What time does the memorial service for the radonitsa begin. What is an order note. Note "about health"

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Believers gather in the temple for joint prayer. God Himself mysteriously dwells in the temple. The temple is the house of God. In the temple, the priests offer the Most Holy Bloodless Sacrifice. Even in the Old Testament times, prayers were accompanied by the sacrifice of animals in order to cleanse from sins and propitiate God. In the Church of the New Testament, animal sacrifice does not exist, for " Christ died for our sins» (). « He is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.» ().
He sacrificed His Most Pure Blood and Flesh for all and established at the Last Supper the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the offering under the guise of bloodless gifts - bread and wine - of His Most Pure Flesh and Blood for the remission of sins, which is performed in churches at the Divine Liturgy.

Church prayer has special power also because it is ascended by a priest specially appointed to perform sacred rites, to offer prayers and sacrifices to God for people.
« I chose you and appointed you- says the Savior to His Apostles, - whatever you ask the Father in my name, he has given you» ().
The rights given by the Lord to the apostles and the duties and powers assigned to them, they transferred to the successors appointed by them: bishops and presbyters, bequeathing to them both power and right, and an indispensable duty above all ... "to make prayers, petitions, supplications, thanksgiving for all people"().
That is why the holy Apostle James says to Christians: Is any of you sick, let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him» ().

How Often Should You Submit Memorial Notes?

The prayer of the Church and the Most Holy Sacrifice attract the mercy of the Lord upon us, purifying and saving us.
We always, both during life and after death, need God's mercy towards us.
Therefore, it is necessary to be honored with the prayers of the Church and the sacrifice of the Holy Gifts for us or our loved ones, the living and the dead, as often as possible, and always on those days that are of particular importance: on the birthday, baptism day, name day of both your own and members of your family.
Honoring the memory of the saint whose name we bear, we thereby call our patron to prayer and intercession before God, because, as they say in Holy Scripture, much can the fervent prayer of the righteous().
Be sure to submit a note of remembrance on the birthdays and christening of your child.
This should be carefully monitored by mothers, for caring for a child is their sacred duty..
Whether sin draws us to itself, whether some passion seizes us, whether the devil tempts us, whether despair or inconsolable sorrow befalls us, trouble, need, illness visited us - in such cases, the prayer of the Church with the offering of the Bloodless Sacrifice serves as the surest means of deliverance, strengthening and consolation.

Memo for those wishing to submit a note on the living and the dead

1. Notes must be submitted before the start of the Liturgy. It is best to submit memorial notes in the evening or early in the morning, before the start of the service.
2. Entering the names of the living and the dead, remember them in the process of writing with a sincere desire for their good, from a pure heart, trying to remember the one whose name you enter - this is a prayer.
3. The note should contain no more than ten names. If you want to commemorate many of your relatives and friends, submit several notes.
4. Names must be written in genitive case(to answer the question "who?").
The names of the bishops and priests (priests) are indicated first, and their dignity is indicated - for example, “about the health” of Bishop Tikhon, Abbot Tikhon, Priest Yaroslav, then write your name, your relatives and friends.
The same applies to the notes "about the repose" - for example, Metropolitan John, Archpriest Michael, Alexandra, John, Anthony, Elijah, etc.
5. All names must be given in church spelling (for example, Julia, not Julia) and in full (for example, Alexander, Nikolai, but not Sasha, Kolya),
6. The notes do not indicate surnames, patronymics, ranks and titles, degrees of kinship.
7. A child under 7 years old in a note can be indicated as an infant - baby John.
8. If you want, in health notes, you can mention “sick”, “warrior”, “traveling”, “prisoner” before the name. They do not write in notes - “suffering”, “embittered”, “needy”, “lost”.
9. In the notes “On the Repose”, the deceased is referred to as the “newly deceased” within 40 days after death. It is allowed in the notes “On the Repose” to write before the name “killed”, “warrior”, “memorable” (the day of death, the name day of the deceased).

Is it possible to write in the notes “For health” and “For the repose” of people for whom it is not known whether they were baptized?

The notes that are served at the altar for proskomidia list the people for whom the Holy Church offers the Bloodless Sacrifice at the liturgy. Therefore, it is assumed that all these people are not only baptized, but also recognize themselves as members of the Church.
If people are baptized but do not live church life(), then it is more appropriate to submit notes for commemoration for them when reading the Psalter.

How to write in notes the names of people whose names are not in the calendar?

The tradition of baptizing with the name "from the church calendar", i.e. according to the calendar - this is just a good Russian tradition, which does not exclude the commemoration of those Christians whose names do not correspond to it. There is even a special circular on this topic:

“The Moscow Patriarchate receives letters that draw attention to cases of refusal to liturgical commemoration and participation in the Sacraments in relation to those Orthodox believers who are baptized in other Local Orthodox Churches (for example, in the Bulgarian, Georgian, Romanian, Serbian, Finnish, etc. d.) with the naming of names that are absent in the Russian monthly word Orthodox Church.
In the traditions of some Local Churches, it is allowed at baptism to name babies with national names that are not found in the church monograms.
In connection with the foregoing, with the blessing of His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, I remind you that no restrictions should be allowed in liturgical commemoration and admission to the Sacraments of the Church for believers wearing national names and those baptized in other Local Orthodox Churches.
Please convey this information to the abbots of monasteries and parishes of the diocese entrusted to you.”

Radonitsa in 2019 - what date? Radonitsa - 9 days after Easter - parental day, a day of special commemoration of the dead. Read more about this in the article!

Radonitsa in 2019 - what date?

Radonitsa in 2019 - May 7

Radonitsa in 2020 - April 28

Radonitsa in 2021 - May 11

“To visit the cemetery, the Church appoints a special day - Radonitsa(from the word joy - after all, the Easter holiday continues) and this holiday takes place on Tuesday after Easter week. Radonitsa in 2018 - April 17. Usually on this day, after the evening service or after the Liturgy, a full memorial service is performed, which includes Easter hymns. Believers visit the cemetery to pray for the dead.

It must be remembered that the tradition of leaving food, Easter eggs on the graves - this is paganism, which was revived in the Soviet Union, when the state persecuted the right faith. When faith is persecuted, heavy superstitions arise. The souls of our departed loved ones need prayer. From a church point of view, a ritual is unacceptable when vodka and black bread are placed on the grave, and next to it is a photograph of the deceased: this, in modern terms, is a remake, because, for example, the photograph appeared a little more than a hundred years ago, which means that this tradition new.

As for the commemoration of the dead with alcohol: any booze is unacceptable. The Holy Scriptures allow the use of wine: “Wine gladdens the heart of a man” (Psalms 103:15), but warns against excess: “Do not get drunk with wine, fornication is in it” (Eph. 5:18). You can drink, but you can't get drunk. And I repeat again, the departed need our fervent prayer, our pure heart and sober mind, alms given for them, but not vodka, ”recalls priest Alexander Ilyashenko.

According to St. John Chrysostom (4th century), this holiday was already celebrated in Christian cemeteries in antiquity. The special place of Radonitsa in the annual circle of church holidays - immediately after Easter Easter Week - obliges Christians not to delve into feelings about the death of loved ones, but, on the contrary, to rejoice at their birth into another life - eternal life. The victory over death, won by the death and resurrection of Christ, displaces the sadness of temporary separation from relatives, and therefore we, in the words of Metropolitan Anthony of Surozh, "with faith, hope and Paschal confidence, stand at the tomb of the departed."

How to treat the grave of an Orthodox Christian?

Cemeteries are sacred places where the bodies of the dead rest until the next resurrection.
Even according to the laws of pagan states, the tombs were considered sacred and inviolable.
From deep pre-Christian antiquity, there is a custom to mark the burial places with a hill above it.
Adopting this custom Christian church adorns the grave mound with the victorious sign of our salvation - the Holy Life-Giving Cross, inscribed on a tombstone or set over a tombstone.
We call our dead dead, not dead, because at a certain time they will rise from the tomb.
The grave is the place of the future resurrection, and therefore it is necessary to keep it clean and tidy.
The cross on the grave of an Orthodox Christian is a silent preacher of blessed immortality and resurrection. Planted in the ground and rising to heaven, it marks the belief of Christians that the body of the deceased is here in the earth, and the soul is in heaven, that under the cross is hidden a seed that grows for eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
The cross on the grave is placed at the feet of the deceased so that the Crucifix is ​​facing the face of the deceased.
It is necessary to take special care that the cross on the grave does not look askance, it is always painted, clean and well-groomed.
A simple, modest cross made of metal or wood more befits the grave of an Orthodox Christian than expensive monuments and tombstones made of granite and marble.

How to behave in a cemetery?

Arriving at the cemetery, you need to light a candle, make a lithium (this is a word in literally means intense prayer. To perform the rite of lithium in commemoration of the dead, a priest must be invited. A shorter rite that a layman can perform is given below “The rite of lithium performed by a layman at home and in a cemetery”).
Optionally, you can read an akathist about the repose of the dead.
Then clean up the grave or just be silent, remember the deceased.
It is not necessary to eat or drink at the cemetery, it is especially unacceptable to pour vodka into the grave mound - this offends the memory of the deceased. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread “for the deceased” on the grave is a relic of paganism and should not be observed in Orthodox families.
It is not necessary to leave food on the grave, it is better to give it to the beggar or the hungry.

How to commemorate the dead on Radonitsa in 2019?

“Let us try, as much as possible, to help the departed, instead of tears, instead of sobs, instead of magnificent tombs, with our prayers, alms and offerings for them, so that in this way both they and we will receive the promised blessings,” writes St. John Chrysostom.
Prayer for the departed is the greatest and most important thing that we can do for those who have departed to another world.
By by and large, the deceased does not need a coffin or a monument - all this is a tribute to traditions, albeit pious ones.
But the eternally living soul of the deceased feels a great need for our constant prayer, because she herself cannot do good deeds with which she would be able to propitiate God.
That is why prayer at home for loved ones, prayer at the cemetery at the grave of the deceased is the duty of every Orthodox Christian.
Commemoration in the Church provides special assistance to the deceased.
Before visiting the cemetery, one of the relatives should come to the temple at the beginning of the service, submit a note with the name of the deceased for commemoration in the altar (it is best if this is a commemoration on the proskomedia, when a piece is taken out of the special prosphora for the deceased, and then in the sign of the ablution of his sins will be lowered into the Chalice with the Holy Gifts).
After the liturgy, a memorial service should be served.
Prayer will be more effective if the one who commemorates this day himself partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ.
On certain days of the year, the Church commemorates all fathers and brethren who have passed away from time immemorial, who were honored with a Christian death, as well as those who were overtaken by sudden death, were not sent to the afterlife by the prayers of the Church.
Panikhidas that are performed on such days are called ecumenical, and the days themselves are called ecumenical parental Saturdays. All of them do not have a fixed number, but are associated with the passing Lent-Paschal cycle.
These are the days:
1. Saturday- eight days before the start of Lent, on the eve of the Week of the Last Judgment.
2. Saturdays- on the second, third and fourth weeks of Lent.
3. Trinity parent Saturday- on the eve of the day of the Holy Trinity, on the ninth day after the Ascension.
On the eve of each of these days, special all-night vigils for the dead - parastases are served in churches, and after the liturgy there are ecumenical memorial services.
In addition to these general church days, the Russian Orthodox Church has established some more, namely:
4. Radonitsa (Radunitsa)- Easter commemoration of the dead, happens in the second week after Easter, on Tuesday.
5. Dimitriev parental Saturday- a day of special commemoration of the killed soldiers, originally established in memory of the Battle of Kulikovo, and later became a day of prayer for all Orthodox soldiers and military leaders. It happens on the Saturday preceding the eighth of November - the day of memory of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica.
6. Commemoration of the dead warriors- April 26 (May 9, new style).
In addition to these days of church-wide commemoration, every deceased Orthodox Christian should be commemorated annually on the days of his birth, death, on his name day. Very helpful in memorable days donate to the church, give alms to the poor with a request to pray for the dead.

Prayer for the Lost Christian

Remember, Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the life of your eternally reposed servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Humane, forgive sins, and consume iniquities, weaken, leave and forgive all his voluntary sins and involuntary, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good, prepared for those who love You: if you sin, but do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your God in the Trinity glorified, faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him the same, and faith, even in Thee instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as if Generous rest: there is no man who lives and does not sin. But Thou art One except for all sin, and Thy truth, truth forever, and Thou art the One God of mercies and generosity, and love of mankind, and to Thee we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Widower's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart, I pray to You: God rest the soul of Your deceased servant (name), in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Lord Almighty! You have blessed the matrimonial union of husband and wife, when you said: it is not good to be a single man, we will make him an assistant for him. You sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, Lord, and I confess that you have blessed you to combine and me with this holy union with one of Your servants. Thy good and wise will deigned to take away from me this Thy servant, and gave it to me, as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before this Thy will, and I pray to Thee with all my heart, accept this prayer for Thy servant (name), and forgive her, if you sin in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; love the earthly more than the heavenly; more about the clothes and adornment of his body, he cares more than about the enlightenment of the clothes of his soul; or even more carelessly about your children; if you grieve someone by word or deed; if you scold your neighbor in your heart, or condemn someone or something else from such evil deeds. Forgive her all this, as good and philanthropic: as if there is a person who will live and not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, as Your creation, do not condemn me by her sin to eternal torment, but have mercy and mercy according to Your great mercy. I pray and ask Thee, Lord, grant me strength for all the days of my life, without ceasing to pray for the departed Thy servant, and even before the death of my belly, ask her from Thee, the Judge of the whole world, for the remission of her sins. Yes, as you, O God, put on her head a crown from an honest stone, crowning her here on earth; so crown me with Your eternal glory in Your Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints rejoicing there, and together with them forever sing the all-holy your name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Widow's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are crying consolation, orphans and widows intercession. Thou didst say: Call upon Me in the day of thy affliction, and I will destroy thee. In the days of my sorrow, I resort to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer, brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Lord of all, deigned to combine me with one of Your servants, in which we should have one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant, as a partner and protector. Thy good and wise will deigned to take this Thy servant away from me and leave me alone. I bow before this Thy will and resort to Thee in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about being separated from Thy servant, my friend. If you took him away from me, not taken from me by Your mercy. As if you once took two mites to the widow, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of your deceased servant (name), forgive him all his sins, free and involuntary, if in word, if in deed, if in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not betray him to eternal torment, but by Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy mercies, weaken and forgive all his sins and commit him with Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask Thee, Lord, grant me all the days of my life not to stop praying for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, for the abandonment of all his sins and his settlement in Heavenly abodes, even if you have prepared for those who love Tya. Like if you sin, but do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even to the last breath of confession; the same, his faith, even in Thee, instead of deeds, he is imputed: as if a person is not, who will be alive and will not sin, You are one except for sin, and Your truth is truth forever. I believe, Lord, and I confess that You hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from me. Seeing the widow, weeping greenery, having mercy, her son, to the burial of the bear, resurrected you: so having mercy, calm my sorrow. As if you opened the doors of Your mercy to Your servant Theophilus, who departed to You, and forgave him his sins through the prayers of Your Holy Church, listening to the prayers and alms of his wife: I pray to You, accept my prayer for Your servant and bring him into eternal life. Like you are our hope. You are God, to have mercy and save, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer of parents for the dead children

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Master of life and death, Comforter of those who mourn! With a contrite and touched heart, I resort to You and pray to You: remember. Lord, in your Kingdom, your deceased servant (your servant), my child (name), and create eternal memory for him (her). You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. Thy good and wise will was pleased to take it away from me. Blessed be thy name, Lord. I pray to Thee, Judge of heaven and earth, with Thy infinite love for us sinners, forgive my departed child all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, even in word, even in deed, even in knowledge and ignorance. Forgive, Merciful, and our parental sins, may they not abide on our children: we know, as if we have sinned against Thee by a multitude, we have not kept a multitude, we have not created, as thou hast commanded us. But if our deceased child, ours or his own for the sake of guilt, was in this life, working for the world and his flesh, and not more than You, the Lord and your God: if you love the delights of this world, and not more than Your Word and Your commandments, if you betrayed sweetness of life, and not more than repentance of our sins, and in intemperance I betrayed vigil, fasting and prayer to oblivion - I pray you earnestly, forgive me, O good Father, my child, all such sins of his, forgive and weaken, if you do something else evil in this life . Christ Jesus! You resurrected the daughter of Jairus by the faith and prayer of her father. You healed the daughter of a Canaanite wife by faith and the petition of her mother: hear my prayer, and do not despise my prayer for my child. Forgive me, Lord, forgive all his sins and, having forgiven and cleansed his soul, take away eternal torment and instill with all Your saints, who have pleased You from time immemorial, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: as if there is a person who He will live and will not sin, but Thou art the only one except for all sin: yes, whenever you have to judge the world, my child will hear Your most exalted voice: come, blessed of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Like you are the Father of mercies and bounty. You are our life and resurrection, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

This is an old Russian Orthodox holiday marked on greater territory Russia on the second day after St. Thomas' week (Sunday) or, in church language, "on Tuesday of the second week after Easter." It was also celebrated on Monday of the second week, but this tradition is almost not preserved today.

This is the first commemoration of the dead after Great Easter has deep roots going back to Slavic antiquity. The custom of the Slavs to come to cemeteries and commemorate their ancestors was accepted by the Orthodox Church and supported by a day specially allotted for this. St. John Chrysostom testified that this holiday was celebrated in the cemeteries of Orthodox Christians as early as the 4th century. According to popular beliefs, on this day the dead rise invisibly from their graves, attend the memorial mass, break their fast after fasting at the memorial meal and rejoice that children remember and honor them. Hence the name of the holiday - Radonitsa. And, on the contrary, they grieve and even cry if the children did not come to the cemetery that day and, therefore, did not remember them.

Parent's day, or Easter for the souls of dead people - great religious holiday, on this day of commemoration of the dead takes place on ancient traditions and has a special sign. The Orthodox Church has not set a specific date for this holiday, it is celebrated on the 9th day of Easter, or rather on Tuesday of the second week after Easter, which in some regions of the country is also called St. Thomas' week. In 2015, Radonitsa is scheduled for April 21. Over the years, the main tradition of the holiday has been formed - visiting the cemetery and commemorating deceased relatives. That's why they call it Parent's Day. Previously, there was a tradition to celebrate this holiday on Monday, but later in the 19th century these two days merged together, and Tuesday became the only day of the bright Radonitsa.

Sorokoust about repose

This type of commemoration of the dead can be ordered at any hour - there are no restrictions on this either. During Great Lent, when a full liturgy is performed much less often, in a number of churches commemoration is practiced this way - in the altar, during the entire fast, all the names in the notes are read and, if they serve the liturgy, then they take out the particles. It is only necessary to remember that those baptized in Orthodox faith people, as in the notes submitted to the proskomedia, are allowed to enter the names of only the baptized deceased.

Where did the name of the holiday come from?

Since this holiday has its roots deep in antiquity (the first mention of a special day of commemoration of the dead was subsidized by the 4th century, according to the assurances of St. John Chrysostom), the name of this holiday also came to us from those distant times. Since ancient times, Radonitsy and Triznami were called deities who are the guardians of the souls of deceased people. By praying to these deities, people showed their reverence for the dead. As a sign of boundless respect for the memory of those who are no longer on this earth, the Slavs brought generous gifts to the Radonitsy, arranged grandiose feasts on burial mounds, so that souls who had not yet had time to fly away could watch these actions and understand the power of respect shown to them alive. In paganism, this day fell on spring months and was called Navi day (Navi is an obsolete name for the dead). Gradually, "trizna" became the designation of a commemoration, and the word "radonitsa" began to be used as a name spring day when people carry out the commemoration of the dead. Spring as a season of the year is not chosen by chance. It is very important to appease the dead just when nature awakens from its dead winter sleep.

There is also a version that the word "radonitsa" comes from the word "rejoice." From time immemorial, on this day, it is not customary to mourn the death of loved ones, but to rejoice that they once lived on Earth and left their mark on it and in the hearts of people and the fact that they are now reborn in another life, eternal life. Also, this word is associated with the joy of the resurrection of Christ.

Other names for this sacred day- Radanitsa, Radunitsa, Radovnitsa.

The history of the Radonitsa holiday

This holiday, according to the testimony of St. John Chrysostom, was already celebrated in the 4th century in all territories inhabited by Orthodox Christians. On this day, they came to the cemeteries and arranged feasts. On this day, the pagans also visited the graves of their loved ones, asking them to protect their families from evil, to give them well-being and happiness. They left all sorts of food in the cemeteries, and poured wine over the graves of the dead. It was from those times that the tradition appeared to celebrate Radonitsa precisely in the spring and precisely after the feast of the Great Easter. This day is marked by the victory over death, which was won by the resurrection of Christ. On Radonitsa, it is customary to cast aside all the inconsolability and sorrow associated with the imminent death of loved ones and relatives, and think that they have found eternal life in the Kingdom of God, and the one living on Earth will sooner or later meet the deceased in another life.

The indestructible psalter of repose

The indestructible Psalter is read not only about health, but also about repose. From ancient times, the ordering of a commemoration on the Unsleeping Psalter is considered a great almsgiving for the departed soul.

It is also good to order the Indestructible Psalter for yourself, support will be vividly felt. And one more crucial moment, but by no means the least important
There is an eternal commemoration on the Indestructible Psalter. It seems expensive, but the result is more than a million times more than the money spent. If this is still not possible, then you can order for a shorter period. It's also good to read for yourself.

Customs and traditions of Radonitsa

On this day, it is customary to celebrate Easter on the graves of the dead. On Radonitsa, people bring to the cemetery everything that is usually prepared for Easter: Easter cakes and colored eggs. Many people have taken it as a tradition to visit the cemetery on Easter, but this is contrary to Christian canons. According to church customs, it is forbidden to commemorate the dead until the tenth day after Easter. On Easter it is customary to rejoice, because this day marks the victory over death. The Great Resurrection of Christ should be a time of exceptional joy and boundless happiness for Christians. If it happens that a person dies on this bright holiday, he is buried according to a special Easter rite.

But on Radonitsa you can’t grieve for the untimely departed loved ones. This is the only day of the year, it is customary to rejoice that relatives and close people have received rebirth in another life, eternal life. After all, the word "radonitsa" comes from the word "rejoice."

On the day of Radonitsa, it is customary to visit the Orthodox Church, where the sacred liturgy takes place on this day. Be sure to submit a memorial note and light a candle. Be sure to pray for the departed, to wish them eternal life. After that, it is necessary to visit the graves of relatives and friends, clean up there, take out all the garbage and have a meal with Easter gifts. Many people have a tradition of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread on the graves. This is fundamentally wrong. The custom of leaving food and alcohol on the graves of the dead was among the pagans, the church does not accept the use of alcohol, so leaving alcohol on the grave, and even more so drinking at the cemetery, is strictly prohibited. The rest of the food is better to give to the poor or hungry, in general, to those who really need it.

There is a certain rite, which, according to healers, can make it easier for a soul who has left this world to stay in the afterlife. It is recommended to spend on Radonitsa. Buy 12 candles from the church. They must be the same size. Put a photo of the deceased on the table, light all the candles and, looking at the photo, cross yourself and say out loud the conspiracy 3 times:

“Lord, have mercy on the soul of the sinful servant (s) of Your (her) (name of the deceased), do not leave him (her) to be torn apart by demons and damned devils, do not let the fuel into the cauldron, be merciful and forgive her all sins. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

After that, put out the candles and put the photo where it always stood.

There is a saying: "They plow on Radonitsa in the morning, cry in the afternoon, and jump in the evening." According to this saying, it is customary to start gardening work on Radonitsa. After hard work, people should visit the church, go to the cemetery, and have fun in the evening.

Even in pre-Christian times, the place of burial began to be marked by the device of a small hill on the grave. The Church adopted this tradition and supplemented it. Now Christians all over the world decorate the hill with the Holy Life-Giving Cross. It is a symbol of blessed immortality and resurrection. Stored deep in the earth, the body of the deceased personifies the seed that now grows in the kingdom of eternal life. The upwardly aspiring cross shows that the soul from the earth aspires to heaven, to the Highest Kingdom of God. And on Radonitsa it is customary to rejoice that a person, even having found eternal peace, remains a member of the Church of God.

So, we have already figured out that it is customary to clean up the graves on Radonitsa and celebrate the Great Easter holiday together with the deceased loved ones and relatives. Easter is considered the day when death is not something terrible for Christians. On the day of Easter, the Son of God was resurrected, therefore for all Orthodox this day became a sign that death has no power over the soul of a believer, and sooner or later we will all be reborn in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, on Radonitsa it is customary to bring colored eggs and Easter cakes to the cemetery, which are customary to cook for Easter. Thus, we celebrate this bright feast of the Resurrection of the Lord at the cemetery, so that our loved ones who have gone to another world can also rejoice at this holiday.

Among the people, the week on which Radonitsa falls is usually called Wired or Fomina. There is an opinion among Christians that on Easter the Lord releases the souls of the dead, and people still living on Earth escort them to their graves. Since ancient times, it was customary to dance in Radonitsa and sing songs loudly after making an obligatory trip to the cemetery. Throughout the Wire Week in old times women prepared food in the evenings and left it overnight in the hope that the dead relatives and relatives, starving for long winter, will definitely come to the house where they used to live and taste the treats given to them as a sign of respect and eternal memory. “Do not treat the honor-honor of the deceased parent about Radonitsa - no one in the next world will remember, treat, or please,” says human belief.

The traditional food that is customary to bring for Easter on the day of Radonitsa is a memorial kutia, Easter eggs, pies, Easter cakes, pancakes and much more. Before starting the memorial meal, people spread a tablecloth near the grave, cover and christen with the deceased. At the end, many leave eggs, pies and Easter cakes on the graves. It is better, of course, to give food to the poor and needy. After that, it is customary, upon returning home, to continue the meal and start fun and festivities.

Commemoration at the Divine Liturgy (Church note)

Those who have health are remembered christian names, and about the repose - only those baptized in the Orthodox Church.

Notes can be submitted to the liturgy:

At the proskomedia - the first part of the liturgy, when for each name indicated in the note, particles are taken out of special prosphora, which are subsequently lowered into the Blood of Christ with a prayer for the forgiveness of sins

The call of the rain

In many villages there used to be interesting tradition: all the village children went out on Tuesday St. Thomas' week early in the morning and called the first spring rain. If it started to rain that day, both the old and the young would go outside and wash themselves with the first drops of rain. It was believed that it brings happiness and prosperity to the family. If it happened that thunder roared and lightning flashed, women and young girls washed themselves with rain through golden rings. This contributed to the preservation of beauty, health, charm and youth.

And on Saturday of St. Thomas' week, all village women, regardless of age, armed themselves with brooms, brooms, tongs and pokers and went to the gardens. They ran across the barely thawed earth and shouted out all sorts of curses to death. So they tried to protect themselves from adversity. It was believed that the stronger and longer they drove away death, the less disease came to their homes throughout the next year. And for the same rite in the cemetery, knives were used. People believed that running around the cemetery and shouting phrases like "Run evil spirits!”, they alleviated the fate of people who, after death, ended up in a country where all sorts of evil spirits rampaged.

On Sunday of St. Thomas' week, it was customary to employ women who would work in the fields and pastures for the coming summer.

In some regions of Russia, it was customary to make a home and church commemoration on Radonitsa. Visiting cemeteries was not accepted. In the north-east of Russia and in Belarus (some regions), people on this day heated a bathhouse, prepared brooms and basins. They themselves did not bathe in the baths that day. Ashes scattered on the floor of the bath, and in the morning of the next day people hurried to the bath to see the traces of the dead, who were supposed to come to wash after hibernation.

In the Chernihiv region, it was customary on the day of Radonitsa to sprinkle the windowsill with small bread crumbs and put a glass of water. So people lured the souls of dead relatives and friends into their homes. After that, all kinds of dishes were left on the table, denoting breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Ukraine and Belarus, there is still a custom according to which people washed themselves in a bathhouse on the evening of Radonitsa, performing the so-called “cleansing ceremony”. In some regions, there was a ban on washing in the bath from the day Good Friday until Tuesday of St. Thomas' week.

I must say that in Soviet times, when Christians were persecuted, people did not have the opportunity to attend churches and celebrated Easter right in the cemeteries. Hence the tradition of coming to the graves of the dead on Easter. But in many regions of Russia, they believe that it is impossible to commemorate the dead before Radonitsa.

A large number of sayings and signs are associated with the Great Radonitsa. At the first appearance of a warm sun on Fomin's week, they said: "Parents from the graves breathed warmly." There is a belief that it is necessary to plant seeds in the ground and, in general, to carry out sowing work after the celebration of Radonitsa. If a person did not prepare festive food, he was told “Do not treat the honor-honor of the deceased parent about Radonitsa - no one in the next world will remember, treat, or please.”

The word "Radonitsa" comes from the words "kind" and "joy" - the joy that relatives have found eternal life. This is a holiday, and it obliges Christians to rejoice, and not fall into worries about the death of loved ones.

On the eve of Radonitsa, “BG” talked with a clergyman of the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Brest, a priest Dimitry Nagnibeda about how to properly celebrate this holiday.

- What is the meaning of Orthodox Christians in the holiday of Radonitsa?

- How to commemorate the dead on Radonitsa?

- Is it possible to bring food, Easter eggs and leave them on the graves? Is it allowed to drink alcohol in the cemetery on this day?

- From a church position, commemoration with alcohol is unacceptable. Yes, and eating at the cemetery is some kind of paganism. It was introduced in Soviet time when it was necessary to replace religion with some kind of ideology. Then they began to bring a glass and bread to the deceased, as if he were sharing a meal with you. But for a believer, the most important meal is the Eucharist (communion - approx. ed.), not a glass, and so on.

- If I come to your birthday, I will bring you fresh flowers. If I bring artificial ones, you will be offended by me. For a believer, life does not end with a coffin. We believe that the deceased lives in another world. How can we go to him with artificial flowers?! Of course, we will go to him with fresh flowers. Living flowers are a symbol of the fact that I believe that I am going to a living person, and not to a dead one.

– How to invite a priest for commemoration? What to do if relatives are buried in several cemeteries?

– There are several cemeteries in Brest. There are three days set aside for the consecration of graves - Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Priests organized. At noon in the cemeteries, all the priests together first serve the funeral litiya, and then disperse into sectors. People who are standing at the grave see the priest and may invite him to bless the grave. At the same time, we must not forget about respect for our neighbors - both the living and the dead. The priest will approach everyone in turn, you just need to be patient. Priests are in the cemetery as long as there are people.

“You have to pay for the fact that a priest reads a prayer in a cemetery. If a person does not have such an opportunity, will the priest agree to do this without money?

The church exists on donations. And this concerns not only Radonitsa. Yes, there is a recommended donation amount, which hangs on the icon shop. What is it calculated from? Church pays public utilities, there is a staff of workers who also need to pay a salary. An ordinary secular accountant sits and calculates on a calculator how much it would be desirable to receive donations for notes, candles, and so on, in order to be enough for the needs of the church. If a person has no money, they will still take a note from him, no one will kick you out. The same applies to the sacrifice for the consecration of the grave. Everyone donates according to their abilities!

- Is it possible to clean the grave on Radonitsa?

- Radonitsa - these are the days of the festival. We should celebrate and rejoice, not work. We teach that people should not work on the days of the holiday. We prepare for the holidays in advance, just like the graves must be cleaned in advance.

- Why is it not customary to go to the cemetery on Easter?

- Firstly, a trip to the cemetery leaves some kind of imprint: mournful thoughts arise. To prevent them on this day (at Easter - approx. ed.), the church and established the commemoration of the dead. Secondly, no funeral services are performed during the Bright Week, so it is no coincidence that the feast of Radonitsa is celebrated on the Tuesday after Bright Week.

REMEMBER OF THE DEAD

P why do people die?

- “God did not create death and does not rejoice in the perishing of the living, for He created everything for existence” (Wisdom 1:13-14). Death appeared as a result of the fall of the first people. “Righteousness is immortal, but unrighteousness causes death: the wicked drew her with both hands and words, considered her a friend and withered away, and made an alliance with her, for they are worthy to be her lot” (Wisdom 1:15-16).

To understand the question of mortality, it is necessary to distinguish between spiritual and bodily death. Spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God, Who for the soul is the Source of eternal joyful being. This death is the most terrible consequence of the fall of man. A person gets rid of it in Baptism.

Although bodily death after Baptism remains in a person, it acquires a different meaning. From punishment, it becomes the door to paradise (for people who not only were baptized, but also lived pleasing to God), and it is already called “dormition”.

What happens to the soul after death?

According to Church Tradition, based on the words of Christ, the souls of the righteous are angels on the eve of paradise, where they stay until the Last Judgment, waiting for eternal bliss: “The poor man died, and was carried by angels into the bosom of Abraham” (Luke 16:22). The souls of sinners fall into the hands of demons and are "in hell, in torment" (see Luke 16:23). The final division into the saved and the condemned will take place at the Last Judgment, when “many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to eternal life, others to eternal reproach and shame” (Dan. 12:2). Christ in the parable of the Last Judgment speaks in detail that sinners who did not do works of mercy will be condemned, and the righteous who did such works will be justified: “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt. 25 :46).

What do the 3rd, 9th, 40th days after the death of a person mean? What needs to be done these days?

Holy Tradition proclaims to us from the words of the holy ascetics of faith and piety about the mystery of the test of the soul after it has departed from the body. For the first two days, the soul of a deceased person is still on earth and, with the Angel accompanying her, walks to those places that attract her with the memory of earthly joys and sorrows, good deeds and evil ones. So the soul spends the first two days, on the third day the Lord, in the image of His three-day Resurrection, commands the soul to ascend to heaven to worship Him - the God of all. On this day, the church commemoration of the soul of the deceased, who appeared before God, is timely.

Then the soul, accompanied by an Angel, enters the heavenly abodes and contemplates their inexpressible beauty. The soul stays in this state for six days - from the third to the ninth. On the ninth day, the Lord commands the Angels to again present the soul to Him for worship. With fear and trembling, the soul stands before the Throne of the Most High. But even at this time, the Holy Church again prays for the deceased, asking the Merciful Judge for the repose of the soul of the deceased with the saints.

After the second worship of the Lord, the angels take the soul to hell, and she contemplates the cruel torments of unrepentant sinners. On the fortieth day after death, the soul ascends to the Throne of God for the third time. Now her fate is being decided - she is assigned a certain place, which she was honored by her deeds. That's why it's so timely church prayers and commemoration on this day. They ask for the forgiveness of sins and the placement of the soul of the deceased in paradise with the saints. These days the Church performs requiems and litias.

The commemoration of the deceased on the 3rd day after his death, the Church performs in honor of the three-day Resurrection of Jesus Christ and in the image Holy Trinity. Commemoration on the 9th day is performed in honor of the nine ranks of angels, who, as servants of the King of Heaven and intercessors to Him, intercede for mercy on the deceased. Commemoration on the 40th day, according to the tradition of the apostles, is based on the forty-day crying of the Israelites about the death of Moses. In addition, it is known that the forty-day period is very significant in the history and Tradition of the Church as the time necessary for preparation, acceptance of a special Divine gift, for receiving the grace-filled help of the Heavenly Father. So, the prophet Moses was honored to talk with God on Mount Sinai and receive the tablets of the Law from Him only after a forty-day fast. The prophet Elijah reached Mount Horeb after forty days. The Israelites reached the promised land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself ascended into heaven on the fortieth day after His Resurrection. Taking all this as a basis, the Church established a commemoration of the dead on the 40th day after their death, so that the soul of the deceased ascended the holy mountain of Heavenly Sinai, was rewarded with the sight of God, achieved the blessedness promised to her and settled in heavenly villages with the righteous.

On all these days, it is very important to order the commemoration of the deceased in the Church by submitting notes for commemoration at the Liturgy and Panikhida.

What soul does not go through ordeals after death?

It is known from Holy Tradition that even the Mother of God, having received a notice from the archangel Gabriel about the approaching hour of Her relocation to heaven, bowed down before the Lord, humbly implored Him that, at the hour of the exodus of Her soul, she would not see the prince of darkness and hellish monsters, but so that the Lord Himself would receive Her soul into His Divine embrace. It is all the more useful for the sinful human race to think not about who does not go through ordeals, but about how to go through them, and do everything to cleanse the conscience, correct life according to the commandments of God. “The essence of everything: fear God and keep His commandments, because this is everything for a person; for God will bring every work into judgment, and every secret thing, whether it be good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

What is the concept of heaven?

Paradise is not so much a place as a state of mind; just as hell is suffering resulting from the inability to love and non-participation in the Divine light, so paradise is the bliss of the soul, resulting from an excess of love and light, to which one who is united with Christ fully and completely partakes. This is not contradicted by the fact that paradise is described as a place with various "mansions" and "halls"; all descriptions of paradise are only attempts to express in human language that which is inexpressible and transcends the human mind.

In the Bible, "paradise" refers to the garden where God placed man; the same word in the ancient church tradition called the future bliss of people redeemed and saved by Christ. It is also called the "Kingdom of Heaven", "the life of the age to come", "the eighth day", "new heaven", "heavenly Jerusalem". The Holy Apostle John the Theologian says: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Iya, John, saw the holy city of Jerusalem, new, descending from God from heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them; they will be His people, and God Himself with them will be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death; there will be no more mourning, no outcry, no sickness, for the former has passed away. And He who sits on the throne said: Behold, I make all things new... I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; thirsty ladies for free from the source of living water ... And he lifted me up (angel) in the spirit to the great and high mountain and showed me great city, holy Jerusalem, which descended from heaven from God. He has the glory of God... I did not see a temple in him, for the Lord God Almighty is his temple, and the Lamb. And the city has no need of either the sun or the moon for its illumination; for the glory of God hath illumined him, and his lamp is the Lamb. The saved nations will walk in its light... And nothing unclean will enter into it, and no one given over to abomination and falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:1-6,10,22-24 ,27). This is the earliest description of paradise in Christian literature.

When reading the descriptions of paradise found in theological literature, it is necessary to keep in mind that many Church Fathers speak of the paradise they saw, into which they were raptured by the power of the Holy Spirit. In all descriptions of paradise, it is emphasized that earthly words can only to a small extent depict heavenly beauty, since it is "inexpressible" and surpasses human comprehension. It also speaks of the "many mansions" of paradise (John 14:2), that is, of different degrees of blessedness. “Some (God) will honor with great honors, others with less,” says St. Basil the Great, “because “star differs from star in glory” (1 Cor. 15:41). And since there are “many mansions” with the Father, some will rest in a more excellent and higher state, and others in a lower one. However, for each of his "abode" will be the highest fullness of bliss available to him - in accordance with how close he is to God in earthly life. “All the saints who are in Paradise will see and know one another, but Christ will see and fill everyone,” says St. Simeon the New Theologian.

What is the concept of hell?

There is no person who is deprived of the love of God, and there is no place that is not part of this love; however, everyone who has made a choice in favor of evil, voluntarily deprives himself of God's mercy. Love, which for the righteous in paradise is a source of bliss and consolation, becomes a source of torment for sinners in hell, since they recognize themselves as not participating in love. In the words of St. Isaac, "Gehen torment is repentance."

According to the teachings of St. Simeon the New Theologian, the main reason for a person’s torment in hell is an acute feeling of separation from God: “None of the people who believe in You, Vladyka,” writes St. Simeon, “none of those who were baptized in Your name will endure this great and the terrible severity of separation from You, Merciful, because it is a terrible sorrow, unbearable, terrible and eternal sorrow. If on earth, says St. Simeon, those who do not partake of God have bodily pleasures, then there, outside the body, they will experience one unceasing torment. And all the images of hellish torments that exist in world literature - fire, cold, thirst, red-hot furnaces, lakes of fire, etc. - are only symbols of suffering, which comes from the fact that a person feels himself not involved in God.

For an Orthodox Christian, the idea of ​​hell and eternal torment is inextricably linked with the mystery that is revealed in worship. Holy Week and Pascha - the mystery of Christ's descent into hell and the deliverance of those who are there from the dominion of evil and death. The Church believes that after His death, Christ descended into the abysses of hell in order to abolish hell and death, to destroy the terrible kingdom of the devil. Just as having entered the waters of the Jordan at the moment of His Baptism, Christ sanctifies these waters filled with human sin, so when He descends into hell, He illuminates it with the light of His presence to the last depths and limits, so that hell can no longer endure the power of God and perishes. St. John Chrysostom in the Paschal catechumen says: “Hell was grieved when he met you at the bottom; grieved, for he was abolished; grieved because he was ridiculed; grieved, for he was put to death; grieved, for he was deposed." This does not mean that hell does not exist at all after the Resurrection of Christ: it exists, but the death sentence has already been passed on it.

Every Sunday, Orthodox Christians hear hymns dedicated to Christ’s victory over death: “The Angelic Cathedral was surprised, in vain you were imputed to the dead, but the mortal, Savior, ruined the fortress ... and freed all from hell” (liberating everyone from hell). Deliverance from hell, however, should not be understood as a magical action committed by Christ against the will of man: for those who consciously reject Christ and eternal life, hell continues to exist as the suffering and torment of God-forsakenness.

How do you deal with grief at the death of a loved one?

The sorrow of separation from the deceased can only be quenched by prayer for him. Christianity does not see death as the end. Death is the beginning of a new life, and earthly life is only a preparation for it. Man is created for eternity; in paradise he was nourished by the "tree of life" (Gen. 2:9) and was immortal. But after the fall, the path to the tree of life was blocked and man became mortal and corruptible.

But life does not end with death, the death of the body is not the death of the soul, the soul is immortal. Therefore, it is necessary to see off the soul of the deceased with prayer. “Do not betray your heart to sorrow; move it away from you, remembering the end. Do not forget about this, for there is no return; and you will not bring him any benefit, but you will harm yourself... With the repose of the deceased, calm the memory of him, and you will be comforted by him after the departure of his soul ”(Sir. 38:20-21,23).

What to do if, after the death of a loved one, the conscience torments about the wrong attitude towards him during his lifetime?

The voice of conscience accusing of guilt subsides and stops after sincere heartfelt repentance and confession before God to the priest of his sinfulness towards the deceased. It is important to remember that with God everyone is alive and the commandment of love applies to the dead as well. The deceased are in great need of the prayerful help of the living and the alms given for them. The one who loves will pray, do alms, submit church records for the repose of the dead, strive to live pleasing to God, so that God will show His mercy on them.

If you constantly remain in active concern for others, do good to them, then not only peace will be established in your soul, but deep satisfaction and joy.

What to do if a dead person is dreaming?

Dreams should not be ignored. However, one should not forget that the eternally living soul of the deceased feels a great need for constant prayer for her, because she herself can no longer do good deeds with which she would be able to propitiate God. Therefore, prayer in the temple and at home for the departed loved ones is the duty of every Orthodox Christian.

How many days are mourning for the deceased?

There is a tradition of forty days of mourning for a deceased loved one. According to the Tradition of the Church, on the fortieth day the soul of the deceased receives a certain place in which it will stay until the time of the Last Judgment of God. That is why, until the fortieth day, an intensified prayer is required for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased, and the external wearing of mourning is designed to promote internal concentration and attention to prayer, to keep from being actively involved in previous worldly affairs. But you can have a prayerful attitude without wearing black clothes. The internal is more important than the external.

Who is the newly-departed and ever-memorable?

In the church tradition, the deceased person is called the newly deceased within forty days after death. The first day is considered the day of death, even if the death occurred a few minutes before midnight. On the 40th day after the disciple of the Church, God (at the private judgment of the soul), determines its afterlife fate before the general doomsday prophetically promised by the Savior (see Matt. 25:31-46).

The ever-memorable is usually called a person after forty days after death. Ever-memorable - the word "ever" means - always. And the ever-memorable is always remembered, that is, the one that is always remembered and prayed for. In funeral notes, sometimes they write “the ever-memorable (oh)” before the name, when the next anniversary of the death of the deceased (s) is celebrated.

How is the last kiss of the deceased performed? Does it need to be baptized?

The farewell kissing of the deceased takes place after his funeral service in the temple. They kiss on the whisk placed on the forehead of the deceased, or kiss the icon in his hands. They are baptized at the same time on the icon.

What to do with the icon that was in the hands of the deceased during the funeral?

After the funeral of the deceased, the icon can be taken home, or left in the temple.

What can be done for the deceased if he was buried without a funeral?

If he was baptized in the Orthodox Church, then you need to come to the temple and order a funeral service in absentia, as well as order magpies, memorial services and pray for him at home.

How to help the deceased?

It is possible to alleviate the fate of the deceased if you make frequent prayers for him and give alms. It is good to work for the Church in memory of the deceased, for example, in a monastery.

What is the purpose of commemorating the dead?

Prayer for those who have passed from temporary life to eternal life is ancient tradition Church consecrated for centuries. Leaving the body, a person leaves visible world, but he does not leave the Church, but remains a member of it, and it is the duty of those who remain on earth to pray for him. The Church believes that prayer facilitates the posthumous fate of a person. As long as a person is alive, he is able to repent of sins and do good. But after death, this possibility disappears, only hope for the prayers of the living remains. After the death of the body and a private judgment, the soul is on the eve of eternal bliss or eternal torment. It depends on how the brief earthly life was lived. But much also depends on prayer for the deceased. The lives of the holy saints of God contain many examples of how, through the prayer of the righteous, the posthumous fate of sinners was eased - up to their complete justification.

Can the dead be cremated?

Cremation is a custom alien to Orthodoxy, borrowed from Eastern cults and spread as a norm in a secular (non-religious) society during the Soviet period. Therefore, the relatives of the deceased, at the slightest opportunity to avoid cremation, should prefer the burial of the deceased in the ground. AT holy books there is no prohibition to burn the bodies of the dead, but there are positive indications of Christian doctrine for a different way of burying bodies - this is their burial in the ground (see: Gen. 3:19; John 5:28; Matt. 27:59-60). This method of burial, adopted by the Church from the very beginning of its existence and sanctified by it by special rites, stands in connection with the entire Christian worldview and with its very essence - faith in the resurrection of the dead. According to the strength of this faith, burial in the ground is an image of the temporary sleep of the deceased, for whom the grave in the bowels of the earth is the natural bed of rest and which is why the Church calls the deceased (and in the worldly - the deceased) until the resurrection. And if the burial of the bodies of the dead instills and strengthens the Christian faith in the resurrection, then the burning of the dead is easily related to the anti-Christian doctrine of non-existence.

The Gospel describes the rite of burial of the Lord Jesus Christ, which consisted in the washing of His Most Pure Body, putting on special burial clothes and being placed in a tomb (Matt. 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; 16:1; Luke 23:53 ; 24:1; John 19:39-42). The same actions are supposed to be performed on the departed Christians at the present time.

Cremation may be allowed in exceptional cases, when there is no way to bring the body of the deceased to the ground.

Is it true that on the 40th day the commemoration of the deceased must be ordered in three churches at once, or in one, but three services in succession?

Immediately after death, it is customary to order a magpie in the Church. This is a daily enhanced commemoration of the newly deceased during the first forty days - until a private judgment that determines the fate of the soul beyond the grave. After forty days, it is good to order an annual commemoration and then renew it every year. You can also order a longer-term commemoration in monasteries. There is a pious custom - to order a commemoration in several monasteries and temples (their number does not matter). The more prayer books for the deceased, the better.

What is eve?

Kanun (or eve) is a special table of square or rectangular shape, on which stands the Cross with the Crucifixion and holes for candles are arranged. Panikhidas are served before the eve. Here you can put candles and put products to commemorate the dead.

Why do you need to bring food to the temple?

Believers bring various products to the temple so that the servants of the Church commemorate the dead at the meal. These offerings serve as a donation, almsgiving for the deceased. In the old days, in the courtyard of the house where the deceased was, on the most significant days for the soul (3rd, 9th, 40th), memorial tables were laid, at which the poor, the homeless, orphans were fed, so that there were many prayer books for the deceased. For prayer, and especially for almsgiving, many sins are forgiven, and the afterlife is alleviated. Then these commemorative tables began to be placed in churches on the days of the ecumenical commemoration of all Christians who have died for centuries with the same purpose - to commemorate the dead.

What foods can be put on the eve?

Products can be anything. It is forbidden to bring meat into the temple.

What commemoration of the dead is the most important?

Prayers at the Liturgy have special power. The Church prays for all the dead, including those in hell. One of the kneeling prayers read on the feast of Pentecost contains a petition "for those who are kept in hell" and that the Lord rest them "in a place of light." The Church believes that through the prayers of the living, God can ease the afterlife of the dead, delivering them from torment and honoring them with salvation with the saints.

Therefore, it is necessary in the coming days after death to order a magpie in the temple, that is, a commemoration at forty Liturgies: the Bloodless Sacrifice is offered forty times for the deceased, a particle is removed from the prosphora and immersed in the Blood of Christ with a prayer for the forgiveness of the sins of the newly deceased. This is a feat of love for the fullness of the Orthodox Church in the person of a priest who celebrates the Liturgy for the sake of the people commemorated at the proskomedia. This is the most necessary thing that can be done for the soul of the deceased.

What is Parents' Saturday?

On certain Sabbath days of the year, the Church commemorates all formerly deceased Christians. Panikhidas that are performed on such days are called ecumenical, and the days themselves are called ecumenical parental Saturdays. In the morning at parent Saturdays during the Liturgy, all formerly deceased Christians are commemorated. On the eve of parental Saturday, on Friday evening, parastas is served (translated from the Greek as “standing”, “intercession”, “intercession”) - the following of a great memorial service for all the departed Orthodox Christians.

When are Parents' Saturdays?

Almost all parental Saturdays do not have a fixed date, but are associated with the passing day of the celebration of Easter. Saturday meat-fare happens eight days before the start of Lent. Parent Saturdays are on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Great Lent. Trinity parental Saturday - on the eve of the day of the Holy Trinity, on the ninth day after the Ascension. On the Saturday preceding the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (November 8, according to the new style), Demetrius' Parents' Saturday takes place.

Is it possible to pray for repose after parental Saturday?

Yes, it is possible and necessary to pray for the repose of the dead even after parental Saturdays. This is the duty of the living to the dead and an expression of love for them. The deceased themselves can no longer help themselves, they cannot bring the fruits of repentance, do alms. This is evidenced by the gospel parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Death is not a departure into non-existence, but the continuation of the existence of the soul in eternity, with all its features, infirmities and passions. Therefore, the departed (except for the saints glorified by the Church) need prayerful commemoration.

Saturdays (except Great Saturday, Saturdays on bright week and Sabbaths coinciding with the Twelfth, Great and Temple Feasts), in church calendar By tradition, they are considered days of purely commemoration of the dead. But you can pray for the dead, submit notes in the temple on any day of the year, even when, according to the charter of the Church, memorial services are not served, in this case the names of the dead are commemorated in the altar.

What other days of commemoration of the dead are there?

Radonitsa - nine days after Easter, on Tuesday after Bright Week. On Radonitsa, they share the joy of the Lord's Resurrection with the departed, expressing hope for their resurrection. The Savior Himself descended into hell to preach victory over death and brought the souls of the Old Testament righteous from there. From this great spiritual joy, the day of this commemoration is called "radonitsa", or "radonitsa".

Special commemoration of all the deceased during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. established by the Church on May 9. The soldiers killed on the battlefield are also commemorated on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist on September 11, according to the new style.

Is it necessary on the anniversary of death close relative go to the cemetery?

The main days of the memory of the deceased are the anniversaries of death and name day. On the anniversary of the death of the deceased, relatives close to him pray for him, thereby expressing the belief that the day of a person’s death is not a day of destruction, but a new birth for eternal life; the day of the transition of the immortal human soul to other conditions of life, where there is no longer any place for earthly diseases, sorrows and sighs.

On this day, it is good to visit the cemetery, but first you should come to the temple at the beginning of the service, submit a note with the name of the deceased for commemoration at the altar (it is better if it is a commemoration at the proskomedia), at a memorial service and, if possible, pray at the service.

Is it necessary to go to the cemetery on Easter, Trinity, Holy Spirit Day?

Sunday and holidays should be spent in prayer in the temple of God, and to visit the cemetery there are special days commemoration of the deceased - parental Saturdays, Radonitsa, as well as the anniversaries of the death and namesake days of the deceased.

What to do when visiting a cemetery?

Arriving at the cemetery, you need to clean up the grave. You can light a candle. If possible, invite a priest to perform litia. If this is not possible, then you can read the short rite of lithium on your own, having previously purchased the appropriate brochure in a church or an Orthodox store. Optionally, you can read an akathist about the repose of the dead. Just keep quiet, remember the deceased.

Is it possible to arrange a "commemoration" at the cemetery?

In addition to the kutia consecrated in the temple, nothing is worth eating or drinking at the cemetery. It is especially unacceptable to pour vodka into a grave mound - this offends the memory of the deceased. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread “for the deceased” on the grave is a relic of paganism and should not be observed by the Orthodox. It is not necessary to leave food on the grave - it is better to give it to the beggar or the hungry.

What is supposed to be eaten at the "commemoration"?

According to tradition, after the burial, a memorial table is assembled. The memorial meal is a continuation of the service and prayer for the deceased. The memorial meal begins with eating the kutia brought from the temple. Kutia or kolivo are boiled grains of wheat or rice with honey. Also, according to tradition, they eat pancakes, sweet jelly. On a fast day, food should be fast. A memorial meal should differ from a noisy feast by reverent silence and kind words about the deceased.

Unfortunately, a bad custom has taken root to commemorate the deceased with vodka with a hearty snack. The same thing is repeated on the ninth and fortieth days. This is wrong, since the newly-departed soul these days longs for a special fervent prayer for her to God, and certainly not drinking wine.

Is it possible to place a photo of the deceased on the grave cross?

A cemetery is a special place where the bodies of those who have passed into another life are buried. A visible evidence of this is the tomb cross, which is erected as a sign of the redemptive victory of the Lord Jesus Christ over death. As the Savior of the world resurrected, accepting death on the cross for people, so will all the dead bodily resurrect. People come to the cemetery to pray for the dead in this place of rest. A photograph on a grave cross often prompts more remembrance than prayer.

With the adoption of Christianity in Russia, the dead were placed either in stone sarcophagi, and a cross was depicted on the lid, or in the ground. A cross was placed on the grave. After 1917, when the destruction of Orthodox traditions took on a systematic character, instead of crosses, columns with photographs began to be placed on the graves. Sometimes monuments were erected and a portrait of the deceased was attached to them. After the war, monuments with a star and a photograph began to prevail as headstones. In the last decade and a half, crosses have increasingly begun to appear in cemeteries. The practice of placing photographs on crosses has survived from past Soviet decades.

Can I bring my dog ​​with me when visiting the cemetery?

Taking a dog to a cemetery for the purpose of walking, of course, is not worth it. But if necessary, for example, a guide dog for the blind or for the purpose of protection when visiting a remote cemetery, you can take it with you. Dogs should not be allowed to run over graves.

If a person died on Bright Week (from the day of Holy Easter to Saturday of Bright Week inclusive), then they read Easter canon. Instead of the Psalter, on Bright Week they read the Acts of the Holy Apostles.

Is it necessary to serve a memorial service for an infant?

The dead babies are buried and memorial services are served for them, but in prayers they do not ask for the forgiveness of sins, since babies do not have consciously committed sins, but they ask the Lord to vouchsafe them the Kingdom of Heaven.

Is it possible to bury someone who died in the war in absentia if the place of his burial is unknown?

If the deceased was baptized, then he can be buried in absentia, and received after absentee funeral sprinkle the earth crosswise on any grave in an Orthodox cemetery.

The tradition of performing a funeral service in absentia appeared in Russia in the 20th century due to the large number of those who died in the war, and since it was often impossible to perform a funeral service over the body of the deceased due to the lack of churches and priests, due to the persecution of the Church and the persecution of believers. There are also cases of tragic death when it is impossible to find the body of the deceased. In such cases, an absentee funeral is permissible.

Is it possible to order a memorial service for an undead buried deceased?

Memorial services can be ordered if the deceased was baptized an orthodox person and not suicidal. The Church does not commemorate the unbaptized and suicides.

If it became known that the buried person was not buried according to the Orthodox rite, then it must be buried in absentia. In the rite of the funeral, in contrast to the memorial service, the priest reads a special prayer for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased.

It is important not just to “order” a memorial service and a funeral service, but for the relatives and friends of the deceased to take prayerful part in them.

Is it possible to sing a suicide and pray for his repose at home and in the temple?

In exceptional cases, after consideration of all the circumstances of the suicide by the ruling bishop of the diocese, an absentee funeral may be blessed. To do this, the relevant documents and a written petition are submitted to the ruling bishop, where, with special responsibility for one’s words, all known circumstances and reasons for suicide are indicated. All cases are considered individually. With the permission of the absentee funeral by the bishop, it becomes possible temple prayer about peace.

In all cases, for the prayerful consolation of the relatives and friends of the person who committed suicide, a special prayer order has been developed, which can be performed whenever the relatives of the person who committed suicide turn to the priest for consolation in the grief that has befallen them.

In addition to committing given rank relatives and friends can, with the blessing of the priest, read at home the prayer of the reverend elder Leo of Optina: “Search, Lord, for the lost soul of Your servant (name): if it is possible to eat, have mercy. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not put me in sin with this prayer of mine, but may Thy holy will be done ”and give alms.

Is it true that suicides are commemorated on Radonitsa? What to do if, believing this, they regularly submitted notes about the commemoration of suicides to the temple?

No, it's not. If a person, out of ignorance, submitted notes about the commemoration of suicides (the funeral service of which was not blessed by the ruling bishop), then he needs to repent of this at confession and not do it again. All doubtful questions should be resolved with the priest, and not to believe the rumors.

Is it possible to order a memorial service for the deceased if he is a Catholic?

Private, private (home) prayer for a non-Orthodox deceased is not prohibited - you can commemorate him at home, read the psalms at the tomb. Churches do not bury or commemorate those who have never belonged to the Orthodox Church: non-Christians and all those who died unbaptized. The funeral rites and panikhidas are composed taking into account the fact that the deceased and the buried person was a faithful member of the Orthodox Church.

Is it possible to submit notes in the temple about the commemoration of the deceased unbaptized?

Liturgical prayer is a prayer for the children of the Church. In the Orthodox Church, it is not customary to commemorate unbaptized, as well as non-Orthodox Christians, at the proskomedia (the preparatory part of the Liturgy). This, however, does not mean that they cannot be prayed for at all. Private (home) prayer for such dead is possible. Christians believe that prayer can be of great help to the dead. True Orthodoxy breathes the spirit of love, mercy and indulgence towards all people, including those outside the Orthodox Church.

The Church cannot commemorate the unbaptized for the reason that they lived and died outside the Church - they were not its members, they were not reborn to a new, spiritual life in the Sacrament of Baptism, they did not confess the Lord Jesus Christ and cannot be involved in those blessings that He promised to those who love him.

Orthodox Christians pray at home for the relief of the fate of the souls of the dead who have not been granted Holy Baptism, and of infants who have died in their mother’s womb or during childbirth, they read the canon to the holy martyr Uar, who has grace from God to intercede for the dead who have not been granted Holy Baptism. It is known from the life of the holy martyr Uar that by his intercession he delivered from eternal torment the relatives of the pious Cleopatra, who revered him, who were pagans.

It is said that those who died during Bright Week receive the Kingdom of Heaven. Is it so?

The posthumous fate of the dead is known only to the Lord. “Just as you do not know the ways of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you cannot know the work of God, who does everything” (Eccl. 11:5). The one who lived piously, did good deeds, wore a cross, repented, confessed and took communion - he, by the grace of God, can be worthy of a blessed life in eternity, regardless of the time of death. And if a person spent his whole life in sins, did not confess and did not receive communion, but died on Bright Week, can it be argued that he inherited the Kingdom of Heaven?

If a person died in continuous week before Peter's Lent, does that mean anything?

Doesn't mean anything. The Lord terminates the earthly life of each person in due time, providentially caring for each soul.

“Do not hasten death with the delusions of your life, and do not draw destruction upon you by the works of your hands” (Wisdom 1:12). “Do not indulge in sin, and do not be foolish: why should you die at the wrong time?” (Eccl. 7:17).

Is it possible to get married in the year of the mother's death?

There is no special rule in this regard. Let the religious and moral feeling itself tell you what to do. On all significant matters of life, one must consult with the priest.

Why is it necessary to take communion on the days of memory of relatives: on the ninth, fortieth days after death?

There is no such rule. But it will be good if the relatives of the deceased prepare and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, having repented, including of the sins related to the deceased, forgive him all offenses and ask for forgiveness themselves.

Is it necessary to close the mirror if one of the relatives has died?

Hanging mirrors in the house is a superstition and has nothing to do with church traditions burials of the dead. Is it necessary to close the mirror if one of the relatives has died?

The custom of hanging mirrors in the house where the death took place partly comes from the belief that whoever sees his own reflection in the mirror of this house will also die soon. There are many "mirror" superstitions, some of them are related to divination on mirrors. And where there is magic and sorcery, fear and superstition inevitably appear. A hung or not hung mirror does not affect the duration of life, which is entirely dependent on the Lord.

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

It is necessary to intercede for the defendant before the trial, and not after it. Therefore, it is necessary to intercede for the soul of the deceased immediately after his death until the fortieth day and after it: to pray and do works of mercy, distribute things of the deceased, donate to the monastery, to the church. Before the Last Judgment, you can change afterlife the deceased with intensified prayer for him and alms.