In the Christian tradition, there are a large number of church holidays, large and small fasts, days of commemoration of saints. But, in addition to this, Orthodox believers pay attention to the memory of ordinary people who have gone to another world. It's Memorial Day - Parents' Day.
But it concerns all close people, friends, relatives, including parents. The days when they are remembered are collectively called Parental Saturdays. About such days and about how many parental days you need to celebrate, and will be discussed in the article.
Orthodox canons
According to the liturgical charter, the Orthodox Church on each day of the week remembers Jesus Christ, angels and archangels, John the Baptist and so on. Whereas on Saturdays services are dedicated to the memory of the saints and all the dead people who, during their lifetime,adhered to the Orthodox faith.
At the same time, the church has established both individual and common days for the memory of the dead. The days when a special general commemoration is performed are called parental days of commemoration of the dead, or parental Saturdays. But it should be noted that at this time, tribute to the memory is paid not only to parents, but also to other deceased Orthodox.
Why are funeral days "parental"?
Teachers of the Orthodox branch of the Christian Church put forward two versions of why the days of remembrance are parental days, and not just memorial days. The first version says that when it comes to the memory of the departed people, the closest people come to mind first of all - his parents.
The second one says that the name of this day originates in the notion that people, dying, go to the "parents", who used to call everyone who has departed to another world, and are also included in their number. Both versions seem to have a right to exist.
What date is parental day?
It is difficult to answer this question unequivocally, because, firstly, there are not one, but several such days, and secondly, these can be different dates every year. Among all, one main day stands out, called Radonitsa or Radunitsa, on which the so-called universal commemoration of the dead takes place. It can be traced in written sources since the XIV century.
When is the parent's day called Radonitsa this year? In 2018, as in other years, it is celebrated on the ninth day after Easter, which in 2018 falls onApril 8th. Therefore, Radonitsa is celebrated on April 17th. The Church holds an ecumenical memorial service called the All-Night Vigil for the Dead.
Commemoration on this day is held so that the departed share with the living the great joy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is a version that this is where the name comes from. As for other parental days, some of their dates also change depending on the celebration of Easter. When is parental days celebrated in addition to Radonitsa this year? Let's take a closer look at them.
Meatfare Saturday
This is the very first day of remembrance of the year, called the Ecumenical Sabbath. In 2018, it fell on February 10th. Celebrating the Ecumenical Meat-Feast Saturday, Orthodox believers remember everyone who left this world, and especially those who died suddenly.
Due to the fact that the Sabbath meat festival is held a few days before Shrovetide, there is a folk tradition to cook pancakes on this day. In accordance with the custom, the first pancake is required to be taken to the grave of parents or other relatives and given to the beggar. There may be not one, but several such pancakes, they are also given to the poor, who are asked to remember the dead.
Parental days celebrated in Lent
In the second, third and fourth weeks of Great Lent, on Saturdays, days of remembrance are also held. In 2018, they fell in March on the 3rd, 10th and 17th. These three Saturdays, which fall on a strict Christian fast, were appointed by the Orthodox Church to honor the memory of those believers who died duringtime to comply with the requirements for strict restrictions.
On these three Saturdays, Christians can commemorate the souls of deceased relatives, acquaintances and friends, since private commemorations are not supposed to be made during the rest of Lent.
Remembering fallen soldiers
A special memorial day is the Day of Remembrance of the Dead Soldiers, which is celebrated every year on May 9th. The Orthodox Church dedicates it to the soldiers who gave their lives for the faith, for the Motherland, for the people. Including those who died in the Great Patriotic War. They also remember John the Baptist, who died for his pure and sincere faith at the hands of King Herod Antipas, by whose order he was beheaded.
Trinity Saturday
This day in Orthodoxy is celebrated one day before the celebration of the Holy Trinity. What date is parental day, called Trinity Saturday? It falls on May 26, 2018. Since the feast of the unity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is celebrated on Sundays, the Trinity commemoration falls on Saturday.
It has been known since the time when the disciples of Jesus Christ lived - the holy apostles. Trinity Saturday is intended for prayers for the souls of the departed, so that they find peace in heaven, joining eternal life next to the Almighty.
Dmitrievskaya Saturday
This Saturday memorial day is established by the Christian Orthodox Church before the celebration of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, also known asDmitry Mirotochets. He is revered as a great martyr who suffered during the time of Emperor Diocletian. It was from his name that the name went.
What date is parental day, called Dmitrievskaya Saturday? He in 2018, as in others, is celebrated on November 3. At first, Dmitrievskaya Saturday was dedicated to those soldiers who died during the Battle of Kulikovo. But after some time, this day became the day of remembrance for all the dead.
What do they do on Parents' Day?
As a rule, Orthodox Christians go to the cemetery on their parents' day. But the first thing a believing Christian should do is go to worship in the temple. It is also customary to bring treats to the church, which, after the memorial service, are distributed to those in need, something is donated to orphanages.
Only after visiting the temple you can go to the cemetery. Candles are lit on the grave, praying for the deceased. Then you need to sit silently, indulging in memories of the deceased.
It should be noted that the Church Fathers do not recommend following such a pagan tradition as "rewarding the dead." You can not put Easter cakes and eggs, other food on the graves. And even more so pouring alcohol on the grave.
