Application for parental church day. What to do on Parents' Saturday: all the important rules

Radonitsa, or parental day, in 201 * falls on May 7th. On the memorial day, according to tradition, the dead are remembered, they go to the temple and to the cemetery.

On the 9th day after Easter, on Tuesday, Radonitsa is celebrated - the day of memory of deceased relatives. On this day, they gather at the table to commemorate the dead, go to the cemetery to clean up the mess and lay flowers.

Traditionally, they go to the cemetery after Easter - to Radonitsa. This is a day of special commemoration of the dead, which takes place on the Tuesday after Easter week (9 days after Easter).

Radonitsa, after Easter - there is a parent's day. On this day, parents are remembered. According to Orthodox church traditions and the Charter, the cemetery must be visited on the 9th day after Easter. The dead must also feel the Radonitsa. The name of this day Radonitsa says that both the living and the dead rejoice at the Resurrection of Christ. On Easter week, which is imbued with joy from the Resurrection of Christ, it is not even customary in churches to submit notes about the commemoration of the dead.

For Orthodox Christians, Radonitsa is the main day of commemoration of the dead. According to the rules, this day always falls on the ninth day after Easter, the Bright Resurrection of Christ. As a rule, this is a working day, although sometimes, in some regions, this "Parent's Day" is declared a day off.

This year Radonitsa falls on Tuesday, April 17th. That is, on Tuesday, Radonitsa will be celebrated in Russia, in the east of Belarus and in the north-east of Ukraine. But for part of Ukraine and Belarus, Radonitsa will fall on April 15, Sunday, and in some areas on April 16.

With all these differences, the general meaning of the holiday does not change. Once upon a time, it was customary to arrange sacrifices on this day - this was a typical pagan tradition, the purpose of which was for one thing - to show that nothing is sorry for the departed, and that we remember them. Today we also show that we remember the dead, but the traditions of meeting this day, of course, have changed.

Unlike many other church, Orthodox dates, it is allowed to work on Radonitsa. What to do - these are our realities: well, who will allow you to miss a working day today? But if you follow the traditions, do not evade your main work duties, but do not take additional work on yourself on Radonitsa: you do not need to do cleaning, washing, active household chores. One strict “but”: all work on the ground is strictly prohibited on Radonitsa. Moreover, it is believed that everything that is sown on this day will not yield a harvest. Well, do not do these things, everything will be in time.

Many people tend to visit the graves of those who have passed away on Easter. From the point of view of the Orthodox Church, this is wrong. Easter is a great holiday, a holiday of light, hope and strengthened faith in the Savior. On Easter, everyone rejoices, congratulates each other, and another day is allocated for the remembrance of the dead - namely Radonitsa, or Parents' Day. And on Radonitsa it is just right to attend church, unlike Easter.

On the day of Radonitsa, believers first go to the church, where they submit notes with the names of deceased relatives, and then go to the cemetery, where they clean up the graves. As a rule, near the graves they also eat food brought with them - Easter eggs, sweets and Easter cakes. We emphasize: this can be done, but it is not necessary to make a feast out of this!
Leaving a lot of food and alcohol near the gravestones is not recommended.

At the entrance to the cemetery, it is customary to slow down a little or stop and cross yourself three times. Then, leaving the cemetery, do the same, turning to face the graves. The sign of the cross is respect for the dead, as well as a guard against evil spirits.

At home, upon returning, wash your face and rinse your hands with holy water.

It is believed that upon arrival at the cemetery, the first thing to do is to light a candle, put it on the grave, pray, and then, remembering the deceased and mentally talking with him, you need to clean up everything on the grave, clean it and put the tombstone in order after winter.

By the way, when you remember the departed loved ones, according to tradition, you should not call them “dead” - it is believed that these days our ancestors hear everything and can be alarmed; call them better relatives, brothers-in-law, friends and acquaintances, etc.

Near the grave you need to read "Our Father". Popular rumor says that when you leave, you need to mentally turn to those who have departed with the words: “Let us get well, but it’s easy for you” or “The Kingdom of God is for you, and we don’t rush to you.” However, the Church does not have such rules. When leaving, you can mentally turn to the departed, and pray for the main thing - for the peace of their souls.

In the churches on this day, a very important evening service is held, which is accompanied by a memorial service and Easter hymns. They also talk about the joy that the Savior gave people - the joy of eternal life. Be sure to read prayers for the departed, which make it easier for departed loved ones to go to Heaven.

No matter how we experience separation from the departed, on Radonitsa one should not be in deep sorrow, despondency, and when visiting a cemetery, one should not be sad and cry. In addition, the church condemns following the typical pagan traditions of celebrating Radonitsa. Yes, it is prohibited:

- leave dinners for the departed at the cemeteries, "decorating" the graves with them;

- leave glasses with vodka, cigarettes on the graves or pour vodka on the graves;

- arrange stormy feasts at the cemetery;

- get drunk in honor of the memory of relatives. It is allowed to drink a little alcohol, but not to abuse its amount.

In general, the topic of alcohol on Radonitsa is, as they say, a separate story. Let's single out separately: do not leave alcohol and perishable foods on the graves! This has absolutely nothing to do with Christianity! The church generally prohibits the use of alcohol in the cemetery!

As already mentioned, on Radonitsa in cemeteries people leave some Easter treats and sweets. Tip - limit yourself, if this is important to you, to a few sweets. It is better to distribute Easter cakes and other treats brought from home. If you suddenly notice people who take food left from the graves, do not drive them away, do not make a scandal!

But in general, of course, we recall what has already been said: eating and drinking in the cemetery is not recommended. But you can have a bite to eat with your relatives there (but not drink!) And it’s best to go to the cemetery, pray and talk with the departed relatives, and sit at the table at home. There should not be a magnificent feast, relatives can gather for a regular dinner. Cooking kutya on this day is not considered mandatory, but it is not forbidden either.

Treats, Easter cakes, etc., you can either distribute yourself or take it to the temple: on Radonitsa, the Orthodox Church accepts donations from parishioners for the memorial table. During the meal, the clergy pray for the departed, whose relatives left gifts in the temple. What you bring will be served to those in need.

On this day, it is better not to arrange magnificent feasts, but to go to the temple and pray for the souls of the departed.

Treats were brought to the graves of deceased relatives on this day and left on the burial mounds. These offerings helped souls to receive energy and ascend to another world. Our ancestors brought eggs and pancakes to the cemetery, ate some of them themselves, and left some on the graves. In some villages it was customary to break eggs on the cross and crumble them on the grave.

Visiting the churchyard on Radonitsa was an obligatory ritual for our ancestors. It was believed that those who do not commemorate relatives will not be commemorated either.

The tradition of commemorating the dead on Radonitsa has survived to this day. People come to the cemetery, put funeral gifts on the graves:

colored eggs;
pancakes, which have long been considered a symbol of the sun;
biscuit;
candies;
baking;
millet porridge;
oatmeal jelly.

It is believed that on this day the souls of dead people return to earth to taste Easter treats and celebrate the onset of Easter.

Also on this day, it is customary to distribute alms to the poor in remembrance of the soul of the deceased.

All the rituals of the celebration of Radonitsa were invented by people. During the 10 days before Easter, the Lord gives protection to everyone who goes to the cemetery to put the graves in order, but only to those who will work. DO NOT take children, pregnant women, sick people to this work, and DO NOT take food to the cemetery and eat there. If you took water, then pour it out there and throw away the dishes.

The inventory that you brought from the cemetery must be washed under running water, as well as wash your shoes and hands. It is undesirable to go to the cemetery on Easter.

This is a great holiday for the entities of the astral plane, who are the owners of the cemetery. But this day is also awaited by all those who are on the other side of life. They know that a memorial day is coming, which means that people will pray for their souls and order prayers in churches. And all souls are LIVE, and they expect the energy of love from their relatives.

Every year on memorial day, most people in the cemeteries drink and eat, although it is generally NOT possible to eat in the cemetery. You should know that alcohol strongly burns the subtle bodies of the dead, and when people laugh or swear, it frightens the souls who fly to meet their relatives. It turns out that people do not commemorate their relatives, but arrange entertainment feasts, delighting the owners of the cemetery.

And your dead relatives need only prayers, peace and quiet. By the memorial day, the Lords of Heaven receive requests from souls who want to meet with their relatives, and very many receive this permission.

But it must be said that there are souls who do not descend to Earth for many reasons: the soul itself does not want to see its relatives; cannot go down to the grave site, as trees and bushes grow around, and they can injure the subtle body of the soul; not allowed to meet the sins that he committed during his life on Earth, and others.

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In Orthodoxy, Radonitsa is considered to be a special parental day, which in 2018 fell on April 17. Every year the day of this holiday is different, since it is counted from the date of Easter and falls on the 9th day after the Resurrection of Christ.

It is on April 17 that the Orthodox Church remembers the dead. People come to the temple to light a candle for the repose.

But most modern believers go to the cemetery on this parental day and commemorate their loved ones there in their own way. Today, not all Orthodox Christians know how to properly commemorate the dead, what is possible and what is prohibited by the church.

According to Orthodox canons, the cemetery is the resting place of the dead until the moment of their resurrection. Since ancient times, all peoples have revered this place and treated it as sacred. If earlier huge burial mounds were piled at the burial site, today the grave is made with a small mound or a tomb, near which there is a monument or a cross.

It is not the dead, but the deceased or the deceased, that is customarily called in Orthodoxy those who left the world of their neighbors. It is generally accepted that at some point they will be able to rise from the coffin, as if they were sleeping.

Based on this, it turns out that the grave is a place from which loved ones will be resurrected in the future. Therefore, the church strongly recommends keeping it clean and tidy.

The cross is the preacher of eternal immortality and resurrection. One end of it is immersed in the ground - as a sign that the body rests in the ground, and the other end rises to the sky - a symbol of the soul that has ascended to heaven. It must be at the feet so that the deceased can be placed facing the Crucifixion on the day of Resurrection.

How to remember the dead on parent's day April 17, 2018

All souls are waiting for relatives to pray for her, since she can no longer do a good deed on her own. It is important to pray not only at home on Radonitsa, but also at the cemetery. It would be best to go to the temple and submit a note for the liturgy with the name of the deceased at the baptism. A relative who came to church to remember should also confess and take communion, as this will help the soul.

However, what to do if a relative passed away of his own free will. Priests recommend praying for them at home, because commemoration in the liturgy of suicides is prohibited.

In the modern world, it is customary to take food and alcohol with you to the cemetery - and this is categorically prohibited by the church. These are the remnants of paganism, in which it is believed that the dead also eat and have fun.

The correct commemoration is prayer, not drinking alcohol at the grave. Thus, people show disrespect for the deceased, and not vice versa, as many believe.

It is better not to eat at the cemetery, but to distribute food to the needy - orphans, the poor and the disabled with the words "Remember the servant of God ...". And the one who commemorates, in turn, must answer “Kingdom of Heaven…” and give the name of the person being commemorated. A good deed will be credited not only to the living, but also to his dead relatives.

At home, it is allowed to gather relatives and friends of the deceased. During the meal, it is necessary to remember only good moments, character traits, as well as instructions and wishes of a relative.

There are countless options for dishes that are cooked on Radonitsa in different regions of Russia. In some regions they try to do without meat, in others they put home-made sausage and boiled pork on the table. Somewhere they bake thin lean pancakes, and somewhere they cook lush koloboks stuffed with whole eggs. Some allow themselves to indulge in beer and red wine, while others fundamentally manage with jelly. In a word, the requirements for the Radonitsa menu do not drive the housewives into rigid limits, however, there are several dishes that can be found on the table of almost any family that honors traditions on this day.

The treat for Radonitsa should be more modest than for Easter, but generous and satisfying

Easter dishes

Two circumstances:

the feast of Easter, which had died down 9 days ago;
and the habit of Orthodox Christians not only to commemorate the ancestors who have gone to another world on Radonitsa, but also "" with them, reporting the happy news of the resurrection of Christ,

left their mark on this holiday, popularly called "Easter of the Departed". It is not difficult to guess that on parental day after Easter they prepare about the same dishes that were recently served to relatives during Bright Sunday: rich cakes, colorful eggs.

There is a place for Easter dishes among the treats on Radonitsa

In some regions of Russia and Belarus, eggs for Radonitsa, unlike Easter, were painted in "plaintive" (sad) yellow and green shades. Why the ancestors associated these colors with sadness and longing remains a mystery.

Video: Easter loaf

Among the traditional pastries that homely housewives prepare for their parents' day, the closest relative of Easter cake, the festive loaf, stands apart. Soft, tasty, able to feed the whole family in one sitting, it will immediately give the table a festive look and at the same time will not take much time to cook. For example, like a loaf from Lyubov Zavyalova:

Funeral dishes

In the old days, it was believed that on Radonitsa God releases the souls of the deceased to visit their relatives who have remained on earth so that they properly greet their loved ones, and then with honor escort them back to the cemetery, to their final resting place. Therefore, one of the central places on the table was predictably assigned to funeral dishes: full, koliva, oatmeal jelly.

Syta - a sweet honey drink - was prepared as follows.

Take:

1 liter of pure water or, if you want to get a fragrant and rich drink, herbal decoction of St. John's wort;
50 g honey.

Cooking.

Combine liquid and honey.
Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for a few minutes over low heat, skimming off the foam that appears on the surface from time to time.
Let the broth cool completely and strain.

To further enrich the taste of the drink, try boiling it with your favorite spices (cinnamon, cloves, star anise) or diluting the finished and chilled sated with fruit juice. Well, zealous connoisseurs of antiquity can, following the example of great-grandfathers, crumble bread into it.

Do not keep the drink on fire for too long, as honey retains more of its beneficial properties.

Syta is a healthy drink, but these days it is not as popular as it used to be and, contrary to the name, is not very satisfying. oatmeal jelly bypasses it effortlessly: both as a traditional dish, regularly crowning the lists of what is prepared for the menu for the parent's day, and as a delicious dish that can serve as a good dessert at a memorial feast.

You will need:

1.5 liters of water;
400 g of oatmeal (if you can’t get it in a supermarket, arm yourself with a coffee grinder or an electric meat grinder and turn oatmeal into flour);
2-3 tbsp. l. honey;
a pinch of salt.

Cooking.

Heat the water slightly, mix with flour and leave on the table to infuse overnight.
In the morning, pass the future jelly through a sieve, pour into a saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened.
Before removing the pan from the heat, add salt, honey to it and make sure that everything dissolves well.

Having thickened, the jelly will acquire a density that allows it to be cut with a knife into portioned pieces and served to each eater with milk, honey or berries.

Pour the jelly into molds in advance

Video: Kutya on Radonitsa

Do they prepare kutya for parents' day? Undoubtedly, they cook, and very willingly. True, current housewives prefer to cook it according to modernized recipes that save time and energy. Just such you will find on the video from Ost PressServis, along with interesting comments about the history of origin and the customs of cooking kutya.

What to bring for a visit to the cemetery

It is one thing to choose what to cook for Radonitsa on the table at which you are going to sit with your family, and it is quite another to decide what to take with you to church or to the churchyard. Cottage cheese Easter will crumble, jelly will spread, to be full you need to look for a suitable bottle with a strong cork ... What to choose so as not to create unnecessary difficulties for yourself or others?

Pancakes, pancakes and cheesecakes

Round cakes, revered by the pagans as symbols of the sun, and therefore of warmth, spring and the triumph of life, fit perfectly into the idea of Radonitsa, because the main motive of this holiday is by no means death, but the coming rebirth. So you will not sin at all against traditions by taking a stack of freshly baked pancakes smeared with butter, sour cream or honey to the cemetery. It is believed that on parental day they must be prepared without fail from wheat flour, although no one forbids lovers of new tastes to experiment with buckwheat or, for example, rye.

Pancakes are good not only for Maslenitsa

For pancakes you will need:

wheat flour - 10-12 tbsp. l.;
milk - about a glass;
kefir - half with milk;
vegetable oil - 5-6 tbsp. l.;
egg - 3 pcs.;
sugar - 2.5 tbsp. l.;
salt - 1 tsp;
soda - 0.5 tsp;
butter for lubrication.

Cooking.

Beat eggs well with sugar and salt.
Add milk.
Stir in the sifted flour.
Combine soda with kefir so that the acidic environment of the milk drink “extinguishes” it, and then pour everything into the dough and mix well again.
Let the dough stand for a quarter of an hour so that the gluten contained in the flour begins to swell and bake pancakes in a hot and oiled frying pan for about 1 minute on each side.

In addition to pancakes, sweets and cookies, honey gingerbread, pies with various fillings, buns, sausage, lard and, of course, crayon eggs will be appropriate in the cemetery.

Video: Kokuriki Pies

Appetizing kokuriki are worthy of being served to the most important guests, but for some reason in Russia they were often prepared for memorial meals at the cemetery. Why? Use the recipe from the channel Other cuisine and try to solve it yourself.

Other dishes

Is it possible to cook other dishes on Radonitsa, in addition to those listed? Certainly. Since Tuesday is not a fast day, it does not impose strict requirements on the menu. So your family and guests will only benefit if you serve them your signature meat dish, tender fish, hearty fried eggs, fluffy chicken or sweet pie.

However, try to follow two rules:

let there be honey among the delicacies, symbolizing the sweet heavenly bliss that awaits your departed in heaven;
refrain from drinking hard alcohol. You can brighten up the feast with a moderate amount of red wine or beer, but it is better to refuse vodka, cognac and similar drinks.

A few words about the memorial feast

We found out what dishes are cooked on Radonitsa. And how did our ancestors deal with cooked delicacies, according to customs?

Option 1. The prepared food was put into baskets and carried to the church to consecrate. And after the service, some of them were left in the church for the priest and those in need under his care, and some were distributed to the poor with a request to pray for the dear departed.

Option 2. After putting the graves in order, towels and tablecloths were laid out right there, on the grass, and they sat down to eat, inviting the deceased relatives to join the feast.

Option 3. Returning from the cemetery, they called the household to the table and ate together, not forgetting to remember the deceased with kind words.

In pre-revolutionary Russia, the table was often laid right in the morning, firmly believing: while the whole family prays earnestly in the church, the souls of relatives will come and dine gloriously in peace and quiet.

Finally, a question for backfilling. Do you know what they cook for parents' day at the cemetery, in addition to gifts for the needy and snacks? In the collected basket, be sure to put a candle, a box of matches and the Gospel. All this will be useful to you after cleaning the graves in order to adequately complete the meeting with the deceased relatives and, looking at the flickering light of the candle, read a special prayer-lithia in memory of them. This, and not at all cleaning and picnicking, is the main point of going to the cemetery on Radonitsa.

Visiting the cemetery is associated with some traditions and superstitions. It is believed that this land belongs to the dead, and they have their own laws that should be observed by the living. How to behave in a cemetery? What can be done and what is strictly prohibited?

Visiting the graves

Visiting the graves of relatives, friends, acquaintances is a tradition that exists in every religion. But the rules for visiting the deceased may vary. According to Orthodox belief, the cemetery is a sacred place. The cross on the grave of the deceased is located at the feet, and the image of the crucifix on it is turned to the face of the deceased.

Draws the attention of Christians to the fact that living relatives should watch the graves of their deceased loved ones. The fence and the cross must be painted in time. The well-groomed grave, fresh flowers on it symbolize the memory of the deceased.

How to behave in a cemetery? Is it possible to leave cookies, sweets on the grave of the deceased? Orthodox traditions of visiting the cemetery have strict restrictions on this.

Orthodox customs of visiting the cemetery

Prayers are read at will. However, there are special prayers for the departed:

About a dead Christian.
Widow's prayer.
Widow's Prayer.
About dead children.
Prayer for deceased parents.
Akathist about the one who died.
Akathist for the Repose of the Dead.

Priests warn that it is forbidden to drink alcohol on the graves of Orthodox Christians. Visiting a cemetery is not a fun holiday.

In no case should you pour alcohol or sprinkle crumbs on it. Such actions offend the deceased. It is better to tidy up the grave, be silent, remembering the deceased. It is forbidden to bring artificial flowers. But you can plant fresh flowers or other plants - they are a symbol of eternal life.

parent days

Parental days - so called Ecumenical. These days it is customary to come to the cemetery, to visit the graves of deceased relatives. There are no specific days of the month that Parental Saturdays fall on. This is due to the fact that the Lent-Easter cycle is a transitional one.

Parental Saturdays. These are Saturdays on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th week of Great Lent.
Trinity parental Saturday. This is the day before the holiday
Meat Saturday. Her time is 8 days before Lent.
This is the Saturday before November 8th. On this day, the dead soldiers are commemorated.

In addition to Parental Saturdays, there are other days of remembrance:

Radonitsa. It is Tuesday of the 2nd week after Easter.
warriors - May 9th.

How to behave in a cemetery?

When visiting a cemetery, one should behave respectfully towards the deceased. Emotional excesses will not lead to good. It is forbidden to speak loudly, sing, shout, have fun, sob. You can not walk on the grave hills - for this there are special paths, paths.

On the territory of the cemetery there are columns, wells or taps with water. It is intended only for cleaning on the graves. It is forbidden to use the cemetery water for drinking. Drinking water must be brought from home or bought on the way.

How to behave in a cemetery? Is it possible to leave the things of the deceased on the grave? The deceased's favorite cup, watch, or other items that he liked can be left on the grave.

Do not take foreign objects home from the cemetery or grave. They are saturated with "dead" energy. If any thing is taken from the grave, it should be replaced with another one. For example, a flower vase broke - you need to put a new one.

To wipe a monument or fence from dirt, dust should only be with unnecessary rags. After use, it is thrown into special garbage containers in the cemetery. In no case should you use the things of the living to put the grave in order.

Restrictions on visiting the cemetery

How to behave at the cemetery on parental day? Who can come to the grave? Since ancient times, cemeteries have been used by dark sorcerers to perform rituals or collect the necessary ingredients. Priests assure that a truly believing person cannot be affected by magical power.

pregnant women;
nursing mothers;
women with a small (or infant) child.

Pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, children under 7 years old are sensitive to negative energy. Therefore, it is better for them to avoid the territory of the cemetery. According to legend, the magician can exchange the life of a seriously ill person with the help of a special ritual for the life of a small child or an unborn baby.

How to behave at a funeral?

The funeral of an Orthodox begins with a funeral service in his home or church. For this ceremony, women traditionally cover their heads with a scarf. Wear a dress (skirt) to the knees or below. T-shirts, shorts, any frivolous clothes are prohibited. For men - a formal suit or trousers with a shirt (sweater).

How to behave at a funeral in a cemetery? During the funeral, some relatives stay at home to prepare the memorial dinner. Attendance at a funeral is voluntary. If there is no desire or if you feel unwell, you can not go to the cemetery.

During the funeral, strong emotions should also be avoided - loud crying, inappropriate actions leave a painful impression. During the funeral, relatives walk behind the coffin. Blood relatives do not wash the floor in the house of the deceased - it is better to do this to good friends, colleagues.

At the cemetery, after parting, they kiss the crown on the forehead and the hand of the deceased. The icon and fresh flowers should be taken from the coffin. Then the face of the deceased is covered with a shroud, the coffin is closed. The towels on which the coffin was lowered into the ground remain in the grave. The men who carried the deceased are given new towels as a keepsake. Women are given new handkerchiefs. After the cemetery, relatives invite everyone to a memorial dinner.

You can invite a priest to an Orthodox funeral. Burying with music is not Christian.

The holy fathers warn that on parental day you should not cry and kill yourself. Prayers, almsgiving, ordering a memorial service - this is how the Orthodox commemorate the dead. Arriving at the cemetery on Parental Saturdays should be in the morning.

How to behave at the cemetery on parental day? The Orthodox Church allows a funeral dinner at the cemetery. Before and after the meal, a prayer should be read. As already mentioned, it is forbidden to drink alcohol in the cemetery.

If there is food left from the funeral dinner, you can’t leave it on the grave of the “dead”. It is better to give it to the poor, with a request to remember the deceased in prayers.

The words "kind", "joy" became the basis for the name "radonitsa" How to behave in the cemetery on Radonitsa? Since ancient times, it has been customary to come to the cemetery on this day with the whole family. Go around the graves of your deceased relatives, remember their good deeds and deeds.

Appearance

Having figured out how to behave in a cemetery, it is worth thinking about the right clothes for visiting it. Usually the color scheme is selected dark, soft. No cheerful flowers and frivolous peas. Strict, comfortable clothing for the weather without shorts and mini. Legs and arms should be covered as much as possible.

The same principle should be followed in shoes. Closed shoes in muted tones are ideal for visiting a cemetery. High heels or flip-flops are not allowed on the churchyard.

cemetery signs

You should only come to the cemetery with a covered head. Otherwise, the fallen hair (or other biomaterial of a living person) can be used in black rituals.

All disposable items (cups, napkins, plates) after visiting the grave are thrown into a garbage container on the territory of the cemetery. Or at home they are washed with running water.

Things of the living cannot be left in the cemetery. Or take something home from the grave.

If during a visit to the cemetery a thing fell to the ground, it is better to leave it there, it already belongs to the dead. If it is a necessary thing (for example, keys) - rinse it with running water.

Leave the cemetery in the same way that you came. Even if the purpose of the visit was several graves and there is an opportunity to get out from the other side of the cemetery, you should not do this.

Today is a sad day

and the holiday is not easy,

All people remember those who have gone to another world,

This day is called parental, friends,

And we can't forget our roots.

Let's pray for the souls that have left us

And may they feel better in heaven at this hour,

We will clean up the sad graves in the cemetery,

And remembering your loved ones

take a breath...

One queen of antiquity, they say, left a will, according to which her successor, who will most need money for the needs of the state, has the right to open her tomb and use the hidden treasures.

Years and decades passed.

Changed kings and queens on the throne. Each reign had its own problems, but no one dared to open the mentioned coffin. Finally, one of the kings considered that his difficulties were the most difficult, and gave the order to open the tomb.

What did they see?

There were no treasures, but there was an inscription: “You can be seen as a completely worthless person, since you dared to disturb the peace of the dead.”

Cemeteries are sacred places where the bodies of the dead rest until the future resurrection.

Even according to the laws of pagan states, the tombs were considered sacred and inviolable.

From deep pre-Christian antiquity, there is a custom to mark the burial places with a hill above it.

Having adopted this custom, the Christian Church decorates the grave mound with the victorious sign of our salvation - the Holy Life-Giving Cross, inscribed on the tombstone or placed over the tombstone.

We call our dead dead, not dead, because at a certain time they will rise from the tomb.

The grave is the place of the future resurrection, and therefore it is necessary to keep it clean and tidy.

The cross on the grave of an Orthodox Christian is a silent preacher of blessed immortality and resurrection. Planted in the ground and rising to heaven, it marks the belief of Christians that the body of the deceased is here, in the earth, and the soul is in heaven, that a seed is hidden under the cross, which grows for eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

The cross on the grave is placed at the feet of the deceased so that the Crucifix is facing the face of the deceased.

It is necessary to take special care that the cross on the grave does not look askance, it is always painted, clean and well-groomed.

A simple, modest cross made of metal or wood is more befitting the grave of an Orthodox Christian than expensive monuments and tombstones made of granite and marble.

How to behave in a cemetery

Arriving at the cemetery, you need to light a candle, make a lithium (this word literally means intensified prayer. To perform the rite of lithium when commemorating the dead, you need to invite a priest. and in the cemetery).

Then clean up the grave or just be silent, remember the deceased.

It is not necessary to eat or drink at the cemetery, it is especially unacceptable to pour vodka into the grave mound - this offends the memory of the deceased. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread “for the deceased” on the grave is a relic of paganism and should not be observed in Orthodox families.

It is not necessary to leave food on the grave, it is better to give it to the beggar or the hungry.

How to commemorate the dead

“Let us try, as much as possible, to help the departed, instead of tears, instead of weeping, instead of magnificent tombs, with our prayers, alms and offerings for them, so that in this way both they and we will receive the promised blessings,” writes St. John Chrysostom.

Prayer for the departed is the biggest and most important thing we can do for those who have passed away.

By and large, the deceased does not need a coffin or a monument - all this is a tribute to traditions, albeit pious ones.

But the eternally living soul of the deceased feels a great need for our constant prayer, because she herself cannot do good deeds with which she would be able to propitiate God.

That is why prayer at home for loved ones, prayer at the cemetery at the grave of the deceased is the duty of every Orthodox Christian.

Commemoration in the Church provides special assistance to the deceased.

Before visiting the cemetery, one of the relatives should come to the temple at the beginning of the service, submit a note with the name of the deceased for commemoration in the altar (it is best if this is a commemoration on the proskomedia, when a piece is taken out of the special prosphora for the deceased, and then in the sign of the ablution of his sins will be lowered into the Chalice with the Holy Gifts).

After the liturgy, a memorial service should be served.

Prayer will be more effective if the one who commemorates this day himself partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ.

On certain days of the year, the Church commemorates all fathers and brethren who have passed away from time immemorial, who were honored with a Christian death, as well as those who were overtaken by sudden death, were not sent to the afterlife by the prayers of the Church.