A short memorial service. Commemoration of the departed (requiem service, magpie)

When someone close to you passes away, you need to make a lot of important decisions and organize a farewell. But if the deceased was a baptized person, it is imperative to take care of his soul, order a funeral service and a memorial service for the deceased. These are very important farewell rites in Orthodoxy, in which all loved ones should participate.

Why do you need a church farewell?

The Christian belief is that after bodily death, a person’s soul moves to another world, the spiritual, which is invisible to us on this earth. In the first days it is especially difficult for her, because she has to go through ordeals - evil spirits prevent her from getting to heaven. Therefore, church prayer for dead Christians is obligatory. Even before death, it is necessary to invite a priest to read all the prayers for the departure of the soul from the body, confess and give communion. This is the best death for a believer!

A memorial service for the deceased is served before the funeral; for this, the priest can be called home. Usually a car is required to pick him up from the temple and bring him back; the amount of the donation must be negotiated individually (the singers usually come only for payment, but the priest may not take the money if the deceased often went to the temple). All those present must pray; according to tradition, lit candles are held in their hands. The ritual takes about half an hour.

If you follow traditions, the body should spend the night in the temple, and psalms should be read over it. Or, if possible, the memorial service itself for the deceased is celebrated in a church, and not in a cemetery or at home. Of course, this is additional trouble, but we must do everything possible, because we are talking about eternal fate.

You cannot cry too much over the body, so as not to hold the soul of the deceased. It is better to spend more time in prayer. One of the relatives can read the psalter at home if it is not possible to spend the whole night near the body.

To order a memorial service for the deceased, you must come to the temple. It is much easier if the whole family is churchgoer, or you can turn to someone who often attends church. If you don’t have such acquaintances, go to the church store; as a rule, all the needs are ordered there. The priest will be given everything, or given a number where you can contact him.

During Lent, memorial services for the deceased are served by prior arrangement. In general, there are special days for commemoration, but usually in such matters they always meet halfway.

Sacred duty

Although a person ends his earthly journey, his soul remains in eternity. Therefore, it is imperative to pray for the departed, preferably daily. It is very good to read the kathismas - these are several psalms, they are accompanied by special prayers, where the name of the deceased (deceased) is called. You can also find a short version in the prayer books, which will also be useful.

The text of the memorial service for the departed contains the usual initial prayers, the 90th Psalm. Next come the troparia, and a special canon is also sung. A special litany (petition) is read. There is an option for the laity, which can be read independently in the cemetery or at home if you were unable to invite a priest.

It is customary to commemorate the dead:

Day 3 - the tradition was established in memory of the fact that Jesus was resurrected on the third day. It is believed that during the first 2 days the soul visits places dear to the heart. It is on the 3rd day that the ascension to heaven begins.

Day 9 - according to the number of angelic ranks. Until this day, the deceased travels through the heavenly abodes. If he has sinned a lot, he will lament that he spent little time serving God.

The 40th day is a number often found in the Bible, a necessary time for the proper purification of a person. It is believed that on this day the place of the soul is determined, where it will be until the Last Judgment.

It is also customary to celebrate the anniversary; this must be done with prayer, good deeds, and avoiding alcohol (as at any Christian funeral). It is good to give alms for the deceased. It is also customary to give part of the funeral meal to the poor, or bring it to the temple. It is left on a special table near the eve (a low, square-shaped candlestick, near which funeral services are performed) - only meat products cannot be left.

There are other forms of prayer, you can resort to them constantly, not only on certain dates. It is best to order commemoration at the Liturgy - particles are taken from the prosphora for the deceased, which are then washed in the Chalice with sacramental wine, which is the Blood of Christ.

It is believed that the souls of sinners who have repented but did not have time to do good deeds will endure torment, which can be alleviated through the prayers of loved ones. Just don’t think that just submitting a note is enough. You must be at the service and pray. Worthy remembrance is necessary for any Christian. Prayer - church and personal - is the best thing the living can do for the soul of the deceased.

Memorial Service for the Dead Text

When, during a memorial service in the church, a candle for repose is placed on the eve (the funeral marble table on which the cells for candles and the Cross are located), a prayer is offered to the Lord:

“Remember, Lord, the souls of your departed servants (names), and all my relatives, and forgive them all their sins, voluntary and involuntary, grant them the Kingdom and the sacrament of your eternal blessings, and create for them an eternal memory.”

The text is repeated three times.

Listen to the memorial service for the departed online

Memorial service for the dead (text) - how to order in church or during Lent was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub

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For people of faith, church services and rituals are important throughout their lives. At birth, a child is baptized, as if entrusting his fate into the hands of the Lord. Then comes the first communion. Then, when a person becomes an adult and starts a family, there is a wedding. To be cleansed of sins, he confesses. To maintain health, he orders appropriate prayer services. And the churchgoers also go on their last journey with the parting words of the priest who unctioned them and served a requiem mass for them.

Meaning of the word

For those who do not know, a memorial service - what it is, let us explain. for a deceased person. That is, a service that lasts throughout the night and turns into matins, or the funeral morning service. It should be noted, explaining what a memorial service is, that this is a rite characteristic specifically of Orthodoxy. It is not performed in Catholicism and Protestant denominations. True, as the priests explain, at home, in a private (cell) setting, you can pray for a person of other faiths and read psalms. There is no funeral service held in the church for such people who have introduced themselves. What does this mean for the deceased? If he is not carried out on his last journey according to his religion, then he will appear before his Creator without a funeral service. For people of faith, such a death is a great tragedy, for prayers for a sinful soul are extremely important. In addition to the church service, there is also a civil memorial service. What this is - we will outline below.

Types of church funeral services

The first of the funeral services is performed over the newly deceased body - before it is buried in the ground. The next one is held on the third day after his departure to the other world. Then on the 9th, 40th. Then the first and subsequent anniversaries of death, birthdays and name days are celebrated - a memorial service is also ordered for them in the church. What does this mean: a service must be held for every deceased person on his saint’s day. In addition to individual ones, there are also general memorial services - they are called Ecumenical. These are traditional days when all the dead are remembered. For example, Parents' Saturday. The memorial service for the deceased has another, historical church name: funeral rites. It is performed at home, when a priest comes specially on call, and in a church, and in a cemetery.

Civil funeral service

This is a formal solemn ceremony not associated with spiritual realms. Such a memorial service for the deceased is usually done for high-ranking officials, heads of state or famous, illustrious personalities. At the funerals of famous actors, writers, musicians and other representatives of the cultural elite, prominent politicians, and military leaders, farewell speeches are made, and long processions follow the coffin. A civil memorial service may include a guard of honor, funeral rallies, the obligatory laying of wreaths and bouquets, and a ceremonial fireworks display. Sometimes such actions develop into manifestations, political actions, if the deceased was a member of some informal or dissident organization. In this regard, a civil memorial service is fundamentally different from a church funeral. True, in some cases both rituals can be combined.

The structure of the Old Russian funeral service

The funeral service has undergone a number of structural changes during its existence.

Initially, in the era of Ancient Rus', Byzantine canons and rules were the model for worship. At that time it began approximately in the first half of the night and included:

Litany (words calling for prayer, containing a series of petitions and glorification of the Lord).
3 antiphons (choir chants, symbolizing the voices of angels, also praising the Almighty).
5 special prayers. This rite has existed in Russian Christianity since approximately the 8th century. Song services for the repose were often held on the name days of holy martyrs, especially at their resting places. This determined which saints should be prayed to on a particular day. Subsequently, the ceremony was postponed until the second half of the night. Some funeral services were reduced to a common service, while others were reduced to paraklisis.

Panikhida in Orthodoxy

Later, already in Russian Orthodoxy, its own regulations for celebrating a memorial service were developed. At first, the Charter prescribed that it should be held on Trinity Saturday (before the holy holiday) and on another Saturday, called “Meat Saturday.” Then such memorial services were called “Ecumenical”. These now include, in addition to the dates already listed, funeral services on Saturdays of the second, third and fourth weeks of Lent, on Radonitsa (Fomin Monday and Tuesday) and on the Saturday before the Intercession.

At this time, it was customary to remember relatives and friends, all brothers and sisters in faith and those Christians who suffered sudden death and who were not buried in time. At the same time, it was decided to hold memorial services for the deceased before he was buried and then on certain days and anniversaries.

The order of the service was recorded in the Trebnik, Psalter, Octoechos and “Following the Dead” specially intended for this purpose. It also contains instructions about which saints to pray to and which spiritual texts to read.

An ordinary memorial service consists of funeral matins (the main part) and litia (conclusion). Kutya (also called koliv) is placed on a table with a crucifix and candles, in front of which the ritual is performed. After the ceremony, this dish is eaten by all those gathered. Litiya is read when the deceased is taken out of the house or other room where he was, as well as when he is brought into the vestibule of the temple, after the funeral procession returns from the cemetery, etc. The last chant of the requiem service is “Eternal Memory.” The song is sung by everyone present at the service. If a person died during Lent, only lithium is served for it.

Cost of the ritual

Suppose you need a memorial service for deceased loved ones. "How much does the ceremony cost?" - the question is quite relevant and not at all idle. Naturally, there is no single tariff, and each parish has its own prices. You should inquire about them in advance from the clergy to whom you are going to address your requests. For example, just a memorial note, that is, a proskomedia, can cost 10 rubles and more; the cost of sorokoustov starts from one hundred rubles, only memorial services cost the same, and funeral services - approximately 500. In different churches, these figures can fluctuate between 50-100 rubles.

Why is a memorial service needed?

What role do the hymns of the memorial service play, the prayers during it, and in general, why does the deceased person need this whole ritual? Firstly, it facilitates the soul’s transition from one state to another, from being in the body to incorporeality. When they pray for the deceased, give alms and donations, this is a kind of intercession for his soul before the Almighty. And the more merciful deeds are performed and prayers are read, the more grounds there are for the many sins of the deceased to be forgiven.

This is the story of the lives of the saints and is spoken of in Scripture. As the Church teaches, on the first and second days she is accompanied by an angel sent for her, with whom she travels to places that were dear to the deceased. She remembers her lost life and is touched by some events and repents for others. On the third day the soul must come before God to worship Him. This is a very important and responsible moment, therefore a memorial service must be held for it. It is the first intercession for sinners, of whom we all are. From the third to the ninth days, the soul is in contemplation of the heavenly abode, enjoying its beauty and the benefits that staying in it promises. And on the 9th she again goes to God to worship. Therefore, the next memorial service is dedicated to this date, at which they intensely pray for the forgiveness of the soul and for it to be left in heaven with other holy souls.

The next location of the soul of the deceased is on the threshold of hell, where it sees with a shudder the torment of sinners. On the fortieth day she appears for the third time before the throne of the Lord. And a memorial service held for 40 days has special power, because the fate of the departed soul is decided depending on its lifetime deeds. And prayers and remembrance for the deceased soften God’s sentence and can even completely justify the person who has passed into another world.

Symbolism of numbers

How to order a memorial service? You can find out about this from the priest in the temple. They will explain to you in detail what you need to do, who to contact, etc. We will return again to the symbolism of numbers. The three-day memorial service is also celebrated in honor of the Resurrection of Christ and the Holy Trinity. Nine-day - for the glorification of the 9 who, before the King of Heaven, ask for mercy for the sinner. The memorial service on the 40th day is celebrated in memory of the forty-day mourning of the Jews for Moses; about a fast of the same duration, after which Moses was honored to speak with God and received the tablets from Him; about the 40-year walk of the Jews in the desert; about the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven after he died, was resurrected and was with his disciples on earth for another 40 days. That is why the Christian Orthodox Church advises commemorating the dead on the 40th day, so that their souls can ascend to Heavenly Sinai, behold our Father, achieve the bliss promised by the Almighty and remain in heaven among the righteous. Therefore, it is so important that on each of these days the relatives of the deceased order a service and submit a memorial note. Memorial service and liturgy are very useful for souls.

Regulations for Part 1

Let us now consider in detail the content side of the ritual. Its usual regulations are as follows. The requiem service begins with the exclamation “Blessed is our God always, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.” Its text has remained unchanged for many centuries. Then the priest and all those present read the main prayer of the believers three times - “Our Father.” This is followed by a twelvefold repetition of the exclamation “Lord, have mercy!”, Orthodox prayers “Glory even now,” “Come and let us worship.” Next we read Psalm No. 90, the most important for all Christians, better known by its first line: “He who lives in help...”. It is comforting for everyone who lives with God in the heart, as it paints a picture of the soul’s happy transition from earthly ordeals to an eternal joyful and carefree life in heaven, next to the Creator.

Through the image of fantastic monsters, asps and dragons, the psalm allegorically reflects the obstacles that stand in the way of the deceased for his rapprochement with the Heavenly Father. However, the Lord does not leave His children alone, supporting them in all trials, including these. This psalm forms the basis of the service. Funeral services are not complete without it, because the essence of the ritual is deeply reflected in this work.

Then the litany “Let us pray to the Lord in peace” sounds. The priest reads petitions - ordinary and for the dead. The first of the petitions is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins. After all, it is they who can not let the soul into heaven, but prepare for it eternal torment. The petition ends with the exclamation: “Let us pray to the Lord!” The second petition is for the sick, the weak, the grieving, and those thirsting for consolation. It ends with the traditional appeal to pray to God that He would deliver from all misfortunes and pains, and send the light of hope and encouragement. The third petition is for the soul of the deceased, so that the Lord would send it to the “green places” where all the righteous reside. It ends with the same “Let us pray to the Lord” and a glorification of the Holy Trinity. The litany ends with the singing of “Hallelujah.” This part is completed by such dirge chants as the troparion “Dove Wisdom.”

Regulations for Part 2

Next they sing the troparion “On the Immaculate”, in the chorus of which there are the following words: “Blessed are you, Lord...”. Then they pronounce a new litany - the funeral litany - and sing “Rest, Savior...”. After this, the priest reads the 50th Psalm and sings the canon with his servants. Between its parts (after songs 3, 6, 9) small litanies for the dead are read. The kontakion “Rest with the saints” and the ikos “He is One…” should sound. Litiya is the final part of the funeral service. It begins with the reading of the “Trisagion”, continues with the troparion of the 4th tone “With the Spirits of the Righteous”, the litany “Have Mercy on Us” and the chant “Eternal Memory”.

Parastas

This is the name of the great memorial service. During the service, the choir sings “Immaculate” and the entire canon. The word “parastas” is translated from ancient Greek as “petition.” And it is great because prayer services are held for all dead Christians. The service begins on Friday evening and continues at night (all-night vigil) on parental Saturdays. Such a memorial service consists of the traditional beginning, the great litany, troparions, kafissa 17, psalm 50, canon and small service.

Cemetery funeral service

How is a funeral service held at the cemetery? The ritual has its own characteristics. First of all, the difference is that a lithium is performed at the grave, that is, part of the memorial service. The reason for this lies in the nature of the service itself. Funeral matins should be held in the church, since there is a holy altar, a table with a crucifix and other necessary objects of worship. It begins with “Blessed be God,” at the end of which all those present and the singers say: “Amen.” Then the “Our Father” is read three times and the troparia (funeral) “From the spirits of the righteous” are sung.

This is followed by the funeral litany proper, the exclamation “Glory to Thee, Christ...” and dismissal, when the clergy present exclaim three times “Eternal memory...”. At the very end of the ritual, “God bless...” is said quietly. This is a very important prayer that unites all believers, living and deceased, into one whole in the bosom of the Holy Church before the face of the Lord. Kutya is usually not brought for such a litiya. An exception may be Friday funeral services, which are more solemn and therefore stand out especially.

Notes on remembrance

It is customary in churches to submit notes for commemoration, but this only applies to those who died who were baptized, that is, they belong to Orthodoxy. It must be written cleanly and accurately, legibly, so that the priest can read everything correctly. What exactly should the note look like? A memorial service is served for those deceased who are represented as follows:

The name must be written in the genitive case (whom? - Anna).
The form of the name must be full, not abbreviated or diminutive. This applies not only to adults, but also to deceased children. That’s why they indicate: not Dima, but Dimitri.
You definitely need to find out the church version of secular, worldly names. For example, Yegor has a spiritual analogue of George, Polina has Appolinaria.
If the note is about a child, then up to the age of 7 he is recorded as a “baby”, then, up to the age of 15, as a youth.
Last and patronymic names, citizenship, rank, nationality are not indicated in memorial notes.
It can be noted how long ago a person left this world. You should write “newly deceased” if 40 days have not yet passed, “deceased” - if it is later. The term “ever-memorable” is used if the deceased has a memorable date on a given day.
The notes do not mention those who are recognized as saints by the Church. In “repose” notes, anyone can write not only the names of their blood relatives, but also their deceased friends, teachers, and generally dear people.

Death anniversary

As already indicated, the deceased should be commemorated not only on the 3rd, 9th, 40th days after death, but also on the anniversary and other important dates. All of them are an excellent reason for funeral prayer, which is so necessary for the human soul. This is the invaluable help that “from here” can be provided by those living to a person who has passed into another world.

How is a memorial service celebrated on the anniversary of death? You should come to church at the start of the service in the morning. Write a memorial note in advance, and give it to the candle holder in the temple. Usually such notes are accepted at proskomedia, masses, and litanies. During the funeral service they are read out loud. The deceased themselves are considered “of everlasting memory.”

After serving the service, you need to go to the cemetery, stay there, lay flowers, and pray. You should definitely give alms, give food or clothing to the homeless. After all, good deeds done in the name of a person are, as the church teaches, a good help to the soul. Then remember the deceased at the meal. Before eating, you need to read “Our Father” or Psalm 90.

Forties

A memorial service for 40 days is considered very important. You definitely need to order it (or sorokoust) and pay money. According to some beliefs, the soul leaves the earth on this day and goes forever to another world to await the day of judgment. According to others, on the contrary, she returns to people for a short time to say goodbye and part forever with those who were once dear. Prayers, memorial services and magpies are extremely important right now, as they can determine the place where the soul will reside for eternity. The Church considers it extremely useful to order the Indestructible Psalter before this date. Rituals in the church are carried out according to routine.

After the main service, ask for a memorial service. You can order lithium from the cemetery. Memorial notes are sent, graves are visited, and refreshments are organized. Or Christians do this: on the eve of an important day, they order a commemoration in church during the Liturgy, on the forties themselves they perform a memorial service, read the psalter during the day, and hold a wake in the evening. The day should be spent sedately, in conversations and memories of the one for whose sake everything is being done. Without observing these rituals, it is very difficult for the soul in its new abode. Therefore, it is impossible for the living to deny the dead support through the Lord.

Meaning of the word

For those who don’t know, a memorial service – what it is, let us explain. This is an all-night vigil for a deceased person. That is, a service that lasts throughout the night and turns into matins, or the funeral morning service. It should be noted, explaining what a memorial service is, that this is a rite characteristic specifically of Orthodoxy. It is not performed in Catholicism and Protestant denominations. True, as the priests explain, at home, in a private (cell) setting, you can pray for a person of other faiths and read psalms. There is no funeral service held in the church for such people who have introduced themselves. What does this mean for the deceased? If he is not carried out on his last journey according to his religion, then he will appear before his Creator without a funeral service. For people of faith, such a death is a great tragedy, for prayers for a sinful soul are extremely important. In addition to the church service, there is also a civil memorial service. What this is – we will outline below.

Types of church funeral services

The first of the funeral services is performed over the newly deceased body - before it is buried in the ground. The next one is held on the third day after his departure to the other world. Then on the 9th, 40th. Then the first and subsequent anniversaries of death, birthdays and name days are celebrated - for these, a memorial service is also ordered in the church. What does this mean: a service must be held for every deceased person on his saint’s day. In addition to individual ones, there are also general memorial services - they are called Ecumenical. These are traditional days when all the dead are remembered. For example, Parents' Saturday. The memorial service for the deceased has another, historical church name: funeral rites. It is performed at home, when a priest comes specially on call, and in a church, and in a cemetery.

Civil funeral service

The structure of the Old Russian funeral service

The funeral service has undergone a number of structural changes during its existence.

Initially, in the era of Ancient Rus', Byzantine canons and rules were the model for worship. At that time it began approximately in the first half of the night and included:

Litany (words calling for prayer, containing a series of petitions and glorification of the Lord).
3 antiphons (choir chants, symbolizing the voices of angels, also praising the Almighty).
5 special prayers. This rite has existed in Russian Christianity since approximately the 8th century. Song services for the repose were often held on the name days of holy martyrs, especially at their resting places. This determined which saints should be prayed to on a particular day. Subsequently, the ceremony was postponed until the second half of the night. Some memorial services were reduced to a general commemoration of the dead, others to paraklisis.

Panikhida in Orthodoxy

Later, already in Russian Orthodoxy, its own regulations for celebrating a memorial service were developed. At first, the Charter prescribed that it should be held on Trinity Saturday (before the holy holiday) and on another Saturday, called “Meat Saturday.” Then such memorial services were called “Ecumenical”. These now include, in addition to the dates already listed, services on Demetrius Saturday, memorial services on Saturdays of the second, third and fourth weeks of Lenten, on Radonitsa (Fomin Monday and Tuesday) and on the Saturday before the Intercession.

An ordinary memorial service consists of funeral matins (the main part) and litia (conclusion). Kutya (also called koliv) is placed on a table with a crucifix and candles, in front of which the ritual is performed. After the ceremony, this dish is eaten by all those gathered. Litiya is read when the deceased is taken out of the house or other room where he was, as well as when he is brought into the vestibule of the church, after the funeral procession returns from the cemetery, etc. The last chant of the requiem service is “Eternal Memory.” The song is sung by everyone present at the service. If a person died during Lent, only lithium is served for it.

Cost of the ritual

Suppose you need a memorial service for deceased loved ones. "How much does the ceremony cost?" – the question is quite relevant and not at all idle. Naturally, there is no single tariff, and each parish has its own prices. You should inquire about them in advance from the clergy to whom you are going to address your requests. For example, just a memorial note, that is, a proskomedia, can cost 10 rubles and more; the cost of sorokoustov starts from one hundred rubles, only memorial services cost the same, and funeral services - approximately 500. In different churches, these figures can fluctuate between 50-100 rubles.

Why is a memorial service needed?

This is the story of the lives of the saints and is spoken of in Scripture. As the Church teaches, on the first and second days after death, the soul is accompanied by an angel sent for it, with whom it travels to places that were dear to the deceased. She remembers her lost life and is touched by some events and repents for others. On the third day the soul must come before God to worship Him. This is a very important and responsible moment, therefore a memorial service must be held for it. It is the first intercession for sinners, of whom we all are. From the third to the ninth days, the soul is in contemplation of the heavenly abode, enjoying its beauty and the benefits that staying in it promises. And on the 9th she again goes to God to worship. Therefore, the next memorial service is dedicated to this date, at which they intensely pray for the forgiveness of the soul and for it to be left in heaven with other holy souls.

Symbolism of numbers

How to order a memorial service? You can find out about this from the priest in the temple. They will explain to you in detail what you need to do, who to contact, etc. We will return again to the symbolism of numbers. The three-day memorial service is also celebrated in honor of the Resurrection of Christ and the Holy Trinity. Nine-day - for the glorification of the 9 angelic ranks, which before the King of Heaven ask for mercy for the sinner. The memorial service on the 40th day is celebrated in memory of the forty-day mourning of the Jews for Moses; about a fast of the same duration, after which Moses was honored to speak with God and received the tablets from Him; about the 40-year walk of the Jews in the desert; about the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven after he died, was resurrected and was with his disciples on earth for another 40 days. That is why the Christian Orthodox Church advises commemorating the dead on the 40th day, so that their souls can ascend to Heavenly Sinai, behold our Father, achieve the bliss promised by the Almighty and remain in heaven among the righteous. Therefore, it is so important that on each of these days the relatives of the deceased order a service and submit a memorial note. Memorial service and liturgy are very useful for souls.

Regulations for Part 1

Regulations for Part 2

Parastas

Cemetery funeral service

Notes on remembrance

The name must be written in the genitive case (whom? - Anna).
The form of the name must be full, not abbreviated or diminutive. This applies not only to adults, but also to deceased children. That’s why they indicate: not Dima, but Dimitri.
You definitely need to find out the church version of secular, worldly names. For example, Yegor has a spiritual analogue of George, Polina has Appolinaria.
If the note is about a child, then up to the age of 7 he is recorded as a “baby”, then, up to the age of 15, as an adolescent.
Surnames and patronymics, citizenship, rank, nationality or degrees of relationship are not indicated in memorial notes.
It can be noted how long ago a person left this world. You should write “newly deceased” if 40 days have not yet passed, “deceased” - if it is later. The term “ever-memorable” is used if the deceased has a memorable date on a given day.
The notes do not mention those who are recognized as saints by the Church. In “repose” notes, anyone can write not only the names of their blood relatives, but also their deceased friends, teachers, and generally dear people.

Death anniversary

Forties

A memorial service is a short service consisting of prayers for the forgiveness of sins and the repose of the deceased in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Memorial services are performed before the burial of the deceased and after - on the third, ninth and fortieth day, as well as on birthdays, name days, and on the anniversary of death.
Funeral services, which begin almost immediately after the death of a Christian, are of great importance for his soul. In accordance with the doctrine of the Orthodox Church, based on the mystical experience of saints and devotees of piety, the human soul, after its separation from the body, undergoes ordeals that predetermine its posthumous fate. That is why in the first hours and days after death, the soul of the deceased has a great need for the help of the Holy Church, which is given to them in funeral services. One of them is a memorial service for the deceased.
To order a memorial service, you need to contact the church shop. It is better to remember the name of one person, but ten names are possible.
If you have ordered a memorial service, you need to be present during the service and pray diligently with the priest, especially at the moment when the priest reads your note with the names of those for whom you are praying.
The memorial service is performed only for Christians baptized in Orthodoxy. The names of unbaptized people, suicides, atheists, apostates, and heretics cannot be written in notes.
"Rest in peace"- sung during the funeral service. The physical death of a person does not mean complete peace for the deceased. After all, his soul may suffer, not find peace for itself, it may be tormented by unrepentant sins and remorse. That is why we, the living, pray for the departed, asking God to give them peace and relief. The Church does not anticipate from the Lord the all-justice of the mystery of His Judgment over the souls of our departed loved ones; it proclaims the fundamental law of this Judgment - Divine mercy - and raises us to prayer for the departed, giving complete freedom to our hearts to express themselves in prayerful sighs, to pour out in tears and petitions.
During the service of memorial services, the gathered relatives and acquaintances of the deceased stand with lit candles as a sign that they believe in a bright future life; at the end of the requiem service (during the reading of the Lord's Prayer), these candles are extinguished as a sign that our earthly life, like a burning candle, must go out, most often before it burns out to the end we envision.
In the Russian Church there is a custom of bringing various foodstuffs on the eve. Kanun (or eve) is a special table (square or rectangular) on which there is a Cross with a Crucifix and holes for candles. Before the eve there are funeral services. Usually on the eve they put bread, cookies, sugar, flour, sunflower oil - everything that does not contradict fasting. You can donate lamp oil and Cahors oil for the eve. It is prohibited to bring meat food into the temple.
These offerings serve as donations, alms for those who have passed away. In former times, there was a custom to set funeral tables at which the poor, homeless, and orphans were fed, so that there would be many people praying for the deceased. For prayer and, especially for alms, many sins are forgiven, and the afterlife is made easier.
In addition to memorial services for individual deceased, the Church also performs the so-called. ecumenical or parental funeral services. They are served on special days called Parents' Saturdays:
meat-eating (on Saturday, before the start of Maslenitsa);
Trinity (Saturday, on the eve of the Feast of the Holy Trinity);
Dimitrievskaya (the last Saturday before the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki - November 8). The establishment of commemoration on this Saturday belongs to Dmitry Donskoy, who, after the Battle of Kulikovo, commemorated the soldiers who fell in it, with the advice and blessing of St. Sergius of Radonezh, established this commemoration to be performed annually on the Saturday before October 26 (old style). Subsequently, other dead people began to be commemorated along with the soldiers;
2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks (weeks) of Great Lent;
to Radonitsa;
September 11, on the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist;
On May 9, a commemoration is held for the deceased soldiers who laid down their lives on the battlefield for the Faith and Fatherland.

When there is no remembrance of the dead

Memorial services, funeral services in absentia and any funeral prayers, except for the commemoration of notes on the Proskomedia, are not performed in all churches during the period from Thursday of Holy Week (the last week before Easter) to Antipascha (the first Sunday after Easter). In-person funeral services are allowed on these days, except for Easter itself. The rite of the Easter funeral service is very different from the usual one, since it contains many joyful Easter chants.
On the Nativity of Christ, other twelve holidays, the patronal feast, funeral prayer is canceled by the Charter, but can be performed at the discretion of the rector of the temple.
A memorial service is a more complete rite of remembrance, and a lithium is its short version.
Sorokoust repose is ordered after the death or funeral service, or at any desired time.
Sorokoust - commemoration of the departed at the Liturgy continuously for forty days after death. It is usually completed on the fortieth or forty-first day after death. These days include the day of death itself. But we must remember that the Church Charter prescribes commemoration at the Liturgy not until the 40th day after death, but until the completion of the days of forty offerings, that is, before forty liturgical commemorations are served. Therefore, if the commemoration during the Liturgy did not begin on the very day of death (which most often happens), or if it was performed for some reason with interruptions, then it should be continued until the full number of liturgical commemorations have been performed, no matter how long the time for this may be. required. A similar situation usually arises when commemorating the deceased during Lent, since liturgical commemoration should begin only on the Monday after Antipascha. The fortieth day must be celebrated in its own time, if the Charter allows for the commemoration of the dead on this day, at least as a private requirement. If not, then on the next day when such a commemoration can be performed.
You can order a memorial service for the deceased for six months or a year.
Our prayer to God is what connects us and the deceased, it is that small pebble that can tip the scales and decide the fate of a person in eternity. Our and church prayer is what the deceased and his soul need.

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There comes a day in everyone's life when they lose a loved one. Then time stops - and everything around “dies” along with it. The person leaves forever. We are not able to return him, but here, in earthly life, remembering him, thereby helping him there, in heaven, to find the long-awaited peace and tranquility. That is why, on the main dates of departure to another world, a church memorial service is held, which is of great importance for a believer.

Requiem service for the repose when ordered: what is a requiem service

A memorial service is a service, which in its composition represents an abbreviated funeral rite and is also similar to Matins. The 90th psalm is read on it, after which the great litany for the repose of the one commemorated is ascended, then the troparia are sung with the refrain: “Blessed are you, O Lord...” and the 50th psalm is read. The canon is sung, which is divided by small litanies. After the canon, the Trisagion, Our Father, troparia and litany are read, after which there is dismissal.

This service can be held before and after the funeral service on the third, since Christ was resurrected on the third day after his death, the ninth - waiting for the soul of the deceased to be brought closer to the nine ranks of angels, the fortieth day - because the Savior ascended in his most pure flesh on the fortieth day to heaven, after death or at another time at the request of relatives and friends. The soul of every deceased person goes through ordeal after death, so at this time his soul needs prayer. A funeral service helps the soul ease the transition to the afterlife. At this time of day they also said goodbye to the bodies of the dead and martyrs. The remains of the martyrs were placed in caves or distant houses, in which psalms were then sung and burial was carried out by early morning. This liturgical observance of the deceased was called a memorial service, or in other words, an all-night vigil. Therefore, the service for the deceased began to be called a memorial service.

REMEMBRANCE OF THE DECEASED – DAYS OF SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE OF THE DECEASED

The third day. The commemoration of the deceased on the third day after death is performed in honor of the three-day resurrection of Jesus Christ and in the image of the Holy Trinity.

Ninth day. The commemoration of the deceased on this day is in honor of the nine ranks of angels, who, as servants of the King of Heaven and representatives to Him for us, petition for pardon for the deceased.

Fortieth day. The forty-day period is very significant in the history and tradition of the Church as the time necessary for preparation and acceptance of the special Divine gift of the gracious help of the Heavenly Father.

Anniversary. The Church commemorates the deceased on the anniversary of their death. The basis for this establishment is obvious. It is known that the largest liturgical cycle is the annual circle, after which all the fixed holidays are repeated again. The anniversary of the death of a loved one is always marked with at least a heartfelt remembrance by loving family and friends. For an Orthodox believer, this is a birthday for a new, eternal life.

Requiem service for the repose when ordered: As a rule, requiem services are performed in churches after the Divine Liturgy.

The essence of the prayers of the memorial service is to appeal to the Lord with a request to forgive the sins of the deceased and to grant his soul peace and the Kingdom of Heaven. In the texts of the requiem, the Church draws attention to how the soul of the deceased ascends to the judgment of God, how it faces the judgment with fear, revealing its sins before the Lord. The Church speaks about the fundamental law of divine judgment - this is mercy. The memorial service ends with the words: “In the blessed Dormition, grant eternal peace, O Lord, to Thy departed servant (name) and create for him eternal memory!” “These words,” says Saint Simeon of Thessalonica, “are a gift and the completion of everything; they send the deceased to the enjoyment of God and transfer the soul and body of the deceased to God.” The prayers of a memorial service bring relief to the soul of the deceased, as well as to the worshipers themselves.

As a rule, requiem services are performed in churches after the Divine Liturgy, however, according to some theologians, such a practice has no basis in the Charter of the Orthodox Church. After the Liturgy, no services should be performed at all. Therefore, it is proposed to serve a requiem mass before the Liturgy or after the evening service.

Ecumenical memorial services - parental Saturdays

In addition to commemorating each individual deceased, the Church commemorates at a certain set time all deceased Orthodox Christians, those who were overtaken by sudden death and were not guided into the future eternal life by the prayer of the Church. Such memorial services are called ecumenical; the days on which they take place are called ecumenical parental Saturdays. These days include:

Meat Saturday. The Meat Sunday that follows is dedicated to spiritual reflection on the Last Judgment. Prayer for the dead these days brings them great benefit. The salvation of the soul can only be realized in the Church, whose members are the living, as well as all the dead. Uniting with them through prayer is an expression of our love.
Saturday Trinity. The commemoration of all departed Christians is also designated on the Saturday before the Feast of Pentecost, because the descent of the Holy Spirit completed the economy of human salvation, in which the dead also take part. Praying on the day of Pentecost, the Church asks that for the dead the grace of the Lord will become a source of joy and bliss, since by the Spirit of God “every soul is alive.” Therefore, the Saturday before the holiday is dedicated to prayer for the departed. Saint Basil the Great, who composed the prayers of Vespers of Pentecost, says that on this day the Lord is more willing to accept prayers for departed Christians and even for “those kept in hell.”

Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday named after St. Demetrius of Thessalonica. The establishment of commemoration of the dead on this day belongs to Dmitry Donskoy, who, after the Battle of Kulikovo, commemorated the fallen soldiers, established this commemoration to be performed annually on October 26. Subsequently, together with the soldiers, they began to commemorate all the deceased.

Parents' Saturdays 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Lent. During the period of Great Lent, the Church calls on all believers to be in unity with the living and the dead, and to pray for them on certain days. The Saturdays of these weeks are designated for commemorating the dead since on the weekdays of Great Lent funeral services are not performed (these include: magpies, funeral litanies, memorial services, commemorations of the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death), because the full Liturgy is not held daily, but the commemoration of the dead is associated with this service. In order not to deprive departed Christians of the prayers of the Church during the days of Great Lent, these Saturdays were set aside.

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