the commemoration of the dead begins after Antipascha. Now there are such customs that there is no seeing off a dead person without vodka. And a folk proverb says: “Whoever commemorates the dead with vodka, prepares them for great torment.”

Is it necessary to leave for forty days in the church the icon that was on the deceased during the funeral, and where to put it then?

There is a custom that the icon remains until the fortieth day in the temple, and on the fortieth day (or after) it is taken home. The icon is not placed in the coffin, Theophan the Recluse writes about this.

How often and on what better days should one visit the graves of loved ones and what is desirable to do there? Can you bring dogs with you?

On the days of remembrance of the dead, if it does not distract from the temple, otherwise visit the graves on another day. Read from the Psalter a kathisma or the Seraphim Rule. Dogs are not allowed in the cemetery, especially in the fence where the temple is located.

Is it good to decorate the graves of loved ones?

Decorating the graves of the departed does not bring any benefit to the departed, but even harms their souls.

What is more important on the day of remembrance of loved ones: to visit the cemetery or serve mass in the Church?

Serving mass in the temple is more important than visiting the graves of relatives.

What is most important when commemorating the dead: almsgiving, memorial service, mass?

Everything is good and pleasant for the deceased, but if the deceased did not believe much or died without a cross, then almsgiving is better for him than prayer.

Is it good to invite a priest to serve a memorial service at the grave?

There was a case when, after the service at the grave, the deceased appeared to a relative and said: “Until now, it’s like a stone lay on me, but as soon as you served lithium for me, it was as if the stone was removed from me.”

I heard that those who died in the Bright Week are worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Is it so?

This is correct, but not for everyone. Those who wore the cross, communed during Great Lent, repented, lived piously, they are truly worthy of a blessed life. And who did not have it, he will not receive it.

Can a priest, in the absence of a church nearby and the impossibility of transportation, perform a funeral service at home or necessarily in a church?

Of course, it can, but the deceased is brought to the temple in order to be prayed for at the Liturgy.

Is it possible to put candles for the repose of the throne?

There is a special place for this - the eve, and it should be set there.

Is it possible to commemorate the dead in the temple as a result of an illness caused by drunkenness?

It is possible if they were Orthodox and believers and did not die from drunkenness itself (did not get drunk to death).

Orthodox Christians, like all peoples, have a special set of rules for the burial of the dead. Fulfilling them, the relatives of the deceased help him to go to another world and find peace.

Orthodox burial rules have both Christian and pagan roots. The two cultures are closely intertwined. The ritual consists of several mandatory steps that are performed according to the canon. Tradition of the body to the earth in each national culture has features, differences and traditions.

The burial ritual is needed primarily by the deceased, and not by his inner circle. To observe traditions, to fulfill the dying will and wishes - this is what the expression “to conduct in a Christian way” means. The soul of the deceased must be freed from earthly burdens.

The stages of an Orthodox funeral include the following points:

• Preparing for the farewell ceremony
• Seeing the last journey
• Funeral. It can be both full-time in the temple, and in absentia, if for some reason the body cannot be delivered to the church
• burial
• commemoration

The procedure is fully described, but you can deviate from it if circumstances so require. For example, the Orthodox Church allows not to hold a magnificent commemoration at the table. Instead, it is better to read prayers, or remember a Christian with a kind word in a narrow circle of close friends and relatives.

Such information is very important for believers. Sooner or later everyone will have to bury a relative or friend. It is important to know how to properly conduct the ceremony, and not to get lost in difficult times. People do not always understand how Orthodox funerals are actually held. Many come to Christianity in adulthood, and until that moment they are too far from religion and faith. Due to the low Orthodox culture, the funeral is overgrown with numerous superstitions. A person performs unnecessary and meaningless actions that do not give peace and do not help the soul of the deceased.

Preparing for the burial of the body

The first step is preparation for burial. Depending on a person's lifetime beliefs and religious affiliation, the relatives of the deceased gather him on his last journey. Traditionally, this is done by relatives or friends who have expressed a desire to pay tribute to the memory and respect for the deceased.

In preparation for burial in Orthodoxy, some pagan customs are also used.

ablution

In the funeral tradition, it is believed that a person appears clean before the Higher Powers. This applies to both the soul and the body shell.

Interestingly, earlier in Russia, special people were engaged in washing the dead. Today, the ritual has largely lost its mystical and sacred meaning. But even now it is better not to conduct this ceremony with the help of relatives, but to entrust it to outsiders. Religion does not recommend washing the deceased yourself.

According to Christian tradition, it is impossible to mourn the deceased, because he is moving to a better world, his soul hopes for the next resurrection and eternal life in paradise. It was believed that even a mother cannot mourn a child: this makes his soul uncomfortable.

The body of the deceased was washed on the threshold of the house, placing it feet first. During the ceremony, special songs were sung. For ablution, they used water, soap, a separate comb to comb their hair. Pagan roots are clearly visible in these traditions: they were all carried out so that the deceased would not return from the “other world” and would not harm those who remained.

Christian tradition insists on spiritual cleansing and ablution from sins. Processing the deceased before parting with burial is a sanitary recommendation that must be followed, and not the duty of a religious person.

Deceased's vestments

There are no special requirements for the clothes of the deceased in the coffin, his appearance is regulated only by conditional laws. Often in ritual and cemetery offices they post a list of things necessary for the deceased.

• According to customs, a pectoral cross is required if the person was a baptized Christian or believer.
• Men are advised to wear a dark suit.
• A woman - in a dress of light, pastel colors.

In ancient Russia and in the era of early Christianity, everyone, regardless of gender, was interred in a white robe. This is due to the funeral customs and signs of the Orthodox, borrowed from pagan culture. In it, white is a symbol of death and the underworld.

It is allowed to fulfill the last will of the deceased regarding clothing. If a loved one asked for something, then it must be done. Grandparents often have funeral clothes prepared in advance.

You can use the best and most beautiful clothes that the deceased had for burial. Ritual offices sell special sets for wires on the last journey. They wear white slippers on their feet - a well-known symbol of the transition to another world. It is not forbidden to bury the deceased in shoes bought during his lifetime.

You can not use dirty, wrinkled or someone else's clothes to dress the deceased. According to Christian traditions, a dead woman should wear a headscarf. A special whisk is put on the head of the deceased male. But if a person was an atheist or unbaptized, then these customs can be neglected. Everyone chooses their own burial ritual and the path to the afterlife.

Position in the coffin

Modern traditions of the position in the coffin of the deceased often differ from the ideas of our ancestors about how to properly bury a person according to Christian customs.

Previously, the psalter was recited over the deceased. This was not necessarily done by the clergy. Now the observance of the rite is at the discretion of a close circle, but it is desirable to read the canon, which is called “Following the Exodus of the Soul from the Body”. Prayer chants are chanted for three days.

What else needs to be done for a proper farewell:

• Place a glass of water in front of the images or portrait of the deceased and place a piece of black bread on top.
• In front of the icons, if they are in the house, light the lamp.
• Traditionally, a candle is placed at the head of the deceased.
• A portrait with a mourning ribbon is placed at the head of the deceased.
• Wreaths are placed on the walls of the room.
• According to tradition, each guest should sit at the coffin for a while.
• It is not necessary to take off your shoes when entering the room with the deceased.
• The doors to the apartment where the coffin stands do not close.

Important! No one is specifically invited to funerals and farewells. It is enough to inform friends and relatives about the death of a person, name the date and place of the ceremony. Only relatives stay with the deceased for the night.

The tradition of hanging mirrors, removing photographs and placing bread and water is of pagan origin. The Orthodox Church does not deny it. The only thing that priests do not advise to do is to pour vodka instead of water.

Removal of the body and funeral procession

Modern rules for the removal of the body and observance of the mourning ceremony are different from those that were decades ago. But there are requirements and rules that should be followed today. They concern the time of burial and the ritual movement to the cemetery.

• The removal of the coffin is scheduled for the first half of the day. Until 12-13. This is due to the need to commit the body to the ground before sunset.
• The deceased is taken out with their feet forward, trying not to touch the threshold and walls of the room.
• The funeral procession moves behind the coffin: no one comes out of the doors ahead.
• First they take out wreaths and baskets of flowers, then - domino. This is how the funeral cortege is formed.
• The coffin is placed in front of the dwelling or in the mortuary so that those who do not go further to the funeral or to the cemetery ceremony can say goodbye to a person.

It is not necessary to organize a funeral ceremony on your own. Priests allow the involvement of special agents. This is understandable - relatives upset by the death of a loved one often fall into prostration, it is difficult for them to concentrate on simple everyday things. By transferring the initiative to specialists, they can focus on the spiritual aspect of farewell: pray, read verses from the Psalter, remember the deceased.

Carrying the coffin to relatives (children or brothers) is not allowed. Special people are involved for this purpose. The more respected the deceased was, the longer they carry the domino in their arms, including to the very grave.

Funeral of the deceased: important nuances

The burial service and burial of the deceased should be on the 3rd day after death. The exceptions are dates coinciding with major Christian holidays: Easter Sunday or Christmas.

The ceremony of committing the body or ashes to the earth is carried out only once. This distinguishes it from funeral services.

They don't sing in the church:

• unbaptized
• Those who renounced the church and faith or were specially excommunicated
• suicide
• Gentiles

For the ceremony, the coffin is brought into the church, and set with its head to the altar, towards the east. Relatives and relatives stand next to the lit candles in their hands. The priest says special prayers that allow the soul to pass to another world.

The coffin is closed. It is believed that after that it is no longer possible to open it. But there are exceptions: for example, someone will express a desire to say goodbye to the deceased near the grave or in the hall of the crematorium. Therefore, the clergyman gives relatives a special set, which contains consecrated earth and water. Before the body is cremated, the attributes of Christianity should be placed with the deceased.

Orthodoxy has a tradition of absentee funerals. It is resorted to in cases where it is physically impossible to deliver the deceased to the church.

Dressing for church funerals and funerals should be strictly. Women must wear headdresses (shawls), long skirts. Shoulders must be covered. The color of the clothes is dark.

• Ritual candles that burned in the temple are lowered into the grave.
• After the coffin, coins are thrown. These are echoes of the ancient belief about the "payment for the transition to another world." For the same reason, it is customary to bury a comb, a handkerchief and iron trifles in a coffin.
• On a fresh hill, in addition to flowers and wreaths, a “handkerchief of tears” is left.

A wooden cross is placed on the grave. It is then replaced with a monument or a slab. The graveyard workers fill the hole completely. They are allowed to be treated with ritual dishes brought with them. It is not forbidden to drink vodka "for the mention of the soul". Scatter the remnants of food on the grave so that the birds also remember the one who has gone to another world.

Remembrance

Traditionally in Russian culture, funerals end with a special memorial dinner. A commemoration is allowed at the house where the deceased lived or on neutral territory.

How to commemorate the dead, and what should be the food at the mournful meal, it is better to check with the priest. Do not turn farewell into a banal feast. A Christian must know that there are 9 days after death, what they mean and remember how to commemorate the dead. An important aspect of mourning is mourning. It consists in wearing dark-colored clothes, in refusing recreational activities. In sermons, priests say that it is not enough to observe the ninth and fortieth days, you need to pray with your heart for the departed person, so that it would be easier for him.

Important! The key dates in the life of relatives and the afterlife journey of the soul are three, nine and forty days. Popular rumor consoles the survivors that after 40 days it will become easier.

40 days after death, what does the date mean, and how to commemorate the dead - this question worries relatives and friends. The priest will answer. The priest will tell about Christian traditions, help to survive the pain of loss.

Superstitions and omens associated with funerals

The bad omens associated with the dead and the funeral, which disturbed our ancestors, have a long tradition. People were afraid that the spirit of the deceased would return and take revenge. Relying on signs or not is a personal matter, but you need to know about them.

Superstition while the dead man is at home

• The deceased at home should not be left alone for a minute. Someone must always be with him: to say prayers, to read the Psalter.
• Turn the stools or table on which the coffin stood upside down.
• Photos of relatives or friends cannot be placed in the coffin. It is believed that this causes damage and causes death.
• Hang the mirrors so that the spirit does not penetrate back through the amalgam.

• The water with which the body was washed is thrown out in a deaf, deserted place.
• The warm feet of the deceased up to the burial - to the imminent death of family members.
• Personal items that are dear to the deceased - glasses, rings, rosaries - put with him in the coffin.
• A cat jumping on a domino is a bad sign. Do not let animals into the room where the deceased lies.
• The road of the funeral procession to the car is covered with spruce branches.
• Sleeping in the same room with the deceased is not allowed. If this happens, popular rumor recommends eating noodles for breakfast.

Signs in the cemetery and signs of the funeral procession

• The road of the funeral procession must not be crossed. It is believed that anyone who breaks this covenant will become seriously ill.
• It is forbidden to carry the coffin to the relatives of the deceased.
• Forgetting the cover of the house is a great misfortune, up to the death of family members.
• Go forward before the funeral procession - to death.
• If the gravediggers accidentally dug a large hole, this is a bad sign. The grave is calculated for one person.
• During the funeral, you can not look out the window or sleep.

Signs after the funeral

• If a person drinks water and eats the bread intended for the spirit, he will die of illness. These dishes cannot even be given to animals.
• It is forbidden to cry a lot and often for the dead. It is believed that the deceased will drown in the tears of a yearning person.
• Leaving the cemetery, do not look back. Arriving in the room where they arrange a wake, wipe your feet, shake off the "dead" earth.
• Distribute the personal belongings of the deceased that cannot be put in the coffin to those in need. The Church allows you to do this without waiting 40 days.
• The bed of the deceased and bed linen are thrown away.
• The word "thank you" is not said during the commemoration.

Can Muslims attend Christian funerals?

Our country is multinational, with adherents of different faiths living side by side. If the deceased person was a good neighbor and good friend, then the Orthodox faith does not prohibit the presence of representatives of other faiths at the funeral. Of course, a Muslim is unlikely to go to the temple for a funeral, but he has every right to see his friend on his last journey to the cemetery. This also applies to the memorial service. Religion forbids Muslims to drink alcohol, but Orthodox priests also condemn those who drink.

Honoring the memory of a person is a duty and a good tradition. God loves everyone, regardless of skin color or nationality. For him, we are children, the priests are constantly reminded of this during the sermon.

The rite of burial of the deceased is a rite of farewell to the deceased, which has been customary in the Orthodox world since ancient times. It exists so that on this day you can express your respect and respect for people who have suffered death.

On this day, all relatives, friends and acquaintances of the deceased gather to say goodbye to him forever and take him on his last journey. Also, the rite carries a powerful informational message. Its holding reminds those present that their existence on earth is not eternal, which in turn should make many think about their lives.

The Orthodox Church looks at funerals as a transition from earthly life to eternal life. To get to heaven, a person must undergo special training. It consists of the following steps:

• Unction. If the death is not sudden, but the person was very ill, then before death the priest conducts unction.
• Confession. Before death, a person must confess and ask for remission of all his sins.
• Conducting the sacrament. The priest necessarily conducts the rite of communion of the dying.
• Reading of special canons. Since ancient times, a prayerful parting word has been read to the dying before death. This can be done by both the priest and relatives.
• Washing and dressing. After a person has died, it must be washed with clean water and wiped dry. This is done so that he appears clean before God. Also, the deceased is dressed in light and clean clothes. After this is done, it is necessary to cover the deceased with a shroud.
• Deadly lithium. It is read an hour before the coffin is taken out of the house. The clergyman sprinkles the coffin with holy water and conducts a funeral liturgy.
• Funeral. Before the burial is performed, the priest reads a series of prayers and chants.

Only after all the steps described above are completed, it is believed that the deceased will be able to gain eternal life in the other world.

What day is buried according to Orthodox custom

Very often, relatives of the deceased have many questions about what day the deceased person should be buried on. According to Orthodox traditions, it is customary to bury the deceased on the third day after death.

Why are they buried on the 3rd day after death? The fact is that it is on this day that the final severing of all ties between the soul and the body takes place. The intangible component of a person leaves the Kingdom of Heaven, accompanied by a guardian angel.

Moreover, the third day after death is still associated with the Trinity. After all, the third day is considered a memorial day. A commemoration is always held after the burial of the body of the deceased. Thus, it turns out that the memorial day is simply combined with the day of burial. But be careful to calculate them mathematically, simply adding the number three is impossible. For example, if a person died on March 18, then the day of his burial should not be March 21, but March 20.

Is it possible to bury on the 2nd day after death

According to the priests, such a ritual cannot be performed on the second day after death. Because the soul is still attached to the body and it simply has nowhere to go. The connection of the soul with the body cannot be broken, because for this there is a natural process in nature. It should also be noted that it is immediately impossible to get used to the fact that a person has died and will not be around. Three days are also given for this.

Are they buried on the second day after death? Yes, sometimes you can find it. But very rarely. As a rule, this happens either in regions where there is intense heat, or in summer. Since during high air temperature the body begins to decompose rapidly. In such cases, priests sometimes allow a departure from tradition.

Is it possible to bury on the 4th day

As Orthodox traditions say, the answer is yes. It is allowed to bury the body later than the third day, as long as it is not the first or second day. In the Orthodox world, the burial of the body of a deceased person is allowed on the 5th and 6th day. It all depends on how the person died.

There are a number of cases when it is not allowed to bury without an autopsy. As a rule, this is in cases of death in hospitals, road accidents, etc. This procedure usually takes 4 to 7 days.

Is it possible to bury on a birthday

It is not often that a person dies on the eve of his birthday. Of course, in connection with this, believing Orthodox people will be interested in whether it is possible to carry out the burial of the deceased on his birthday. The Orthodox Church does not prohibit rituals on this day.

At the same time, it is very important to remember that during the first three years after the death of a loved one, it is imperative to remember him and visit the grave on his birthday and death day.

What days do not bury the Orthodox

As you know, in Orthodoxy there are some prohibitions, according to which it is impossible to bury a person and on some days it is forbidden to conduct a burial ritual:

• Do not bury dead people who committed suicide.
• It is forbidden to bury only on Holy Easter and Christmas.
• According to popular beliefs, it is not recommended to carry out such a ceremony for the New Year. They say that the whole year will be in trouble.

Also, in the end, it should be noted that with the iconic Russian traditions, Orthodox funerals mean the burial of the deceased in the ground, believing in his resurrection on the Day of Judgment. The church does not allow cremation.

The Lord is always with you!

Customs, rituals, traditions, signs

To believe or not to believe in signs, to observe or not to observe rituals and traditions, everyone decides for himself, but do not bring observance to the point of absurdity.

How to spend the last journey of a loved one, without harming yourself and your loved ones? Usually this sad event takes us by surprise, and we get lost, listening to everyone in a row and following their advice. But, as it turns out, not everything is so simple. Sometimes people use this sad event to harm you. Therefore, remember how to correctly lead a person to the last journey.

At the time of death, a person experiences a painful feeling of fear when the soul leaves the body. When leaving the body, the soul meets the Guardian Angel, given to it during Holy Baptism, and demons. Relatives and friends of the dying person should try to alleviate his mental suffering by prayer, but in no case should they shout loudly or sob.

At the moment of separation of the soul from the body, it is supposed to read the Canon of prayer to the Mother of God. When reading the Canon, a dying Christian holds a lit candle or a holy cross in his hand. If he does not have the strength to make the sign of the cross, someone close to him does this by leaning towards the dying man and clearly saying: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me. In Your hands, Lord Jesus, I commit my spirit, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

You can sprinkle a dying man with holy water with the words: “Grace of the Holy Spirit, who sanctified this water, save your soul from all evil.”

According to church custom, the dying person asks those present for forgiveness and forgives them himself.

Not often, but still it happens that a person prepares his coffin in advance. It is usually stored in the attic. In this case, pay attention to the following: the coffin is empty, and since it is made to the standards of a person, he begins to “pull” it into himself. And a person, as a rule, passes away faster. Previously, to prevent this from happening, sawdust, shavings, grain were poured into an empty coffin. After the death of a person, sawdust, shavings and grain were also buried in a pit. After all, if you feed a bird with such grain, it will get sick.

When a person has died and a measure is taken from him to make a coffin, in no case should this measure be placed on the bed. It is best to take it out of the house, and put it in a coffin during the funeral.

Be sure to remove all silver items from the deceased: after all, this is the metal that is used to fight the unclean. Therefore, the latter can "disturb" the body of the deceased.

The body of the deceased is washed immediately after death. The washing takes place as a sign of the spiritual purity and purity of the life of the deceased, and also so that he appears clean before the face of God after the resurrection. Wudu must cover all parts of the body.

You need to wash the body with warm, not hot water, so as not to steam it. When they wash the body, they read: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us” or “Lord, have mercy.”

As a rule, only elderly women prepare the deceased for their last journey.

In order to make it more convenient to wash the deceased, an oilcloth is laid on the floor or bench and covered with a sheet. The body of the deceased person is placed on top. They take one basin with clean water, and the other with soapy water. With a sponge dipped in soapy water, the whole body is washed, starting with the face and ending with the legs, then washed with clean water and dried with a towel. Lastly, they wash the head and comb the dead.

It is desirable that ablution takes place during daylight hours - from sunrise to sunset. Water after ablution must be handled with great care. It is necessary to dig a hole far from the yard, garden and living quarters, where people do not go, and pour everything, to the last drop, into it and cover it with earth.

The fact is that very strong damage is done on the water in which the deceased was washed. In particular, on this water a person can "make" cancer. Therefore, do not give this water to anyone, no matter who turns to you with such a request.

Try not to spill this water around the apartment so that those living in it do not get sick.

Pregnant women should not wash the deceased in order to avoid the illness of the unborn child, as well as women who are menstruating.

After washing, the deceased is dressed in new light clean clothes. Be sure to put a cross on the deceased, if he did not have one.

The bed on which a person died should not be thrown away, as many do. Just take her to the chicken coop, let her lie there for three nights, so that, as the legend says, the rooster will sing her three times.

Relatives and friends are not allowed to make a coffin.

The shavings formed during the manufacture of the coffin are best buried in the ground or, in extreme cases, thrown into the water, but just do not burn them.

When the deceased is placed in a coffin, it is necessary to sprinkle him and the coffin outside and inside with holy water, you can sprinkle it with incense.

A whisk is placed on the forehead of the deceased. It is given in the church at the funeral.

A pillow, which is usually made of cotton wool, is placed under the feet and head of the deceased. The body is covered with a sheet.

The coffin is placed in the middle of the room in front of the icons, turning the face of the deceased with his head towards the icons.

Seeing the deceased in the coffin, do not automatically touch your torso with your hands. Otherwise, in the place where you touched, various skin growths in the form of a tumor may grow.

If there is a dead person in the house, then, having met your acquaintance or relatives there, you should greet with a bow of your head, and not with your voice.

While there is a dead person in the house, you should not sweep the floor, as this will bring trouble to your family (illness or worse).

If there is a dead person in the house, do not start any laundry.

Do not put two needles crosswise on the lips of the deceased, supposedly to preserve the body from decomposition. This will not save the body of the deceased, but the needles that were on his lips will surely disappear, they are used to induce damage.

In order to prevent a heavy smell from the deceased, you can put a bunch of dry sage at his head, the people call it "cornflowers". It also serves another purpose - it drives away evil spirits.

For the same purposes, you can use willow branches, which are holy on Palm Sunday and stored behind images. These branches can be placed under the deceased.

It happens that the deceased person has already been placed in a coffin, but the bed on which he died has not yet been taken out. Friends or strangers may come up to you, ask permission to lie on the bed of the deceased so that their back and bones do not hurt. Don't allow it, don't hurt yourself.

Do not put fresh flowers in the coffin so that a heavy smell does not come from the deceased. For this purpose, use artificial or, in extreme cases, dried flowers.

A candle is lit near the coffin as a sign that the deceased has passed into the realm of light - the best afterlife.

For three days, the Psalter is read over the deceased.

The Psalter is read continuously over the coffin of a Christian as long as the deceased remains unburied.

A lamp or a candle is lit in the house, which burns as long as the deceased is in the house.

It happens that instead of a candlestick they use glasses with wheat. This wheat is often spoiled, it also cannot be fed to poultry or livestock.

The hands and feet of the deceased are tied. Hands are folded so that the right one is on top. An icon or cross is placed in the left hand of the deceased; for men - the image of the savior, for women - the image of the Mother of God. And you can do this: in the left hand - a cross, and on the chest of the deceased - a Holy image.

Make sure that someone else's things are not placed under the deceased. If you notice this, then you need to pull them out of the coffin and burn them somewhere far away.

Sometimes, out of ignorance, some compassionate mothers put photographs of their children in the coffin of their grandparents. After that, the child begins to get sick, and if help is not provided in time, death may occur.

It happens that there is a dead person in the house, but there are no suitable clothes for him, and then one of the family members gives his things. The deceased is buried, and the one who gave away his things begins to get sick.

The coffin is taken out of the house, turning the face of the deceased towards the exit. When the body is taken out, the mourners sing a song in honor of the Holy Trinity: "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us."

It happens that when a coffin with a dead person is taken out of the house, someone stands near the door and starts tying knots on rags, explaining this by tying knots so that no more coffins are taken out of this house. Although the mind of such a person is completely different. Try to take these rags away from him.

If a pregnant woman goes to a funeral, she will do harm to herself. A sick child may be born. Therefore, try to stay at home at this time, and you need to say goodbye to a person close to you in advance - before the funeral.

When a dead person is carried to a cemetery, in no case should you cross his path, as various tumors may form on your body. If this happened, then you should take the hand of the deceased, always the right one, and run all your fingers over the tumor and read “Our Father”. This must be done three times, after each time spitting over the left shoulder.

When a dead person is carried down the street in a coffin, try not to look out the window of your apartment. This way you will save yourself from troubles and will not get sick.

In the temple, the coffin with the body of the deceased is placed in the middle of the church facing the altar, and candles are lit on the four sides of the coffin.

Relatives and friends of the deceased go around the coffin with the body, with a bow ask for forgiveness for involuntary insults, kiss the deceased for the last time (a halo on his forehead or an icon on his chest). After that, the body is completely covered with a sheet and the priest crosswise sprinkles it with earth.

When the body with the coffin is taken out of the temple, the face of the deceased is turned towards the exit.

It happens that the church is far from the house of the deceased, then an absentee funeral is performed for him. After the funeral, relatives are given a whisk, a permissive prayer and earth from the funeral table.

At home, relatives put a permissive prayer in the right hand of the deceased, a paper whisk on his forehead, and after saying goodbye to him, in the cemetery, his body, covered with a sheet from head to toe, as in a church, is sprinkled crosswise with earth (from head to toe, from the right shoulder to the left - to get the correct shape of the cross).

The deceased is buried facing east. The cross on the grave is placed at the feet of the buried so that the crucifix is ​​turned to the face of the deceased.

According to Christian custom, when a person is buried, his body must be buried or “sealed”. This is what the priests do.

The ties that bind the hands and feet of the deceased must be untied before lowering the coffin into the grave and placed in the coffin with the deceased. Otherwise, they are usually used to induce damage.

Saying goodbye to the deceased, try not to step on the towel, which is placed in the cemetery near the coffin, so as not to incur damage to yourself.

If you are afraid of the dead, hold on to his legs.

Sometimes they can throw earth from the grave into your bosom or by the collar, proving that in this way you can avoid the fear of the dead. Do not believe it - they do it to induce damage.

When the coffin with the body of the deceased is lowered into the grave on towels, these towels must be left in the grave, and not used for various household needs or given to anyone.

When lowering the coffin with the body into the grave, all those who see off the deceased on their last journey throw a clod of earth into it.

After the ritual of committing the body to the earth, this earth must be taken to the grave and poured out crosswise. And if you are too lazy, do not go to the cemetery and take the land for this ritual from your farmstead, then you will do yourself very badly.

Burying a dead person with music is not Christian, you should bury with a priest.

It happens that a person was buried, but the body was not buried. It is imperative to go to the grave and take a handful of earth from there, with which then go to church.

It is advisable, in order to avoid any trouble, to sprinkle the house or apartment where the deceased lived with consecrated water. This must be done immediately after the funeral. It is also necessary to sprinkle such water on people who participated in the funeral procession.

The funeral is over, and according to the old Christian custom, water and some food are placed in a glass on the table to treat the soul of the deceased. Make sure that small children or adults inadvertently do not drink from this glass or eat anything. After such a treat, both adults and children begin to get sick.

During the commemoration, the deceased, according to tradition, is poured a glass of vodka. Do not drink it if someone advises you. It would be better if you pour vodka on the grave.

Returning from the funeral, it is imperative to dust off your shoes before entering the house, and also hold your hands over the fire of a lit candle. This is done in order not to bring damage to the home.

There is also such a type of damage: a dead person lies in a coffin, wires are tied to his arms and legs, which are lowered into a bucket of water under the coffin. So, supposedly, the dead man is grounded. Actually it is not. This water is later used to induce damage.

Here is another type of damage in which there are incompatible things - death and flowers.

One person gives another a bouquet of flowers. Only these flowers do not bring joy, but grief, since the bouquet, before being presented, lay on the grave all night.

If a close or dear person has died of one of you and you often cry for him, then I advise you to have thistle grass in your house.

In order to yearn less for the deceased, you need to take the headdress (shawl or hat) that the deceased wore, light it in front of the front door and go around all the rooms with him in turn, reading aloud “Our Father”. After that, take out the remnants of the burnt headdress from the apartment, burn it to the end and bury the ashes in the ground.

It also happens like this: you came to the grave of a loved one to pluck grass, paint a fence, or plant something. Start digging and dig up things that shouldn't be there. Someone outside buried them there. In this case, take everything that you have found out of the cemetery and burn it, trying not to fall under the smoke, otherwise you may get sick yourself.

Some believe that after death the forgiveness of sins is impossible, and if a sinful person has died, nothing can be done to help him. However, the Lord himself said: “And every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven people ... neither in this age, nor in the future.” It means that in the future life only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not forgiven. Consequently, our prayers can have mercy on those who have died in bodies, but our loved ones who are alive in soul, who did not blaspheme the Holy Spirit during their earthly life.

A memorial service and home prayer for the good deeds of the deceased, done in his memory (almsgiving and donations to the church), are all useful for the dead. But commemoration at the Divine Liturgy is especially useful for them.

If you meet a funeral procession on the way, then you should stop, take off your hat and cross yourself.

When a dead person is carried to a cemetery, do not throw fresh flowers on the road after him - by doing this you damage not only yourself, but also many people who step on these flowers.

After the funeral, do not go to any of your friends or relatives to visit.

If they take the earth to “print” the dead, in no case allow this earth to be taken from under your feet.

When someone dies, try to have only women present.

If the patient is dying hard, then for an easier death, remove a pillow of feathers from under his head. In the villages, the dying person is laid on straw.

Make sure that the dead person's eyes are tightly closed.

Do not leave a deceased person alone in the house; as a rule, elderly women should sit next to him.

When there is a dead person in the house, in the neighboring houses one should not drink water in the morning, which was in buckets or pots. It must be poured out, and freshly poured.

When a coffin is made, a cross is made on its lid with an axe.

In the place where the deceased lay in the house, it is necessary to put an ax so that no more people die for a long time in this house.

Until 40 days, do not distribute the things of the deceased to relatives, friends or acquaintances.

In no case do not put your pectoral cross on the deceased.

Before burial, do not forget to remove the wedding ring from the deceased. By this, the widow (widower) will save herself from illnesses.

During the death of your relatives or friends, you must close the mirrors, do not look into them after death for 40 days.

It is impossible for tears to fall on the dead. This is a heavy burden for the deceased.

After the funeral, do not allow, under any pretext, either relatives, or acquaintances, or relatives to lie down on your bed.

When a dead person is taken out of the house, make sure that none of those who see him off on his last journey does not go out with his back.

After taking the deceased out of the house, the old broom should also be taken out of the house.

Before the last farewell to the dead in the cemetery, when they raise the lid of the coffin, in no case put your head under it.

The coffin with the dead, as a rule, is placed in the middle of the room in front of the home icons, facing the exit.

As soon as a person has died, relatives and friends should order a magpie in the church, that is, a daily commemoration during the Divine Liturgy.

In no case do not listen to those people who advise you to wipe your body with water in which the deceased was washed to get rid of pain.

If the commemoration (third, ninth, fortieth days, anniversary) falls during Great Lent, then in the first, fourth and seventh weeks of the fast, the relatives of the deceased do not invite anyone to the commemoration.

When memorial days fall on weekdays of other weeks of Great Lent, they are transferred to the next (ahead) Saturday or Sunday.

If the commemoration falls on Bright Week (the first week after Easter), then in these first eight days after Easter they do not read prayers for the dead, they do not perform memorial services for them.

The Orthodox Church allows to commemorate the dead from Tuesday of St. Thomas' week (the second week after Easter).

The dead are commemorated with the food that is laid on the day of the commemoration: on Wednesday, Friday, on the days of long fasts - fasting, on a meat-eater - fast food.