Parents' Saturdays and days of special remembrance of the dead. Parents' Saturday: Orthodox traditions

During parenting days The Orthodox world remembers people who have passed away, close relatives (that’s why the name is “parental”), as well as those who fell on the battlefield. Parental Saturdays in 2018 (Orthodox calendar) also include dates that glorify the martyrs of the faith. No exact dates days of remembrance of the dead, because they all depend on the time when Easter takes place in each year. On Saturday we find peace from working week, and we can remember our loved ones, distant relatives, and everyone who was dear to us.

Orthodox calendar of parental Saturdays in 2018 for commemorating the departed.

The first memorial day. This is Meat Saturday, or Ecumenical. They remember relatives and close people, usually those who died suddenly. It occurs shortly before Maslenitsa, so on Ecumenical Saturday They also bake pancakes. One pancake is brought to the grave, it is intended for a relative. The next pancake is given as a small gift to children and poor people.

For three parental Saturdays in March 2018, the Orthodox world remembers those people who died observing self-restraint. At this time, reading the sorokousts is not allowed. Parents' Saturdays 2018 before Easter are days during Lent when you can remember your relatives.

This day is named Radonitsa. Is the main memorial Saturday. What date is Big Parents' Saturday in 2018 - April 17.

They remember not only family members, but also those who died during the war.

Saturday – Semik. Semik is not an Orthodox day of remembrance of the dead, but its roots come from folk tradition. Suicides and unbaptized children are commemorated.

It's called Trinity Saturday. Celebrated before the holy holiday of Trinity. Prayers are read for relatives, with the goal that their souls will be calm in the next world, as well as for eternal life departed dear people.

The Day of Remembrance of Orthodox Soldiers originates from the period of the war with Turkey. Memorial Day of John the Baptist, who died defending his faith.

Dimitrievskaya Saturday is a day when, in addition to departed family members, soldiers who died during the Battle of Kulikovo are commemorated.

Why are memorial Saturdays called “parental” Saturdays?

There are two explanations:

  • The first is based on the meaning of the name. At this time, we remember our parents and older relatives who are not with us.
  • Second, according to Christian beliefs, after death a person goes to his ancestors, i.e. parents (according to folk legends).

What is the main memorial day?

The main memorial day is the 9th day after Easter. At this time, in a number of Orthodox countries, the dead are remembered, and traditional ceremonies are also held that are connected with these events. These are mostly Russians memorial days, because memory dates according to Orthodox calendar also contain the names of Russian saints, victorious warriors.

In many cities and regions of Russia, the main memorial Saturday has its own name, namely:

  • Radovnica;
  • Easter of the Dead;
  • Graves.

In general, in every place in Russia Radonitsa can be called differently - but the essence of this day remains the same, veneration and memory of those who have gone to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Orthodox parental Saturdays are dedicated to the remembrance of the departed.

Radonitsa - Great Parental Saturday

Why is Radonitsa called this way? Main idea– to congratulate the deceased on Easter, which, according to beliefs, also applies to them. One day all the dead will be resurrected, and the Kingdom of Christ will come, and everyone will rejoice - this is how the church officially explains the meaning of the name “Radonitsa” or “Radunitsa”.

A number of rituals or traditions are associated with the main memorial day. So, it is customary to “christen” with the dead Easter eggs– after all, it is believed that the deceased also hear and understand the holiday and want to celebrate it. The eggs turn red. In a number of cities and villages in Russia, it is customary to leave Easter treats - eggs, as well as kutya in the cemetery, or bury them near the house where the deceased once lived.

What to cook

We mentioned that on Radonitsa they eat kutia - this is a cereal dish, which is supplemented with various dried fruits, raisins, nuts or poppy seeds, and consists of wheat and rice cereals. The first thing they start doing is this treat if we are talking about a funeral meal.

  • In other regions of Russia, it is customary to bake pancakes, including on Radonitsa - to treat the aforementioned relatives with a hearty dish;
  • It is not so important whether the pancakes are made of thin dough, or richly decorated and rich in filling - the only important thing is how well they are buttery;
  • According to legends, the dead understand that they are remembered by the amount of butter on their pancakes. Such a pancake should be put in a basket and taken to the cemetery.
  • Treats for the deceased are served with special respect.

Funeral services on Saturdays are also held at home. If during Radonitsa people drink alcohol, then this is done without clinking glasses - since ancient times it has been considered at least a bad omen to do so. The use of knives and forks is not allowed. Everything that has not been eaten is under no circumstances removed or thrown away - because the leftover food can be fed to the birds, which can symbolize gratitude, respect, and a universal connection with the world.

How to remember the dead correctly

  • Check a relative’s grave, repair it if necessary, paint it, plant flowers;
  • When a person comes to the grave, you need to light a candle and read the words of the prayer;
  • Relatives are remembered from the best side, in a respectful tone;
  • At the end of the holiday, you need to treat yourself to a traditional Easter treat and congratulate all the dear departed on Easter.

Of course, in addition to small rituals and traditions, the semantic center of Radonitsa becomes visiting the dead. Relatives gather together, or visit the graves of the dead one by one (depending on the connections that were maintained by the living and dead people). So, a wife can visit her husband separately, or go to the grave with the whole family. The main thing is to show due attention and respect to the person you are commemorating.

Radonitsa is a bright day, so you need to make sure that at the end of the funeral everyone is in a good mood.

Conclusion

The history of parental Saturdays as a holiday is not the simplest. Before Soviet times (namely, before the revolution of the 17th year), it was considered absolutely normal to visit a cemetery as a tribute to the memory of the deceased. During the Soviet period, of course, the attitude towards memorial dates changed radically. However, even then citizens managed to remember the deceased, observing the main Orthodox traditions, and simply to remember their parents once again and simply dear people who were not with them.

In Christianity there are certain days commemoration of the departed, they are called Parental Saturdays. For what reason these days were named so, no one knows for sure. There are several versions of the origin of the name, the first says that on the day when deceased people are remembered, a person first of all remembers those closest to him.

If parents are no longer alive, then naturally they are the first to be remembered. The second theory says that when a Christian goes to another world, that is, dies, he returns to his forefathers. In other words, after death on Earth, he meets with his deceased father and mother, grandfathers and grandmothers. Saturday was chosen for a reason; it has always been considered the busiest among the other days of the week.

What date is Parents' Day in 2018, 5 Parents' Saturdays

There are 5 Parental Saturdays in the Orthodox Church. Meat-free universal Parental Saturday, on this day Orthodox believers ask God for mercy to all departed Christians. Trinity Ecumenical Parental Saturday - before the day of the Holy Trinity, on the 49th day after Easter.

Private parents' day, this Saturday, according to Christian tradition, deceased parents are remembered in the Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian Orthodox churches. Similar days include Mikhailovskaya, Dmitrievskaya and Intercession Saturdays.

Parental 2nd, 3rd, 4th Saturdays during Great Lent exist in order not to deprive the deceased of prayers for their repose throughout Great Lent, since during this period, according to Christian regulations, the usual commemorations of the deceased are canceled.

What date is Parents' Day in 2018, exact dates

According to Christian customs, the graves of deceased relatives must be kept in order and cleanliness. This is a sign of respect. But leaving food and alcoholic drinks on graves is not permissible. In Orthodoxy, such actions are considered desecration of the souls of deceased Christians. It is recommended to give food to the poor or distribute it with a request to commemorate a certain person who is no longer alive.

Dates of Parents' Saturdays in 2018:

In Orthodoxy, it is customary to show concern for the souls of deceased loved ones. This phenomenon is an integral part of Christianity as a whole, since this religion is one of the spiritual teachings that preach life after death and, in general, spiritual immortality.

It is also known that in Christianity there is a ban on commemorating deceased suicides. This means that they are not buried as those who died against their will, and also church ministers do not have the right to perform funeral prayers for them. With the blessing of a clergyman, relatives of suicides can pray for them on their own.

On Sunday March 24, 2019 Football teams will meet in the Euro 2020 group stage qualification Russia and Kazakhstan.

This will be the second match of the Russian team in the current qualifying tournament. Let us remind you that in the first meeting Russia met with Belgium, to which it lost with a score of 1:3.

The Russia-Kazakhstan meeting will take place on March 24, 2019 in the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan - the city of Astana(which was renamed literally in a couple of hours on March 20 to Nur-Sultan by decision of parliament members). And how can we not remember one of the jokes dedicated to the renaming of the city, and not say in relation to the Russian national football team that it “flew to Astana and arrived in Nur-Sultan.” Officially, the city changed its name on March 23, 2019, after the signing of the corresponding Decree by the new head of state Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The match will be held at the Astana Arena stadium(“Nur-Sultan Arena”). Starts at 17:00 Moscow time (20:00 local time).

That is:
* Venue of the match - Kazakhstan, Astana (Nur-Sultan), Astana Arena.
* Broadcast start time is 17:00 Moscow time.

Where to watch the Russia - Kazakhstan match live:

In Russia will broadcast a live football match federal TV channel "Match!". The broadcast dedicated to the game will begin at 16:35 Moscow time, the live broadcast itself will start at 17:00 Moscow time.

In Kazakhstan Live broadcast of the national football teams' games can be seen on the channel "QAZAQSTAN" at 20:00 local time.

March 18 in Crimea is a day off or a working day:

According to the above laws, on the territory of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol the date "March 18" is a non-working holiday, an additional day off.

That is:
* March 18 is a day off in Crimea and Sevastopol.

If March 18 coincides with a holiday (as, for example, happens in 2023), the holiday is transferred to the next working day.

If a holiday coincides with annual paid leave, March 18 is not included in the number of calendar days of leave, but extends it.

Is March 17 a shortened working day:

If the calendar date March 17 falls on a working day, then the duration of work on this day is reduced by 1 hour.

This norm is established in Article 95 Labor Code RF and applies to working days preceding, among other things, regional holidays.

International Women's Day on March 8 is a UN observance, and the organization includes 193 states. Memorable dates, announced by the General Assembly, are designed to encourage UN members to show increased interest in these events. However, on at the moment Not all member states of the United Nations have approved the celebration of Women's Day in their territories on this date.

Below is a list of countries that celebrate International Women's Day. Countries are grouped into groups: in a number of states the holiday is an official non-working day (day off) for all citizens, on March 8th only women rest, and there are states where they work on March 8th.

In which countries is the holiday March 8 a day off (for everyone):

* In Russia- March 8 is one of the most favorite holidays, when men congratulate all women without exception.

* In Ukraine- International Women's Day continues to remain an additional holiday, despite regular proposals to exclude the event from the list of non-working days and replace it, for example, with Shevchenko Day, which will be celebrated on March 9.
* In Abkhazia.
* In Azerbaijan.
* In Algeria.
* In Angola.
* In Armenia.
* In Afghanistan.
* In Belarus.
* To Burkina Faso.
* In Vietnam.
* In Guinea-Bissau.
* In Georgia.
* In Zambia.
* In Kazakhstan.
* In Cambodia.
* In Kenya.
* In Kyrgyzstan.
* IN DPRK.
* In Cuba.
* In Laos.
* In Latvia.
* In Madagascar.
* In Moldova.
* In Mongolia.
* In Nepal.
* In Tajikistan- since 2009, the holiday was renamed Mother's Day.
* In Turkmenistan.
* In Uganda.
* In Uzbekistan.
* In Eritrea.
* In South Ossetia.

Countries where March 8 is a women's-only day off:

There are countries where only women are exempt from work on International Women's Day. This rule has been approved:

* In China.
* In Madagascar.

Which countries celebrate March 8, but it is a working day:

In some countries, International Women's Day is widely celebrated, but is a working day. This:

* Austria.
* Bulgaria.
* Bosnia and Herzegovina.
* Germany- in Berlin, since 2019, March 8 is a day off, in the country as a whole it is a working day.
* Denmark.
* Italy.
* Cameroon.
* Romania.
* Croatia.
* Chile.
* Switzerland.

In which countries is March 8 NOT celebrated?

* In Brazil, the majority of whose residents have not even heard of the “international” holiday of March 8th. The main event of the end of February - beginning of March for Brazilians and Brazilian women is not Women's Day at all, but the largest in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records, the Brazilian Festival, also called the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. In honor of the festival, Brazilians rest for several days in a row, from Friday until noon on Catholic Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent (which for Catholics has a flexible date and begins 40 days before Catholic Easter).

* In the USA, the holiday is not an official holiday. In 1994, an attempt by activists to get the celebration approved by Congress failed.

* In the Czech Republic (Czech Republic) - most of the country's population views the holiday as a relic of the communist past and main symbol old regime.

Saturday Date Description
Ecumenical Parents' Saturdays
Trinity Saturday Saturday before the Feast of the Holy Trinity On Trinity and Meat Saturdays, an ecumenical memorial service is celebrated.
Meat Saturday The week before Lent It is called Meat Eating Week because it precedes Meat Eating Week (the Sunday before Maslenitsa).
Parental Saturdays of Great Lent
Saturdays Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th weeks of Lent During weekdays During Lent, the usual Liturgy is not celebrated unless there is a major holiday. Consequently, the main liturgical commemoration of the dead is also performed less frequently. In order not to deprive the dead of prayer representation for them, I established these three special days for prayer for them.
Private Parent Saturdays
9th day after Easter, Tuesday Radonitsa - from the word joy, because this day always falls during the Easter period. Usually on this day a memorial service is held, which includes Easter chants. After the service, believers visit the cemetery to pray for the departed.
Day of Remembrance of Orthodox Warriors September 11 The commemoration was established during Russian-Turkish War (1768-1774)
Saturday preceding the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (November 8) Established by the noble Prince Dimitry Donskoy after returning to Moscow from the battle on the Kulikovo Field (September 8, 1380). Upon returning from the battlefield, Dimitri Ioannovich attended the funeral service at the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Over time, a tradition developed to perform such a commemoration annually.
Day of Remembrance of all those killed during the Great Patriotic War May 9 Afterwards it is served.
Special commemoration of all those who died during the years of persecution for faith in Christ is performed on the day of remembrance of the new martyrs and confessors of Russia (the first Sunday after January 25)

Parents' Saturdays- nine days of special remembrance for Orthodox Christians. Every Saturday is dedicated to the remembrance of the dead, but there are also specially designated Saturday days. They are called parental because parents are the people closest to us, but these days they pray not only for relatives.
All parent ones, except one (May 9), have a moving date.

On these days, funeral services are performed - funeral services. Please note that public worship may begin the night before (i.e. Friday) as The liturgical day begins in the evening.

Of the nine days of special remembrance of the dead, two Ecumenical days stand out memorial Saturdays: Myasopustnaya and Trinity. The main meaning of these “ecumenical” (common to the entire Orthodox Church) funeral services is prayer for all deceased Orthodox Christians, regardless of their personal closeness to us.

Parent's Saturday - a generalized name of the day special commemoration deceased. Special, not in terms of something different, but in terms of intensified ones. On this day, the entirety of the Church prays for the repose of the souls of deceased Orthodox Christians. For us – the living – this day of remembrance of our loved ones should, if possible, be spent in prayer. The leitmotif of all prayers for repose is forgiveness of sins. The dead have no time to repent and ask for forgiveness, but we can make every effort and ask God for mercy towards them. And the Lord, seeing our zeal, taking into account our deeds of prayer and alms (and alms can be given for the deceased), can forgive all the sins of a deceased person.
On parent's Saturdays Orthodox Christian, if possible, we need to attend the funeral liturgy and memorial service, pray during the service not only for our loved ones, but also for all deceased Orthodox Christians (in Church Slavonic - “departed from eternity”), then visit the cemetery and there perform a private prayer - a requiem mass, litia or, if time permits, read the 17th kathisma of the Psalter. This is the most important thing. And about the meal - church rules this side of life is not regulated in any way. There is only one rule - moderation. In everything. And don’t forget: the main thing on this day is prayer.
Priest Pavel Konkov (magazine “Foma”)

***

When are funeral services for parental Saturdays held in the church?

The liturgical day begins in the evening, so funeral services often begin in the evening of the previous day. The most important commemoration is at the Liturgy (usually served in the morning).

Is it necessary to go to the cemetery on Parents' Saturday?

Prayerful remembrance in a church is incomparably more important for the deceased than visiting a grave, but the first does not exclude the second. It is important to maintain a hierarchy: worship comes first, a trip to the cemetery comes second. Christians perform the ceremony at the grave or invite a priest.

Why do they bring food to the temple?

Initially, food was brought for a joint funeral meal. In our time - as a sacrifice to clergy and clergymen for the soul's sake.

One should be sober about the tradition of bringing food “to”, based on modern realities. No matter how hard the priests try, they can’t eat 30 loaves of bread or 20 packs of gingerbread, so it makes sense to bring food items that can be stored for a long time. A donation can also be made to the church mug; the church has many needs, not just food.

What date does Trinity Ecumenical Parents' Saturday fall on in 2018? What is the history of this event? What is possible and what is not allowed on this day. Read about it in the Pravda TV article.

Trinity (parental) Saturday is the day of remembrance of the dead, falling on the Saturday before Trinity. In Russia, this day was also called: Semitskaya Saturday, Klechalnaya Saturday, Soulful Wake, Spiritual Day.

On Trinity Parental Saturday, it is customary in the Orthodox world to remember the departed. In 2018, parent's day falls on May 26th.

This tradition dates back to apostolic times. The Apostle Peter on this day, addressing the Jews, speaks of the Risen Savior: God raised Him, breaking the bonds of death (Acts 2:24). The apostolic decrees state that the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, preached to the Jews and pagans our Savior Jesus Christ, the Judge of the living and the dead.

Trinity Parents' Saturday 2018: how to remember the dead and what not to do

History and significance

Trinity Ecumenical Parental Saturday is probably the oldest memorial day in Christianity. It originates from apostolic times - from the 1st century after the Nativity of Christ. It is always celebrated on the eve of the Holy Trinity - hence the name.

According to legend, on this day, still persecuted and not recognized by anyone, Christians gathered together to honor the memory of tortured and executed brothers and sisters in faith who did not receive a proper burial.

If the Day of the Holy Trinity is a kind of birthday of the Universal Apostolic Church, then Trinity Saturday represents, as it were, the last day of the Old Testament Church before the revelation of the Church of Christ in its entirety. Therefore, the Orthodox Church considers it important to remember before the Day of the Holy Trinity all those who have departed from the ages. The Church says that the Holy Spirit descended to earth on the day of Pentecost in order to teach, sanctify and lead people to eternal salvation. Therefore, the Church calls on all people to perform commemoration on Parental Saturday in order to cleanse all souls with the saving grace of the Holy Spirit.

During the service they remember the parable of Last Judgment living and dead, so that a person remembers that he will have to answer for sinful acts committed during the Judgment. Therefore, the Church has established to intercede not only for its living members, but also for all those who have died from time immemorial, especially for those who died a sudden death, and prays to the Lord for their pardon. Thus, the Church gives everyone a chance to save their soul.

What is Parents' Saturday

This Saturday at Orthodox churches A special commemoration of deceased Orthodox Christians is performed. The name “parental” most likely comes from the tradition of calling the deceased “parents,” that is, those who went to their fathers. And also because Christians prayerfully commemorated, first of all, their deceased parents. Among parental Saturdays, Ecumenical Saturdays are especially distinguished, on which Orthodox Church prayerfully remembers all the departed.

Holy Trinity 2018: symbols and signs of the great holiday

There are two such Saturdays a year: Meat Saturday (a week before the start of Lent, which was celebrated on February 18 in 2017) and Trinity. On these days, special services are held - ecumenical memorial services. The remaining parental Saturdays are not ecumenical and are reserved specifically for private commemoration of people dear to our hearts.

How they are remembered in church

In Orthodox churches, on the eve of parental Saturday - on Friday evening, the Great Requiem Service is served, which is also called by the Greek word “parastas”. The funeral Divine Liturgy is served on Saturday morning, and after it - a general memorial service. On this day, one should remember their deceased parents in church - people submit notes with the names of loved ones of the deceased and pray for the repose of their souls in the afterlife.

Parishioners according to the old church tradition Lenten foods and wine are brought to the temple for the liturgy, which are blessed during the service, and later distributed to those who wish.

What is customary to do

After visiting churches, Orthodox Christians go to the cemetery, read prayers for the repose of the souls of deceased relatives, and tidy up the graves. The Church believes that on this day it is more important to celebrate the divine service in the temple than to go to the cemetery, since the deceased relatives and friends are much more prayer is more important than visiting a grave.

But, if it is not possible to visit the temple and cemetery these days, you can pray for the repose of the deceased at home. Another custom of Trinity Saturday is the obligatory distribution of alms to all those in need with a request to pray for the departed.

There is a belief that on parental Saturday before Trinity you cannot work, clean the apartment or even wash the dishes, although the church has a different opinion.

The clergy say that work restrictions exist primarily so that household chores do not interfere with prayer and visiting church. Parents' Saturday should begin with visiting church and praying for the departed, and after returning home from church, you can do homework.

Customs

Folk traditions of commemorating dead people were somewhat different from church traditions. Ordinary people went to the graves of relatives before major holidays - on the eve of Maslenitsa, Trinity, Intercession Holy Mother of God and the day of remembrance of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica.

The people most revered Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday. This is the last parent's Saturday of the year, which in 2018 falls on November 3. In 1903, Emperor Nicholas II even issued a decree on holding a special memorial service for the soldiers who fell for the Fatherland - “For the faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland, who laid down their lives on the battlefield.” Days of special remembrance of the dead in Ukraine and Belarus were called “Grandfathers”. There were up to six such “Grandfathers” a year. People superstitiously believed that on these days all deceased relatives invisibly joined the family funeral meal.

By ancient custom, on parental Saturdays it was customary to eat kutya - an obligatory dish for the funeral meal. Sweet porridge was usually prepared from whole grains of wheat or other cereals with the addition of honey, as well as raisins or nuts. True, today few people follow it.

Prayer for the departed Give rest, O Lord, to the souls of your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names) and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven. During a church service, Orthodox people remember by name many generations of their deceased ancestors

The meaning of Trinity Saturday

The rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, Vladyka Pavel, told readers about the traditions of this day.

He recalled that the tradition of commemorating the dead was founded during the time of the apostles. When the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, preaching about Jesus Christ, they called Him the Judge of the living and the dead. The descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost marked the redemption of the world and the gift of ineffable grace, which acts savingly on the living and on the dead.

Trinity Saturday can be called the last day of the Old Testament Church and the beginning of the dispensation of the Church of Christ. Therefore, in one of the prayers there is such an appeal to the Lord: “Lord rest, the souls of Your servants, our fathers and brothers who have fallen before us and other relatives in the flesh, and all of our own in the faith, and we create memory of them now.”

“By the prayer for repose, we ask the Lord to forgive the sins committed by those who have died due to weakness, and who have sometimes passed into another world without repentance. We ask that the soul of the deceased receive eternal rest in the Abodes of the Kingdom of Heaven, where there are no sorrows and sorrows, but there is eternal joy in being with the Lord. Try to help the deceased through alms and helping those in need, because any alms for the deceased is another request for the Lord’s mercy. A person who has passed into another world can no longer repent of his sins, give alms, or change anything. He is waiting for our prayers, help and rewards,” the Metropolitan noted.

The Monk John of Damascus says how one of the God-bearing fathers had a disciple living in carelessness, and when he was overtaken by death, the Lord, after the prayers offered by the elder, showed him the boy, like the rich man (mentioned in the parable of Lazarus) burning in fire up to his neck. When the elder grieved a lot about this and tearfully prayed to God, the Lord showed him the boy standing waist-deep in the fire. And then, when the saint added new labors to his labors, God, in a vision to the elder, showed the youth free and completely removed from the fire.

“There are a great many such examples that can be told, but all of them again and again confirm to us that the prayer of those living on earth, sincere, coming from the heart, can change a lot for our departed. The Lord sees and hears each of us, and blessed is he who strives not only for himself, but also for his neighbor. The Lord gives us His mercies and mercy every minute. Do not doubt, dear brothers and sisters, in the forgiveness of the Lord, but remember at the same time that everything that is offered to God with faith subsequently has a multiple reward, both to those who bring it and to those for whom they offer it,” he addressed the readers “ Vestei" abbot of the Lavra.

He once again recalled that the Lord came down from heaven to earth, accepted torment and death on the cross for the salvation of the entire human race. He suffered and sacrificed Himself for each of us. Therefore, every person who has the smallest share of virtues will not be forgotten by the Lord and will be his close friend, by the grace of the Lord, and his relatives and friends will do prayers and alms for the one who has departed to receive his reward in the Abodes of the Kingdom of Heaven.

But for the one who lived viciously, without caring for the soul, the Lord will not look upon him, and no one from relatives and friends will help. John Chrysostom says: “If you have not managed to arrange everything in life regarding your soul, then at least at the time of your death, command your relatives so that after death they convey your property to you and provide you with assistance.” good deeds, that is, alms and offerings. Thus, here too you will be reconciled with the Redeemer.”

The Lord will not leave without His Divine justice those who are alone and who do not have relatives who would pray for them, or those who do not have a fortune that can be distributed as alms after death.

The Lord does not leave anyone or anything without His Divine attention, and only in the Lord lies all truth, wisdom and grace. He will save every creation He has made, with the exception of those who apostatized from the faith and violated the Commandments of the Lord.

It is necessary to remember the dead as often as possible, not only on those days that are designated as days of special remembrance of the dead.

Parents' Saturday: what to do and what to bring to church

It is necessary on the eve of the liturgy to submit notes - a customized magpie - with the names of relatives (only those baptized in the Orthodox faith), and during the proskomedia, particles will be taken out from the prosphora for repose, lowered into the chalice and washed with the Blood of Christ.

“This is the greatest good we can do for our deceased. The souls of people who have passed into another world without bearing the fruits of repentance endure torment and suffering, and the priest’s prayer helps them gain some relief. You can submit notes for the memorial service, which is served after the liturgy, in the designated place in the church. Here you can leave an offering in the form of bread, cereals, vegetable oil, everything is done whenever possible. You can light a candle in memory of the deceased, and this will be your small sacrifice. It is advisable to order magpies - this is when for 40 days, during the liturgy, there is an incessant commemoration or reading of the Psalter for six months or a year,” explained Bishop Pavel.

At the same time, he emphasized that when offering repose in churches, one should not forget about home prayer, since the soul of the deceased has a great need for this. “And since the Church does not commemorate suicides and those not baptized in the Orthodox faith, you can perform commemoration in home prayer,” the Metropolitan added.

A very popular custom is the funeral meal. “But you shouldn’t turn this into a feast to eat deliciously and discuss latest news. At the funeral meal, a general prayer for the repose of the deceased is necessary. And the first dish with which the meal begins is kutya (wheat grains with honey and raisins). It is also necessary to exclude all types of alcohol. Previously, there was such a pious custom when the first to sit at the funeral table were beggars, old women and children, and they were also given the clothes of the deceased and alms,” said Bishop Pavel.

Prayer for the departed

Prayer for everyone who has died

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the life of Thy eternally departed servant, our brother (name), as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, You are glorified God in the Trinity, faith, and the Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and have faith in You instead of deeds, and rest with Your saints as You are Generous: for there is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and we send glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Children's prayer for deceased parents

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping. I, an orphan, come running to You, groaning and crying, and I pray to You: hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent (matter) (name), and his soul (her), as if she has gone to You with true faith in You and firm hope in Yours accept philanthropy and mercy into Your Heavenly Kingdom. I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (her or them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You, the Judge of this world, punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish eternal punishment the deceased, unforgettable for me, Your servant (s), my (name) parent (mother), but forgive him (her) all his (her) sins, voluntary and involuntary , in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him (her) and deliver eternal torment. You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent (mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him (s) in a bright place, in a place cool and in a calm place, with all the saints, from where all illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as having taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, pray to You in reverence, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your Commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual progress, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom. For you are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind. You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Trinity Saturday: popular beliefs and prohibitions

Our ancestors believed that on the eve of Trinity, mermaids come out of reservoirs, playing various pranks in the fields and forests and singing songs loudly. Hearing this noise, the merman begins to stir up the water in rivers and lakes. To calm the merman, on the night of Trinity, young people burned fires near the water or ran through the forest with branches, chasing the playful mermaids. At the same time, swimming on the night of Trinity was strictly prohibited, since a merman awakened by the mermaids could drag him to the bottom.

Also on Trinity Saturday and Trinity, it was forbidden to work in the fields and in the yard, and one could not go into the forest alone - for fear of meeting mermaids. For the same reason, these days they also tried not to graze cattle near forests and water bodies.

On this day it was forbidden to sew or spin. In addition, all prohibitions related to water were in effect: washing and rinsing clothes, washing and swimming in open water, etc. were prohibited. In general, these days, mermaids should have been careful, or better yet, appeased with some kind of offering.

Trinity Saturday: signs and sayings

From Trinity Saturday they don’t sweep for three days, and on the fourth they clean the house.

On Trinity Saturday, this barley and hemp will produce well.

Rain on Trinity is a good omen: expect a harvest of mushrooms and berries, and there will be no frosts all summer.

On what days is it customary to commemorate the dead?

Parents' Saturdays in 2018 fall on the following dates:

  • – February 10, 2018.
  • Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent – ​​March 3, 2018.
  • Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent – ​​March 10, 2018.
  • Saturday of the 4th week of Lent – ​​March 17, 2018.
  • Commemoration of deceased warriors– May 9, 2018.
  • Radonitsa– April 17, 2018.
  • Trinity Parents' Saturday in 2018– May 26, 2018.
  • – November 3, 2018.

Parents' Saturdays in 2019 fall on the following dates:

  • Ecumenical Parental Saturday (meat-free)– March 4, 2019.
  • Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent – ​​March 23, 2019.
  • Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent – ​​March 30, 2019.
  • Saturday of the 4th week of Lent – ​​April 6, 2019.
  • Commemoration of deceased warriors– May 9, 2019.
  • Radonitsa– May 7, 2019.
  • Trinity Parents' Saturday in 2019– June 15, 2019.
  • Dimitrievskaya Parents' Saturday– November 2, 2019.
  • Parents' Saturdays in 2020 fall on the following dates:

    • Ecumenical Parental Saturday (meat-free)– February 24, 2020.
    • Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent – ​​March 14, 2020.
    • Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent – ​​March 21, 2020.
    • Saturday of the 4th week of Lent – ​​March 28, 2020.
    • Commemoration of deceased warriors– May 9, 2020.
    • Radonitsa– April 28, 2020.
    • Trinity Parents' Saturday in 2020– June 6, 2020.
    • Dimitrievskaya Parents' Saturday– October 31, 2020.
  • Parents' Saturdays in 2021 fall on the following dates:

    • Ecumenical Parental Saturday (meat-free)– March 8, 2021.
    • Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent – ​​March 27, 2021.
    • Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent – ​​April 3, 2021.
    • Saturday of the 4th week of Lent – ​​April 10, 2021.
    • Commemoration of deceased warriors– May 9, 2021.
    • Radonitsa– May 11, 2021.
    • Trinity Parents' Saturday in 2021– June 19, 2021.
    • Dimitrievskaya Parents' Saturday– November 6, 2021.