The death of a loved one is always a great grief that does not dull over the years. Sometimes it is quite difficult to realize that a beloved relative will never be there again, so this loss is accompanied by tears and longing. But such a reaction cannot help the soul of the deceased in the afterlife, so grief is far from the best way to prove your love for a loved one who has left this world. In addition, Christianity and Orthodoxy in particular even condemn the excessive manifestation of emotional grief, because the soul of the deceased has gone to the best of worlds, and we should rejoice for her.
However, such an attitude does not mean at all that relatives should not worry about their deceased loved one and help him. On the contrary, in the first days after death, the soul needs increased support, expressed in unceasing prayer work. Prayers for the deceased can be read in church and at home, in any case they will benefit the deceased. We will try to tell readers about what, according to Christians, happens to the soul after death and what prayers to read for the deceased.
Prayer work: whyremembering deceased relatives
All relatives should take care of saving the soul of their deceased loved one. After all, the deceased does not always have time to repent of all his sins and is ready to meet the Creator. Unfortunately, even among Orthodox who regularly attend church, such cases are far from uncommon. Therefore, prayer for the departed at home and in church enables the soul to be cleansed of its sins and turns the gaze of God on it. The deceased cannot do this on their own in the afterlife. Such cleansing is considered a great mercy and is bestowed only through prayers for the departed, which are read by living relatives.
But do not forget that the living receive invaluable help from prayer work. Relatives are gradually distracted from the bustle of our world, imbued with love for the Lord and remember that the earthly path still has its end. Prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased give the living hope for another life, help to avoid conscious sins and turn them away from evil.
Also in the modern world, Christians very easily forget that at any moment the Lord can call them to himself, which means that the soul must be ready to meet with the Almighty and a private court. If you read prayers for the repose of the deceased regularly, you will receive a special blessing. After all, God always treats with special love those who take on such obligations voluntarily and from a pure heart. In addition, the deceased themselves also do not stop praying for their relatives left on earth. Thus, an inextricable bond is formed, whichis very important for any Christian and strengthens him thanks to the powerful energy of the whole family.
Rules for reading a prayer
Prayers for the deceased up to 40 days and after this period are not just a necessary ritual, but a sacred duty of every Orthodox person. But not everyone is aware of how to do this correctly and for how long prayers should be regular. In fact, in Orthodoxy there are certain rules that must be observed by everyone who wants to help their deceased relatives.
It is worth considering that prayer for deceased parents, children or any other people is especially important in the first forty days after death. The church always mentions this in a conversation with the relatives of the deceased and recommends reading prayer texts daily. Only in this case can you be sure that you will fulfill your duty to the deceased.
Priests advise in prayer for the departed to remember all relatives. Of course, remembering all their names is quite difficult. But for these purposes, it is recommended to start a special book - a memorial. Earlier, when family traditions were sacredly honored, such books were in every home. The names of living and deceased relatives were recorded there separately. They tried to mention them, if not every day, then at least on special holidays and dates. In this way, our ancestors maintained a close connection with the clan and caused a blessing on their descendants.
Besides, the prayer for the departed gave the living hope that they, too, would not be forgotten by their loved ones after death. So everyone has a chance to be forgivenLord at the request and prayer of his relatives.
Prayers read up to 40 days for the deceased are much more important and effective than those that you will say later. Many do not know that it is possible to offer requests to the Lord not only in the temple, but also at home. An indisputable advantage is the fact that the prayers read for the deceased at home can be absolutely anything. Some of them are forbidden to read in the temple, but away from it you can freely pronounce them and be sure that they will reach the Lord. For example, in the church you can’t pray for suicides, but no one will forbid doing this at home. Also, the clergy will refuse the funeral of unbaptized people, therefore it is forbidden to ask for them within the walls of the temple. But at home, this is possible and will certainly benefit the soul that has left this world.
Prayers read for the dead outside the temple can be anything. But the main thing is to maintain concentration and not be distracted by anything other than the spoken text. One of the important rules is the need to read the entire text in its entirety. Under no circumstances should certain parts or words be excluded.
The emergence of the Christian tradition of praying for deceased relatives
Our ancestors from the most ancient times realized the need to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Initially, they asked for their loved ones in simple words coming from the heart. Special texts were not invented then, and sometimes the prayer was completely silent.
If you delve into the sacred books, you can find out when the first texts appeared, which adoptedguide souls to the afterlife. In Russia, they date back to about the eleventh century. It is believed that one of the princes of Kyiv asked the holy elder to write a prayer that would alleviate the plight of the deceased. This elder was Theodosius of the Caves, who became the founder of the Slavic prayers for the dead.
However, it is also known about another theologian who three centuries earlier was able to compose a whole group of special prayers. John of Damascus, and it was he, as a respect for his friend, wrote several funeral texts. Surprisingly, they are still used during church funerals.
In addition to the usual traditional prayers read for the dead, there are special texts that help the soul to separate from work in case of serious illness and prolonged agony.
Many Orthodox believe that the church primarily cares about the human soul and does not pay attention to the body. However, in the process of the funeral, it is it that is the main part of the ceremony. He is rewarded for all the years that it helped the soul gain the experience necessary for the afterlife.
Ways to Pray for the Dead: Brief Introduction
It is very important to know which prayers to read for the deceased, but the ways in which you will pronounce these texts are no less important. There are several of them, and the clergy believe that up to forty days it is possible to use all of the methods listed below.
Many Orthodox read prayers for the dead at home, the text of which can be taken in any church. Some relatives order funeral services for their deceased loved ones in the temple, others simply come there and pray in front of the images. It is also possible to submit a note with the name of the deceased for the priest to mention him at the liturgy.
Remember that any concern for the soul of the deceased looks good in the face of the Lord and it is necessary to do this for the salvation of the deceased. To understand this, you need to accurately imagine what exactly happens to the deceased after leaving for another world. Let's try to understand this issue together with the readers.
Soul in the afterlife
We think you have already understood that the prayer for the repose of the deceased is very important, but its true meaning and meaning are not available to everyone. No one knows exactly what happens to the soul after death, but fragmentary information about this can still be obtained from the texts of the holy fathers.
They argue that immediately after separation from the case, the disembodied spirit should prepare for judgment and demonic temptations. Without this, it is impossible to determine his appointment before the Last Judgment.
The demons are trying with all their might to remind the soul of all her sins, in which she did not have time to repent, and thus drag her to hell. Only the prayers of loved ones can save us from this. Each uttered text seems to cleanse the soul and move it away from a terrible fate.
After such ordeals, the newly-departed appears before the Lord, who judges him, based on everything done on the earthly path. If the soul turns out to be sinless, then it is taken to heaven. At the hour of the Last Judgment, she will not be subjected to a new judgment, because the original decision remainsunchanged.
But the soul, which ended up in hell after a private trial, can only wait for the Last Judgment. On this day, the Almighty can change the decision made earlier, and this can happen primarily thanks to the texts of the prayer for the departed. If loved ones do not forget about the soul of the deceased and continue to pray for her even after the first forty days, then they may well beg the Lord for a new appointment for her.
There is a story documented by the monks on this topic. Once one of the brothers did not have time to repent of all sins and went to another world. Then he began to dream of the monks in a hellish fire with a face distorted by torment. They were very surprised and began to pray for his soul. Each time the dreams became lighter, and the face of the deceased shone with peace. After a while, the monk stopped dreaming of his brothers, and they realized that they could pray for his soul.
Prayers in the temple
Which prayer for the dead is the most effective, the clergy will not tell you. They are firmly convinced that any prayer feat will have its effect if it is done from a pure heart and with love. But in any case, it is necessary to start with church services. They should be ordered in memory of the deceased as often as possible, and this can be done almost any day, regardless of the calendar date.
Usually Orthodox in the temple are limited to three types of prayers. The prayer for the repose of the departed, read at the liturgy, is considered indispensable. It is one of the shortest and very easy to remember. Such a prayer for the deceased is most effective up to 40days, its text is given below.
The memorial service is also important, having its own specific rules of service. Be sure at this moment, relatives must leave a feasible donation in the temple, expressed in monetary terms.
Almost all Orthodox know that one of the most powerful prayers is magpie. It must be ordered immediately after the death of a person, because this liturgy is served for forty days. After this period, you can order magpie again. Many relatives order such services for a longer period. It can even last six or twelve months.
It is necessary to understand that any of the relatives of the deceased can come to the temple and light a candle for his repose. At the same time, it is not necessary to read a special prayer, you can turn to the Lord in your own words coming from the heart.
Prayers for the home
Of course, it is important to pray in church, but it is not always possible to do it daily. Therefore, it is necessary to know what kind of prayer is read for the deceased up to 40 days at home. In fact, absolutely all texts are suitable for these purposes, except for them, you can give alms and do other things in the name of the Lord. All of them will count towards the soul of the deceased and help her in the afterlife.
Priests advise seeing off the deceased with texts from the Psalms. Even in ancient times, the apostles recommended pronouncing them so that the soul would more easily find its way on the other side and be able to go through all the ordeals and temptations intended for it. It's believed thatsuch a reading will have a beneficial effect on the deceased and reassure his living relatives. The Word of God will comfort all those who are in sorrow and protect the soul of the deceased.
You can read kathisma not to one person, but to several in turn. You can agree on this with relatives and share the texts between them. It is important to do this daily, because the Lord is more important than prayer work, and not the money that you can donate to the temple. Priests say that in the first forty days it is already difficult for the soul in the new world, and the prayer of loved ones serves as a kind of beacon for them and shows the way.
A few words about prayers at the cemetery
Do not forget that the Orthodox should pray during the burial and every time they come to the grave of a loved one. A cemetery is a special place that requires respect and observance of a certain ritual.
I would like to note that the relatives of the deceased must always keep the grave clean and tidy. This is the sacred duty of every Christian. There must be a cross at the burial site. It is installed, according to tradition, at the feet of the deceased, so that he always faces the crucifix.
At the grave, relatives should light a church candle and read any prayer that you know. In no case should you eat, drink and talk loudly in the cemetery - this is contrary to all Orthodox canons. Leaving food and a memorial glass of vodka on the graves is especially condemned; this tradition dates back to pagan times with its traditions. That's whyclergy warn my flock against such behavior.
It is noteworthy that prayer at the grave can have absolutely any character. The main thing in this situation is that relatives remembered the deceased and broke away from their vain affairs in order to honor his memory and slightly illuminate his path in the afterlife.
The most significant days after death
Our ancestors knowingly identified special days that are most important for the soul of the deceased and his relatives. Among them, nine and forty days stand out, which are kind of milestones for the deceased. Prayers for deceased parents, children and other loved ones should be especially intense on and before the indicated dates. The easiest way to turn to the Lord daily is with the following prayer:
However, it is not the main one, and therefore, most likely, it belongs to complementary ones. In order to understand the significance of nine and forty days, you need to talk with the priest. He can tell the relatives of the deceased about exactly how the soul travels in the afterlife before determining its permanent destination.
According to Orthodox texts, the first days after his death, the deceased can be very close to his family. Some souls spend time in their home, others hover invisibly over their favorite places in life, and still others do not part with the person who was dearest to them. During these days, two angels are with the soul. One was given to a person at birth and was his keeper throughoutlife. And the second one becomes a guide to the Lord and therefore is sent to the soul at the moment of its earthly death and transition to another world.
On the third day, the angels finally tear the soul away from all its attachments and accompany it to God. But along the way, she goes through a series of temptations that are arranged by demons. They want a person to remember all his sins and turn away from eternal and bright life next to the Lord. Demons do not leave the soul for a second, they seek to drag it to hell. And only angels with their strength and prayers for the repose of the deceased up to 40 days, read by loved ones, protect him from temptations and help him pass them.
The next six days are given to the soul so that it can stay in paradise and enjoy its beauty. On the ninth day, angels accompany the person to hell, showing him all the horrors of this place. There he remains until the hour of the private judgment, which is appointed on the fortieth day.
That is why the terms we have announced are decisive for the soul. All prayers read for her later will no longer be able to influence the determination of the place for the deceased until the Last Judgment.
Orthodox traditions associated with prayer for the deceased
According to Orthodox rites, at the time of death over the body of the deceased, it is necessary to read the Following. The text of this prayer helps the soul to completely separate from the body and follow the angels along the path prepared for it. The following consists of a prayer, troparia and several kontakions. It is quite complex texts, so we will not present them in the article. Besidesit is allowed to read them from a sheet, and not from memory. Therefore, relatives of the deceased will not experience any special difficulties.
Literally after the end of the Follow-up, relatives should start reading the Ps alter. You can do this around the clock, but, of course, for this you will have to change among themselves. Many Christians organize a real watch in the house of the deceased, not for a moment stopping to pray for him.
In parallel, one of the relatives should immediately go to the temple after death and order several requiems. At the same time, you can agree on the funeral, which takes place on the third day after the departure of the soul to another world. Keep in mind that you need to prepare very carefully for the funeral ceremony. To serve in the church shop, relatives purchase a special set. If your house is located far from the temple, and you can’t bring the coffin with the body of the deceased to it, then the priest can be invited home. However, in this case, the relatives must independently organize his delivery to the place and back.
After the funeral, the deceased is buried, but relatives should not stop reading the Ps alter. It is best to do this around the clock in turn, then it will be easier for the soul to pass all the tests with dignity and be completely cleansed of its sins.
On the ninth and fortieth day, loved ones gather to commemorate the deceased. These days, everyone can pray for the soul of the deceased any of the prayers known to him and remember his good deeds throughout life.
How to pray for the deceased at home?
In Orthodoxy, it is believed that about allloved ones who have left this world, you need to pray in the morning. This is written in the morning prayer rule, but in the case when you cannot fulfill it, it is not forbidden to turn to God with the names of your deceased relatives on your lips at any time of the day.
There are several special texts for this purpose, which we cannot but mention. The prayer work of children, which they bear for the souls of their parents, is considered very correct and Christianly righteous. Thus, they give them a sacred duty and show their love. The prayer of children for deceased parents is very important for both parties, so it should not be neglected. We reproduce the text in full.
A similar prayer for the deceased mother or father is read daily up to forty days from the date of death and on subsequent days if desired. You should definitely pronounce this text on the days of remembrance associated with the life of the deceased, and predetermined by the Russian Orthodox Church.
If trouble came to your house and your beloved spouse left this world, then you need to ask the Lord for him in special words. Prayer for the deceased husband will help his soul find its way faster and will support the inconsolable widow in her grief. The fact is that in Orthodoxy marriage does not end after death. Even in the afterlife, a husband will protect his wife and pray for her well-being, and a woman should also do the same. We give the text of the prayer below.
Don't forget to ask for your deceased loved onenecessary even after the important forty days. For this, Orthodoxy has a special prayer.
It is necessary to read this text at the call of the heart, but do not forget that with such work you help the deceased and at the same time change your fate for the better.
Commemoration of those who have gone to another world
Often people, even knowing special prayers, get lost in those days when they need to be said without fail. In fact, there are not too many such dates, so it will not be difficult to remember them.
First of all, all relatives should come together on the day of the death of their loved one. On this date, it is supposed to pray for the deceased, come to his grave and light candles, as well as order funeral services in the temple. In addition, the distribution of alms to the poor near the church is also encouraged. After giving alms, you need to name the deceased, so that not only you, but also people who were able to appreciate your generosity asked for him before God.
It is also necessary to remember the dead on Radonitsa. This day is predetermined by the Orthodox Church, and therefore belongs to the category of mandatory. If you want to pay tribute to your loved one who has passed away, then come to the grave on this day and light a candle for his repose in the temple.
In addition to the days listed, there are also special parental Saturdays. They are intended to ensure that relatives remember all the deceased. There are five such Saturdays in a year, they are always separately marked in church calendars.
Do not forget that the commemoration of the departed Orthodox must also take place according to certain rules. Like many others in Christianity, they are extremely simple. In the morning, go to church and submit a note with the name or names of the deceased for the liturgy. It will be good if you also order a memorial service.
At the cemetery, you can honor the lithium (it consists of a large number of texts that are quite difficult to remember), and then set the table for relatives and friends of the deceased. It should not resemble a magnificent festive feast and usually consists of three or four simple dishes. Remember that the memorial meal is a tribute to the deceased, and not an occasion to communicate with each other.
We hope that our article was useful to you and now you know exactly all the details of Orthodox funeral rites. And you also perfectly understand how important it is not to stop praying for your loved ones. After all, you can do this in any free minute at home.
