Orthodox priests teach parishioners that sincere prayer for the repose of the souls of deceased relatives and pious commemoration is the best that descendants can give them. After all, the soul of the deceased needs the funeral prayer of his neighbors. Commemoration of the dead is a centuries-old Orthodox tradition. It will include many rituals.
Commemoration of the dead immediately after death
The first stage of commemoration begins with the magpie, which is ordered in the church after the death of a person.
The newly reposed is commemorated daily, all 40 days, spending especially solemn prayers on the third and ninth days.
You can order a magpie in several churches, moreover, the more churches serve it, the easier it will be for the deceased to go through the ordeals during a personal judgment, which is exactly what happens during this period.
After the forty-day period, notes with the name of the deceased should be submitted for the liturgy and memorial service.
Order magpies, memorial services and liturgies, give alms with a request to pray for the dead, you can pray at the Ps alter forany person, except for those who committed suicide, as well as for all those who have not been baptized in the Orthodox Church.
Commemoration of the dead on the 3rd and 9th days. Memorial service after 40 days from death
On the third day, a service dedicated to the three-day Resurrection of Christ and the image of the Virgin is performed. On the ninth day, prayers are held in honor of the servants of the King of Heaven - nine angels who pray to God for people. Commemoration on the fortieth day honors the memory of the Ascension of Jesus, which took place on the 40th day after the Resurrection.
Commemoration of the dead on other appointed days
The anniversary of death is a day for commemoration among the family and close friends of the deceased.
On Saturday meat-fare (preceding cheese week) Orthodox Christians pray to God to show mercy on the Day of Judgment. On this day, the Church prays for all those who have died in the Orthodox faith since the beginning of mankind. The three Saturdays of the main Great Lent are parental, during which it is customary to commemorate the dead and pray for their souls.
Radunitsa - Tuesday after Easter week. On this day, the dead are commemorated in honor of the resurrection of Christ, hoping that they will rise again for eternal life.
Trinity Parental Saturday is a day of remembrance, calling on the Holy Spirit to descend and purify the souls of all the departed forefathers from sin.
Dmitrievskaya Saturday - the day when the commemoration of the soldiers takes place, which was established by Dmitry Donskoy at the end of the 14th century.
Besides this day, it is customary to commemorate the fallen soldiers on May 9 - inthe day when the fascist conquerors were defeated, as well as on the day of the Beheading of John the Baptist (end of August).
On all days when the dead are commemorated, solemn services and liturgies are held in the Churches, prayers are said for the dead, funeral candles are lit.
On the commemoration of the dead (Theophan the Recluse)
No one should be lazy to commemorate their parents, but they should also commemorate all other deceased Orthodox Christians, and not only on this day, but at all times, with every prayer. We ourselves will all be there, we will need this prayer, like a beggar in a loaf of bread and a cup of water … Do not be lazy at every prayer to remember all the departed fathers and brothers. It will be their mercy…
