Prayer for the deceased son is important not only for the soul of the deceased, but also for his surviving parents. Such prayer helps in grief. It keeps people from despair and promotes resignation to the loss of a loved one.
Memorial prayers in Orthodoxy are of particular importance. When a person prays for the souls of those who left this mortal world, he helps them to find eternal rest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
When do they pray for the dead?
Remembering a person who has departed to another world, according to the Orthodox tradition, is possible and necessary at any time, regardless of calendar dates. In order to come to the temple, put a candle in front of the image and remember the deceased in your prayer, you do not need to wait for certain days.
But, of course, there are generally accepted customs that require a mandatory commemoration. The most important daily prayer for the deceased is up to 40 days. The son, or rather his soul, during this time needs to find peace, see Heaven and stand before the Lord. Accordingly, it is imperative to pray for the deceased child on the third,ninth and fortieth days after death.
Of course, no one knows what awaits a person beyond the threshold of this world. However, in the Orthodox tradition, it is generally accepted that for the first three days the soul of the deceased stays in close proximity to the body or ends up in places that are expensive during life. After three days, the spirit of the deceased leaves for another world. Until the ninth day, the soul surveys the paradise, and after that it prepares to appear before the Lord, which happens on the fortieth day.
Third day after death
The first commemoration in the church takes place on the third day after the death of a person is not accidental. Of course, this tradition is connected with the Holy Trinity and the date of the resurrection of Jesus. However, the belief that the soul of a person, accompanied by an angel, visits places that are dear during life or stays near the body, arose much earlier than Orthodoxy appeared.
Farewell to places dear to life lasts two days, and on the third day the Lord calls the spirit of the deceased. However, if a person died suddenly, without realizing it, then his soul can rush around the earth, not accepting the call to Heaven.
Therefore, it is extremely important to independently pray to God for mercy for the spirit of the deceased, starting not from the third day, but from the moment of death. Often the concept of sudden death is associated with accidents, accidents and other similar circumstances. However, the soul of a person may not be ready for the transition to another world and as a result of death in a dream, even if the deceased for a long timesick. It is also important how the deceased himself related to the approaching death. If a person did not believe in the possibility of a lethal outcome, then his spirit would rush among the living, not finding a way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, an independent prayer for the deceased son should be read immediately after his death. There is no need to wait for the third day.
Prayer on the third day after death
Prayer for the deceased son, strong and sincere, is certainly read in one's own words. Not a single prayer book will express what is happening in the soul of parents who have outlived their own children better than they do it themselves. However, in moments of deepest grief, not everyone is able to collect their thoughts, even to pray. In this case, ready-made texts will come in handy. When choosing them, you need to pay attention to two points - simplicity in pronunciation and clarity of the meaning of words.
You can pray for the deceased son to the Lord like this:
“Lord Jesus! Our merciful Savior! May all those who mourn and seek consolation be under your protection. Look at great sorrows and grant consolation, fill your soul with bright sadness and take away longing, Lord. Do not leave the slave (the name of the deceased) without your mercy, do not let his spirit not find Your Kingdom and remain restless. Send your Angel to him, so that on the way he will help and show the way to the soul of the slave (the name of the deceased). Allow him to your Kingdom, do not leave him without great mercy. Amen.”
Ninth day after death
The ninth day in the Christian tradition is inextricably linked with the number of angelic ranks. Also acceptedconsider that it is on this day that the servants of the Lord come to him to ask for mercy for the soul of the deceased. They also ask for the forgiveness of sins committed by the deceased during their lifetime.
Accordingly, at this time, prayer for the deceased son is especially important. The soul of the deceased, wandering through the paradise, was devoid of sorrows, but starting from the moment when the angels of the Lord go to ask for her, she is overcome by sorrows and fears.
Prayer for the ninth day after death
The mother's prayer for her deceased son is of particular importance in this time period. Who, if not a mother, with her requests to the Almighty and the Mother of God, is able to ease the ordeal of the soul of the deceased, languishing in anticipation of the Last Judgment?
There are, of course, no restrictions on what an independent memorial prayer should be at this time. When choosing a text, one must proceed from intuition, from what the heart tells.
To pray for the soul of the deceased to the Lord on the ninth day after his death, you can do this:
“Lord Jesus, I pray you with trembling in my heart for great mercy to the soul of the slave (the name of the deceased). Do not judge him severely, for he was sinful not from evil, but from ignorance and intrigues of demons. Grant, Lord, mercy to the soul of my son (the name of the deceased). Amen"
How to pray to the Mother of God?
In the old days, mothers often prayed for their dead sons not to Jesus, but to the Mother of God. It was believed that the Most Holy Mother of God, by the power of prayer, would intercede before the Throne of the Lord.
Prayerabout the deceased son, addressed to the Mother of God, may be like this:
“The Mother of God, the Most Holy Virgin, an intercessor before the eyes of the Lord and a comforter in sorrows and sorrows on earth! I beg you for my son, slave (name of the deceased). I ask you to intercede, fall to the Lord, beg him for great forgiveness for the restless soul.
I ask you, Blessed Mother of God, and mercy for yourself. Dry my eyes, send consolation in fierce sorrows. Send a bright memory, take away despair and do not let me fall into despondency. Amen"
Fortieth day after death
It is believed that exactly forty days are necessary for the soul of the deceased in order to be ready to receive the mercy and grace of the Lord and admission to the Kingdom of Heaven. According to church teaching, on the fortieth day, the spirit of the deceased appears before the eyes of the Lord for the last, third time. In other words, on the fortieth day, it is decided whether the soul will gain the Kingdom of Heaven or whether it will be given over to eternal torment.
The clergy after this period refer the deceased to the ever-memorable. This means that a person must always be remembered, without observing any specific dates.
Prayer for the fortieth day after death
As a rule, on this day, the relatives of the deceased visit the temple, light a candle for the repose and submit a note to the priest with a request to remember a person close to them. But going to church does not at all cancel independent prayer. Moreover, the soul of the deceased needs prayer support, because she faces a terrible test.
Prayer for the deceased sonafter 40 days have passed since the day of his death, it can be like this:
"Our Father, Heavenly Almighty! Remember and look after the spirit of your servant who has passed away (the name of the deceased). Have mercy and forgive him all the liberties that were during his lifetime. Let go of all his sins and accept the soul into your Kingdom. Show mercy and do not let his soul perish in hellish flames, do not allow eternal cruel torments. Amen"
Are short prayers powerful? How to Pray for a Baby Soul?
As a rule, a short independent prayer is read for the deceased son after 40 days. After this period, the purpose of prayers is the remembrance of a person, and not requests for the salvation of his soul. However, such a pattern does not mean at all that prayer before this period cannot be short.
Often, short prayers for a dead son are more effective than reading long texts. Of course, the soul of the deceased cannot tell what kind of prayer makes her feel better. What exactly helps to overcome all ordeals and find eternal peace, you can understand from your own feelings. Heard prayer brings peace to those who ask the Lord for mercy. And such a feeling comes only after sincere prayer, filled with unconditional faith and read with absolute hope in God's mercy. What words are pronounced at the same time and how long the reading lasts does not matter.
Short prayers for the soul of the deceased can be:
“God, the All-Merciful! Rest in peace the soul of your servant, who has passed away (name of the deceased). Amen"
“Merciful God, do not leave without forgiveness and joythe soul of a slave (the name of the deceased), because there is no one who would not sin. Amen"
“Heavenly Father, accept your Kingdom and admit to all the good servant (name of the deceased). Amen"
You can pray for a baby soul like this:
“Father All-Merciful, accept the soul of a pure servant (the name of the deceased child). As You gave, so You called, do not leave me without your mercy. I ask you, Lord, for comfort for yourself. Do not allow melancholy, grant sadness a bright and eternal memory. Amen"
Often, parents ask themselves questions about whether it is possible to pray for the repose of the soul of a child who has not been baptized. As a rule, at the same time, the parents of the deceased themselves did not accept baptism and never thought about religion before the tragedy.
There is no consensus among the priests on this issue. However, "inscrutable are the ways of the Lord." This common phrase applies to all life circumstances without exception, even the saddest ones. If people did not go through the sacrament of baptism, then this does not mean at all that they cannot pray to the Lord.
