If a priest is present at the memorial meal, then the usual funeral litiya is performed first, after which our Father is sung ... and the blessing of the meal follows.

If there is no priest among those present, then after three usual bows:

Through the prayers of the saints, our Father, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (Bow three times.)

Glory, and now... Amen. Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquity; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord have mercy (Three times).

Glory, and now... Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

And the funeral troparia: From the spirits of the righteous who have died, the soul of Thy servant (Thy servant), Savior, rest, preserving it in a blessed life, even with You, Human-loving.

In Thy rest, O Lord, where all Thy sanctuaries rest, rest the soul of Thy servant (Thy servants), as you are the One who loves Humanity.

Glory: Thou art God, descended into hell and loosening the bonds of the fettered. Rest yourselves and the soul of your servant (your servant).

And now: One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without seed, pray that his soul (her) be saved.

Then this prayer is pronounced three times with 15 bows: Remember, Lord, the soul of your departed servant (your deceased servant) name (bow). Elik in this life is like a man who has sinned, You, like a Humanitarian God, have mercy (bow), and deliver eternal torment (bow), and the Heavenly Kingdom as a partaker (partaker), teach (bow), and do something useful to our souls (bow).

After that, it is sung or recited as a pre-dinner prayer. Our Father, it is followed by the invocation of God's blessing for a meal according to the order for the laity.

At the beginning of the memorial meal, before other foods, everyone is offered kutia. And before the last sweet dish, which is traditionally served with jelly with milk (on fast days with almond or poppy seeds), the so-called beer medicine is brought - a sweet non-alcoholic drink. In conclusion, everyone gets up and, if the meal is served on the day of burial or commemoration: on the 9th, 20th, 40th days after death and on the first anniversary, they sing the sticira to the 6th voice:

Seeing me is mute, / and breathlessness is present, / cry for me, brothers and friends, / relatives and knowledge: / yesterday's day of conversations with you, / and suddenly you will find a terrible hour of death on me; / but come all loving me, / and kiss me with the last kiss, / I am not like someone else / or I’m talking to you; / I am going to the Judge, / where there is no respect for persons: / the slave and the lord are coming together, / the king and the warrior, rich and poor / in equal dignity: / kiyzhdo from his deeds / or glorified, or ashamed. / But I ask everyone and I pray, / ceaselessly pray for me to Christ God, / may I not be brought down (brought down) by my sin to the place of torment, / but let me be brought down, where the animal light is.

If the commemoration is performed in other cases, besides the ones listed, the stichera is sung, voice 8:

I weep and sob, / I always think about death, / and I see in the grave / in the image of God our beauty created, / ugly, without glory, / without appearance. / About a miracle! What is this sacrament about us? / What kind of preoccupation with corruption, / what kind of death is conjugated? / Truly God’s command, / as it is written, / Giving the reposed (departed) repose.

Then the priest: In the blessed dormition of the servant of God (servant of God) the name, the departed (departed) eternal memory.

In the absence of the priest, the eldest of the laity: Servant of God (servant of God) to the departed (departed) eternal memory.

Everything: Eternal memory (thrice).

They drink the funeral cup and eat the last dish. The meal ends with the usual thanksgiving.

For all forty days after the death of a person, his family and friends should read. How many kathisma per day depends on the time and effort of the readers, but reading must certainly be daily. After reading the entire Psalter, it is read first. One should not only forget after each "Glory ..." the reading of a prayer petition for the commemoration of the deceased (from "Following on the departure of the soul from the body").

Many relatives and friends of the deceased, referring to various circumstances, entrust this reading to others (readers) for a fee or order it in monasteries (the so-called "indestructible Psalter"). Of course, God hears such a prayer. But it will be stronger, sincere, purer if a loved one or a deceased person himself asks God to have mercy on the deceased. And you should not spare any effort or time for this.

On the third, ninth and fortieth days, a special kathisma should be read according to the deceased (it includes the 118th psalm). It is called the memorial, and in the liturgical books it is called "Immaculate" (according to the word found in its first verse: "Blessedness of innocence in the way, walking in the law of the Lord").

After the kathisma, the prescribed troparia are read (they are immediately indicated after the 118th psalm in the prayer book), and after them - the 50th psalm and the troparia are blameless, or the troparia after the repose (number 8) with a refrain to each verse from the 118th psalm: " Blessed art thou, Lord, teach me with Thy justification. "
After these troparia, the canon "Following the departure of the soul from the body" is read.

Remembrance of the deceased in the Church

It is necessary to commemorate the deceased in the Church as often as possible, not only on the designated special days of commemoration, but also on any other day. The main prayer for the repose of the departed Orthodox Christians is performed by the Church at the Divine Liturgy, bringing a bloodless sacrifice to God for them. To do this, before the beginning of the liturgy (or the night before), notes with their names should be submitted to the church (only baptized Orthodox Christians can be entered).
An eight-pointed Orthodox cross is usually placed at the top of the note. Then the type of commemoration is indicated - "On repose", after which the names of those commemorated in the genitive case are written in large, legible handwriting (to answer the question "who?" schema-abbot Savva, archpriest Alexander, nun Rachel, Andrey, Nina).
All names must be given in the church script (for example, Tatiana, Alexia) and in full (Michael, Lyubov, not Misha, Lyuba).
The number of names in the note does not matter. During the funeral litany, you can take out your memorial and pray for your loved ones. Prayer will be more effective if the one who commemorates himself on that day participates in the Body and Blood of Christ.
After the liturgy, you can serve a panikhida. The requiem is served before the eve - a special table with a crucifixion and rows of candlesticks. Here you can leave an offering for the needs of the temple in memory of the deceased loved ones.
It is very important after death to order a magpie in the church - a continuous commemoration during the liturgy for forty days. At the end of it, the magpie can be ordered again. There are also long periods of commemoration - six months, a year. Some monasteries accept notes for eternal (while the monastery is standing) commemoration or for commemoration during the reading of the Psalter (such is the ancient Orthodox custom). The more temples prayer is offered, the better for our neighbor!

Remembrance of the dead at home

Prayer memory for the departed should not cool down at home. And home prayer is a saving tool for our deceased loved ones.
The prayers that we say at home are called the "cell rule". Thus, as it were, it is indicated that home prayers should not be disorderly, random, but have the form of a rule, i.e. must be drawn up according to a well-known rule, have a certain order and possible constancy.
The Church calls on her children to prayerfully remember the living and the dead every day. The main home prayer for the dead is a commemoration, it is in every prayer book. There are prayers for the dead in both the morning and evening canons.
If you want to add special prayers for the dead to the evening and morning rules, you should consult with the priest about this, and, with his blessing, complete the home prayer rule for the dead.
Prayer for the departed is our main and invaluable help to those who have departed to another world.
The Church commands us to pray every day for departed parents, relatives, known and benefactors. For this, the following short prayer for the departed is included in the number of daily morning prayers:
"Rest, O Lord, the souls of the departed Thy servant: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven."

PRAYERS FOR THE SHOULDERS

Prayer for the departed

God of spirits and of all flesh, correcting death and abolishing the devil, and a life given to Thy world; Himself, Lord, rest the soul of your departed servant (the repose of your servant or the departed servant of yours), [name of the rivers], in a brighter place, in a place of darkness, in a place of peace, disease, sorrow and sighing are far from gone. Any sin committed by him (her or them), in word, or deed, or thought, as if God is good and loving man, forgive. Like a person is not, who will live and will not sin. Thou art one without sin, Thy righteousness, Thy truth forever, and Thy word is truth.

Prayer for the departed Christian

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the life of your eternal reposed servant, our brother (name), and like the Good and Humanitarian, forgiving sins, and consuming unrighteousness, weaken, forgive and forgive all his free and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of hell, and grant him the sacrament and pleasure of Thy eternal good, prepared for those who love Thee: if you sin, but do not depart from You, and doubtlessly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, God in the Trinity is glorified, faith, and One in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even to the last gasp of confession. Even so, be merciful to that, and faith, even in Thee instead of deeds of imputation, and with Thy saints, as Abundant, rest: there is no man, who will live and not sin. But Thou art One besides all sin, and Thy righteousness, the truth forever, and Thou art the One God of mercies and mercy, and love of man, and to Thee we give glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever.

Prayer of the Monk Leo of Optina to the Lord for a parent who died without repentance

Seek, O Lord, the lost soul of my father (name), and if possible, have mercy! Thy ways are inscrutable. Do not consider this my prayer as a sin. But Thy holy will be done.

Prayer for the deceased

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of eternal life, the deceased servant (s) of Thy (Thy) (name), and as a Good and Humanitarian, forgiving sins and iniquities, let go and forgive all his (her) free and involuntary sins, Deliver him (her) from eternal torment and the fire of hell, and grant him (her) the sacrament and enjoyment of Thy eternal blessings, prepared for those who love You: after all, although he sinned (a), he did not depart from You, and without a doubt in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, God in the Trinity, glorified, she believed, and the Trinity of Consubstantial Orthodox, even to her last breath, confessed.
Therefore, be merciful to him (her), and faith in You instead of deeds of imputation, and with Your saints, as the Generous, rest: for there is no person who lives and does not sin. But you are the only sinless, and your righteousness is eternal, and you are the only God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, and we glorify you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the deceased after a long illness

God, You have allowed that Your servant (Your servant) served You in the midst of suffering and sickness, thus participating in the Passion of Christ; We ask you to deserve his (her) participation in the glory of the Savior through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the repose of those who died after a serious and prolonged illness

God! Thou art righteous, and Thy judgment is righteous: Thou, in Thy eternal Wisdom, laid the limit of our life, which no one can escape. Thy laws are wise, Thy ways are inscrutable! You command the angel of death to remove from the body the soul of a baby and an old man, a husband and a youth, from a healthy and sick person, according to Your indescribable and unknown destinies to us; but we believe that there is Your holy will for this, also, according to the judgment of Your righteousness, You, the Most Good Lord, as the wise and omnipotent and omniscient Doctor of our souls and bodies - you send diseases and ailments, troubles and misfortunes to a person as spiritual healing.
You defeat him and heal, you put to death in him the perishable and revive the immortal, and, like a child-loving Father, you punish: we pray to Thee, O Lord of mankind, accept Thy deceased servant (Thy servant) (name), whom Thou hast sought with Thy philanthropy, punished with a serious bodily illness in order to save the soul from spiritual death; and since all this was received from You by Your servant (Your) with humility, patience and love for You, as the unceasing Physician of our souls and bodies, now show him (her) your rich mercy, as one who endured (s) all this for their sins.
Lord, charge him (her) with this temporary serious illness as a kind of punishment for the sins committed on this earth, and heal his (her) soul from sinful ailments.
Have mercy, Lord, have mercy on the one sought by you, and, punished (s) temporarily slave (slave) (name), I pray to you, do not punish with the deprivation of your eternal heavenly goods, but deign him (her) to enjoy them in your kingdom ...
If the deceased slave (s) of Your (I) did not reason (a) for the sake of which he was worthy of the transfer of such an illness, which was the touch of Your healing and providential Right hand, obstinately thought (a) or, out of his foolishness, murmured (a) in his heart, since he thought such a burden (a) unbearable, or due to the weakness of his nature, weakened by a long illness, he was upset (was) such a misfortune, we pray to Thee, Long-Suffering and Most Merciful Lord, forgive him (her) these sins according to Thy boundless mercy and Thy endless mercy to us sinful and unworthy Thy servants, forgive for Thy love for the human race; if his (her) iniquities were beyond all limits, and illness and ailments did not move her to complete and sincere repentance, we beg You, the Head of our life, we beg Your redemptive merits, have mercy and save, Savior, Your servant (s) (yu) (name) from eternal death. Lord God, our Savior!
You, by faith in You, gave us forgiveness and remission of sins, granting mercy and healing to a 38-year-old paralyzed man, when You said: “Your sins are forgiven you”; with the same faith and hope in Your goodness, we resort to Yours, O Most Blessed Jesus, ineffable mercy and in our heart tenderness we pray You, Lord: remember now and today this word of mercy, give the word of remission of sins to the deceased (s), ever remembered ( -oh) us to Thy (Thy) servant (Thy) (name), may he heal spiritually, and may he dwell in a bright place, in a place of the deceased, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no groan, and may his illnesses and ailments be reckoned there (her), tears of suffering and sorrow into a source of joy in the Spirit. Amen.

Widower's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart, I pray to You: rest, O Lord, the soul of Your deceased servant (name), in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Master Almighty! You have blessed the conjugal union of a husband and wife, always declaring: it is not good for a single person to be, let us make him an assistant for him. Thou art sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, O Lord, and I confess that you blessed me to combine and in this holy union with one of Your servants. By your good and wise will, please, take away from me this servant of yours, you have already given me, as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before Thy will, and I pray to Thi with all my heart, accept my prayer for Thy servant (name), and forgive her if she sinned in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; if you love the earthly more than the heavenly; Even more about the clothing and adornment of your body, than about the enlightenment of the garment of your soul; or even if he is negligent about his children; if you grieve anyone with word or deed; If you pound in your heart against your neighbor, or condemn someone or other that you have done evil from such.
Forgive her for all this, as a kind and benevolent man: as if a person is not, whoever will live and will not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, as Thy creation, do not condemn her for eternal torment by her sin, but spare and have mercy according to Thy great mercy. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant me strength throughout the days of my life without ceasing to pray for Your deceased servant, and even until the death of my belly, ask her from You, the Judge of the whole world, for the abandonment of her sins. Yes, as you, God, put on her head a crown of an honest stone, crowning her here on earth; so crown Thy eternal glory in Thy Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints who rejoice there, and together with them forever sing Thy all-holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Widow's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are crying consolation, orphans and widows of intercession. You advertise: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow I run to You and I pray to You: do not turn your face away from me and hear my prayer, brought to You with tears. Thou, Lord, the Lord of all, was pleased to combine me with one of Thy servants, in his hedgehog we are one body and one spirit; You gave me this slave, like a roommate and protector. By your good and wise will, please, take away your servant from me and leave me alone. I bow before this by Thy will and I run to You in the days of my sorrow: soothe my sorrow about separation from Thy servant, my friend. If you have taken him away from me, do not take away from me your mercy. As if once upon a time you accepted two mites as a widow, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, O Lord, the soul of Your deceased servant (name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, if by word, if by deed, if by knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not betray him to eternal torment, but by your great mercy. and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, weaken and forgive all his sins and bring him to Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask Thee, Lord, grant me throughout all the days of my life not to cease to pray for Thy slave who has departed, and even before my departure I ask Thee, Judge of the whole world, for the abandonment of all his sins and his resettlement into Heavenly abodes, which Thou hast prepared for those who love Ty. As if you have sinned, but do not depart from You, and it is beyond doubt that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even before their last breath of confession; by the same his faith, even in Thee, instead of deeds to him: as if there is a man, whoever lives and will not sin, You are one but sin, and Your truth is truth forever. I believe, Lord, and I confess that you hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from me. Seeing the widow, I cry wickedly, having mercy, I was carrying her son for burial, you resurrected: so having compassion, calm down my grief. For you have opened the doors of Your mercy to Your servant Theophilus, who has departed to You, and you have forgiven him for his sins through the prayers of Your Holy Church, listening to the prayers and alms of his wife: sit and I pray to You, accept my prayer for your servant. eternal life. For Thou art our hope. Thou art God, the hedgehog to be merciful and save, and we glorify Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer of parents for dead children

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Master of life and death, Comforter of the mourning! With a contrite and tender heart, I run to You and pray to Ty: remember. Lord, in Thy Kingdom, Thy deceased servant (thy servant), my child (name), and make him (her) an eternal memory. You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. Your good and wise will please and take it from me. Blessed be Thy name, Lord. I pray to Thee, Judge of heaven and earth, with Thy endless love for us, sinners, forgive my deceased child for all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, even in word, even in deed, also in knowledge and ignorance. Forgive me, Merciful, and our parental sins, so that they do not abide on our children: we have, as if we sinned many times before You, did not observe many, did not create, as if you commanded us. Even if our deceased child, ours or ours for the sake of guilt, is in this life, working for the world and for his flesh, and not more for Thee, Lord and his God: if you love the delights of this world, and not even more Your Word and Your commandments, if you surrendered with the sweetness of everyday life, and not more than regret for his sins, and in intemperance, vigilance, fasting and prayer before oblivion - I pray to You diligently, forgive, blessed Father, my child all such sins of his, forgive and weaken, if you do something else evil in this life ... Christ Jesus! Thou art raised the daughter of Jairus by faith and the prayer of her father. Thou art healed the daughter of a Canaanite wife by faith and the request of her mother: hear your mother and my prayer, do not despise my prayers for my child. Forgive, Lord, forgive all his sins and, having forgiven and purifying his soul, take out eternal torment and instill with all Your saints, who have pleased You from time immemorial, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: as if there is no man, like He will live and will not sin, but Thou art the only one besides all sin: yes, whenever you judge the world, my child will hear Thy exalted voice: come, blessed of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the folding of the world. For you are the Father of mercies and bounties. Thou art our life and our resurrection, and we glorify Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen

Parents' Prayer for Dead Children

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, the Lord of life and death, the Comforter of the afflicted! With a contrite and tender heart, I run to You and pray to You: remember, Lord, in Your Kingdom, your deceased servant, my child (name) and make him an eternal memory. You, the Lord of life and death, have given me this child, and by Your good and wise will you have deigned to take him away from me. Blessed be Thy name, Lord.
I pray to Thee, Judge of heaven and earth: according to Thy endless love for us, sinners, forgive my deceased child for all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, committed consciously and out of ignorance. Forgive me, Merciful, and our parental sins, may they not abide on our children, for I know that we have sinned much before You, did not observe much and did not do what You commanded us.
If our successful child, through his own fault or through our fault, during his life worked more for the world and for his flesh than for Thee, the Lord and his God; if he loved the deceptions of this world more than thy word and thy commandments; if you indulge in the pleasures of life, and not regret about your sins and in intemperance have forgotten vigilance, fasting and prayer - I pray you earnestly, forgive, good Father, my child all these sins of his, forgive and let go, if he did anything other evil in life his.
Oh Jesus Christ! You raised the daughter of Jairus by faith and the prayer of her father, You healed the daughter of a Canaanite wife by faith and the request of her mother, hear my prayer, do not reject my prayer for my child.
Forgive, Lord, forgive all his sins, and, having forgiven and purifying his soul, deliver him from eternal torment and settle with all Your saints, who have pleased You from time immemorial, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no groans, but life is endless! For there is no person who has not sinned during his lifetime, and only You are the One sinless! May my child at the Last Judgment hear Thy predestined voice: "Come, blessed of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world." For Thou art the Father of mercies and bounties, Thou art our life and resurrection, and we glorify Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Mother's prayer (at home) for the stillborn and unbaptized children of the Monk Arseny of Athos

Lord, have mercy on my children who have died in my womb! For my faith and my tears according to Thy mercy, O Lord, do not deprive them of Thy Divine light!

Prayer of Children for Deceased Parents

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the guardian of the orphans, the grieving refuge and the crying comforter. I come running to you, sir, sighing and crying, and I pray to You: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief about separation from my parent who gave birth and raised (gave birth and raised) me (my matter), (name) (or: with my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) -, but his soul (or: her, or: them), as if she departed (or: who departed) to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your philanthropy and mercy, accept into Your Kingdom of Heaven. I bow before Your holy will, they will also take away (or: taken away, or: taken away) from me, and I ask You, do not take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We, Lord, as you are the Judge of this world, punish the sins and wickedness of fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even up to the third and fourth kind: but you also favor the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of my heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish the deceased unforgettable (deceased unforgettable) with eternal punishment for me Thy servant (Thy servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but release him (her) all his transgressions ( her) voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and by Thy mercy and philanthropy, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Theotokos and all saints, have mercy on him (s) and eternal Deliver the torment. You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and beg Thee, the righteous Judge, and bring him (s) in a brighter place, in a cool place. and in a place of peace, with all the saints, all sickness, sorrow and sighing are by no means fled. Merciful Lord! Accept this day about Thy servant (Thy) (name) this warm prayer and give him (her) in Thy reward for the labors and care of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as if he taught (taught) me first of all to lead Thee, his Lord, to to pray to Thee with reverence, the One to trust in Thee in troubles, sorrows and diseases and keep Thy commandments; for his (her) welfare for my spiritual prosperity, for the warmth that he (she) brings for me before You and for all the gifts they (her) asked me from You, give him (her) Your mercy. With your heavenly blessings and joys in your eternal Kingdom. Thou art the God of mercies and bounty and love for mankind, Thou art the peace and joy of Thy faithful servants, and We glorify Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and forever and ever. Amen

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for the departed

Most Holy Lady Theotokos! We cry to You, our Intercessor, for You are our ambulance and an unceasing intercessor before God! We especially pray to You at this hour: help the deceased servant of God (deceased servant of God) (name), tormented (s) in hell; we pray to you, mistress of the world, by your power drive away from the fear-driven soul of his (her) terrible dark spirits, so that they will be confused and put to shame before you; free him (her) from torture in hell.
We pray to You, Most Holy Theotokos, with Your honest robe, protect him (her), pray for the sinful servant of God (sinful servant of God) (name), so that God will weaken his (her) torment and take him out of the abyss of hell, so that he (she) will pass from hell to heaven. We pray to Thee, our Intercessor, intercede for the servant (s) of God (s) (name) with thy mother's boldness with the Lord; We pray to You, our Help, help him (her) to justify himself before God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and pray to Your Only Begotten Son, our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, that he may rest the deceased in the bosom of Abraham with the righteous and all saints. Amen.

Prayer for the Suddenly Deceased

Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of life and death, you said in your holy Gospel: "Watch, because you do not know at what hour your Lord will come, for at what time you do not think the Son of man will come." But we, earthly and sinful, who have surrendered to the sorrows and pleasures of life, forget about the hour of our death, and therefore we are called to You, Judge of heaven and earth, suddenly, at an hour when we did not expect and did not anticipate.
So suddenly Your deceased servant, our brother (name), was called to You.
The ways of Your wondrous providence for us, Lord Savior, are inscrutable and incomprehensible! I humbly bow my head before these Your paths, Lord Vladyka, and I pray You earnestly with faith: look down from the height of Your holy dwelling and Your grace overshadow me, may this prayer be directed before You, like a fragrant incense.
Merciful Lord, hear my prayer for Thy servant (name), according to Thy inscrutable destinies, suddenly abducted from us by death; have mercy and have mercy on his trembling soul, called to your impartial judgment at an hour at which you did not expect.
Yes, do not expose her with Your fury, and do not punish her with Your anger, but spare and have mercy on her for the sake of Your sufferings on the Cross and through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, forgive her all sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance. After all, although Your servant (name) was raptured, in his life he believed in You and confessed You, God and the Savior of the world Christ, and had hope in You: credit him with this faith and his hope instead of deeds!
Merciful Lord! You do not wish the death of the sinner, but you mercifully accept from him and for him everything that is done to conversion and salvation, and you yourself arrange his way for his salvation.
I also pray to You, be pleased to remember all the deeds of mercy and all the prayers done here on earth for Your deceased servant, deign to accept my prayer for him along with the prayers of your priests of Your Holy Church and deign to release all sins to his soul, calm his troubled heart, spare him from eternal torment and rest him in a bright place.
For you have mercy and save us, Christ our Savior, and you alone are entitled to unspeakable goodness and eternal glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the dead without repentance to the Monk Paisius the Great

Oh, holy head, reverend father, blessed Paisius! Do not forget your unfortunate ones to the end, and remember us always in your holy and auspicious prayers to God!
Remember your flock, which you have saved, and do not forget to visit your children. Pray for us, holy father, for your spiritual children, as one who has boldness towards the Heavenly King; pray for us incessantly before the Lord and do not reject us, who honor you with faith and love.
Remember us unworthy at the Throne of the Almighty and do not stop praying for us to Christ God, for you have been given grace to pray for us.
For we do not think of you as dead: if in body you have passed away from us, then after death you remain alive. Do not depart from us in spirit, keeping us from enemy arrows and all demonic deceptions and the wiles of the devil, our good shepherd.
For the cancer with your relics is always visible before our gaze, but your holy soul with the hosts of Angels, with ethereal faces, with Heavenly powers, standing at the Almighty Throne, rejoices with dignity.
Knowing truly that even after death you remain alive, we fall down and pray to you: pray for us to the Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and ask for time for us to repent, so we can freely move from earth to heaven, and let us get rid of bitter ordeals, demons and princes of the air and from eternal torment. And may we be heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom with all the righteous, who have pleased our God Jesus Christ from time immemorial, to whom all glory, honor and worship befits, with His Beginning Father and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-giving His Spirit, now and forever and forever. Amen.

Suicide Prayer

The venerable Optina elders sometimes allowed at home prayer to commemorate suicides, for whom, according to the 14th canon of Timothy of Alexandria, there could not be an offering in the Church. Thus, the Monk Leonidas, in schema Leo, to one of his disciples (Pavel Tambovtsev), whose father ended his life by suicide, gave the following instructions on prayer: “Entrust both yourself and the fate of a parent to the will of the Lord, all-wise, all-powerful. Do not test the fate of the Most High. Strive with humility to strengthen yourself within the limits of moderate sorrow. Pray to the all-merciful Creator, thus fulfilling the duty of love and filial duties. - in the spirit of the virtuous and wise, so: “Seek, O Lord, the lost soul of my father: if it is possible there is, have mercy. Your destinies are invisible. Do not make this my prayer a sin, but Thy holy will be done. " Pray then simply, without trial, betraying your heart into the right hand of the Most High. Of course, there was no will of God for such a mournful death of your parent: but now it is completely in the will of the Mighty One to cast both soul and body into a cave of fire, which both humbles and raises, dies and lives, brings down to hell and raises. At the same time, He is so merciful, omnipotent and loving that the good qualities of all earthly ones are nothing before His highest goodness. For this, you should not be overly sad. You will say: "I love my parent, which is why I grieve inconsolably." Fair. But God without comparison is more than you. loved and loves him. This means that you only have to leave the eternal fate of your parent to the goodness and mercy of God, who, if he deigns to have mercy, then who can resist Him? "

Prayer for the unbaptized departed to the martyr Uaru

Oh, holy martyr Uar, worthy of special surprise, you aspired to imitate the Lord Christ, you confessed the Heavenly King before the tormentor and for Him you voluntarily suffered.
And now the Church honors you as glorified by the Lord Christ with the glory of Heaven, who has given you the grace of great boldness towards Him.
And now, standing before Him with the Angels, triumphant in the world above, contemplating the Holy Trinity and enjoying the Light of the Originless Radiance, remember the sufferings of our relatives who died in wickedness, accept our petition, and as the faithless family of Cleopatra with your prayers freed from eternal torment, so remember and the godless buried, who died unbaptized, hasten to ask them for relief from eternal torment, and with one mouth and one heart let us glorify the Most Merciful Creator forever and ever. Amen.

THE CHINA OF LITHIUM PERFORMED BY A WORLD AT HOME AND IN A CEMETERY

Through the prayers of the saints, our Father, Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfill everything. Treasure of the good and life to the Giver, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all defilement, and save our souls, Beloved.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (It is read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow in the waist.)

Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquity; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Three times.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord have mercy. (12 times.)
Come, let us worship our Tsar God. (Bow.)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ, our King God. (Bow.)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ Himself, the Tsar and our God. (Bow.)

Psalm 90

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the roof of the God of Heaven. The Lord speaks: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge. My God, and I trust in Him. Yako Toy will deliver you from the hunter's net, and from the word of rebellion, His splash will overshadow you, and under His krill you hope: His truth will go around you with a weapon. Do not be afraid of the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in days, from the thing in the darkness of the transitory, from the crumbling, and the demon of the midday. Thousands of your country will fall, and tma at your right hand will not come close to you, look at both your eyes, and behold the reward of sinners. As Thou, Lord, my hope, the Most High, Thou hast laid thy refuge. Evil will not come to you, and the wound will not approach your body, as with His Angel the commandment about you, keep you in all your ways. They will take you in their arms, but not when you have stumbled your foot on a stone, step on an asp and a basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I will trust in Me, and I will deliver and: I will cover and, as My name is known. He will call on Me, and I will answer him: I am with him in trouble, I will scourge him, and I will glorify him, I will fulfill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, God (thrice).
From the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, the soul of Thy servant, Savior, rest, preserving it in a blissful life, even with You, Human-loving.
In Thy resting place, Lord, where Thy sanctuary rests, rest the soul of Thy servant, as if you were One Humanitarian.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: Thou art God, who descended into hell and having broken the bonds of the bound. Rest yourselves and the soul of your servant.
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen: One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without seed, pray that his soul be saved.

Kontakion, voice 8: Rest with the saints, Christ, the soul of Thy servant, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.

Ikos: You yourself alone are the Immortal, who created and created man: we will be created from the earth, and we will go into the earth, as you commanded, Creating me, and the river mi: as if you were the earth and drive away into the earth; Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, we magnify the Mother of God.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy (three times), bless.
Through the prayers of the saints, our Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
In blissful dormition, give eternal rest. Lord, Thy deceased servant (name) and make him an eternal memory.
Eternal memory (thrice).
His soul will be settled in good, and his memory will be for generations and generations.

Reading the Psalter for the dead

Reading the Psalter in memory of the departed brings them greater consolation, because this reading is accepted by the Lord Himself as a pleasant atoning sacrifice for the cleansing of the sins of those who are remembered. “The Psalter ... for the whole world prays to God,” writes St. Basil the Great.
There is a practice of reading one 17th kathisma, this practice is used when there is a lack of time.
Reading the Psalter is a prayer to the Lord. The ascetics of the Church recommend that the believer read the Psalter one kathisma every day, paying attention to the fact that piety and purity of heart are an indispensable condition for reading.

After the death of our relatives, loved ones and friends, relations with them do not end. Only visible communication is interrupted, because there is no death in the Kingdom of Christ. It is only an invisible transition from a temporary, earthly life to eternal life.

Why Pray for the Dead

Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased is a continuation of our invisible connection. Orthodox Christians believe that the Merciful Lord will grant forgiveness to their souls through prayer.

Jesus Christ the Great Bishop

While a person is alive, he can receive forgiveness from God at any time. But after death, the soul no longer has the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and intercede for itself. And we, living people, come to the Creator's help with prayers for them.

Also read:

After a person's death, the place of residence of his newly departed soul depends on how the deceased spent his earthly life, whether he believed in Christ, whether he kept His commandments. Therefore, by diligently praying for dead people, we, the living, can do for them the only and long-awaited benefit - eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Prayer texts

Prayer for departed parents

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the guardian of the orphans, the grieving refuge and the crying comforter. I come running to You, siry, stening and. weeping, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes.

I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief about separation from the one who gave birth and raised me, my parent (name); But his soul, as if he went to Thee with true faith in Thee and firm hope in Thy philanthropy and mercy, accept into Thy Kingdom of Heaven.

I bow before Your holy will, it will be taken away from me, and I ask You, not to take away Your mercy and mercy from him. Wem, Lord, as you, the Judge of this world, punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even up to the third and fourth kind: but also favor the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the deceased unforgettable for me Thy servant, my parent (name), but let him go all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him in his life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Theotokos and all the saints, have mercy on him and save eternal torment.

You, merciful Father of fathers and children! grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, never cease to remember my deceased parent in my prayers, and entreat Thee, the righteous Judge, and lead him in a brighter place, in a cooler place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , all sickness, sadness and sighing will by no means run away. Merciful Lord!

Accept this day about Thy servant (name), this warm prayer of mine and reward him with Thy reward for the labors and care of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as if he taught me first of all to lead Thee, His Lord, in reverence to pray to Thee, in Thee one hope in troubles, sorrows and diseases, and keep Your commandments;

For his blessing about my spiritual success, for the warmth they bring for me in prayers before You and for all the gifts they have asked me from You, give him Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal kingdom.

Thou art the God of mercies and bounty and love for mankind, Thou art the peace and joy of Thy faithful servants, and We glorify Thee with the Father and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the one who died up to 40 days

It is read from the day of death 40 days and before the anniversary 40 days before the day of death every day.

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the life of the eternal reposed * of Your servant, our brother (name), and like Good and Humanitarian, forgiving sins and consuming unrighteousness, weaken, forgive and forgive all his free and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of hell, and grant him the sacrament and pleasure of Thy eternal good, prepared for those who love Thee: even if you sin, but do not depart from You, and it is unquestionable in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the God of Thy in the Trinity is glorified, faith, and the One in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is Orthodox even to the last gasp of confession. Even so, be merciful to that, and faith, even in Thee, instead of deeds of imputation, and with Thy saints, as Generous, rest: there is no man who lives and does not sin, but Thou alone art apart from all sin and Thy truth is truth forever, and Thou art the One God of mercy and bounty, and love for mankind, and we glorify Thee, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the peace of the soul of the deceased for 9 days

God of spirits and all flesh, correcting death and abolishing the devil, and a gift to Thy world! Himself, Lord, rest the souls of the departed Thy servant: the most holy patriarchs, most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops who served You in the priestly, church and monastic ranks; the creators of this holy temple, the Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors for the faith and the fatherland who laid down their lives, the faithful, killed by internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen on the scum, torn apart by beasts, suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in the outburst of the mind of the suicidal, those for whom they commanded and asked us to pray, for whom there is no one to pray for and the faithful, the burial of the Christian deprived (name) in a brighter place, in a place of evil, in a place of peace, disease, sorrow and sighing are by no means removed. Any sin, committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Humanitarian God, forgive, as if there is no man, who will live and will not sin. Thou art one, apart from sin, Thy righteousness is truth forever, and Thy word is truth.

As if Thou art the Resurrection, and the Belly and Peace of the dead are Thy servant (name), Christ our God, and we glorify You with Thy beginningless Father, and the Most Holy, and Good, and Thy Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

Prayer for the newly departed deceased

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the belly of the eternal newly departed Thy servant (or Thy servant), (name), and like a good man and a man who forgives sins and consumes unrighteousness, weaken, forgive and forgive all his free and involuntary sins, exalting his into your holy second coming, into the sacrament of your eternal blessings, for their sake in The One Faith, the true God and the Man-lover. As you are the resurrection and the life, and the rest of your servant, (name), Christ our God. And we glorify Thee, with Thy beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever, amen.

A short prayer for the departed

Rest, Lord, the souls of the departed, Thy servant: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.

What do 3, 9, 40 days and anniversary mean?

Few of the deceased were vouchsafed before death to perform confession and Holy Communion, many die unexpectedly, and some are overtaken by violent death.

Icon of Jesus Christ the Savior

The deceased especially needs prayer support 40 days after death. It was at this time that his fate in the other world was decided, his "placement" in hell or in paradise villages.

Relatives and close people are obliged for the good memory of the deceased to perform a prayer feat:

• do merciful deeds and deeds;
• forgiving ill-wishers;
• pacify personal hypocrisy;
• regularly repent of sins and partake of the Sacrament;
• comfort the grieving;
• give alms to the needy.

Day three

Commemoration on the 3rd day after death is performed in memory of the Resurrection of Christ. The soul is present on earth for 2 days. She is constantly accompanied by an angel. She visits places dear to her during her lifetime, "visits" loved ones.

Important! On the 3rd day, the soul ascends to worship the Creator. It is on this day that prayers for her repose and forgiveness of sins are a particularly timely event.

From 3 to 6 days, a shower, accompanied by an angel, beholds the beauty of paradise villages. The grief that was felt when parting with the body is gradually forgotten. The sinful soul grieves and reproaches itself for the carelessness of earthly life.

Day nine

On the 9th day, the Almighty again commands the soul to appear to Him. A memorial service on this day is created in memory. It is they who intercede for salvation and mercy to the newly departed.

Day fortieth

On the 40th day, the soul ascends to Christ again to resolve its fate - the Almighty determines the place of its location before His Second Coming to earth and the Last Judgment. It is at this moment that prayer and commemoration are considered especially timely for the sake of the establishment of the reposed soul in paradise with the saints.

It is the 40th day that is significant in the history of the Church:

• the prophet Moses talked with the Creator on Mount Sinai and received it after 40 days of fasting;
• the Israelites, after a 40-year journey, reached Judea;
• The Savior ascended on the 40th day after Resurrection.

Important articles:

Remembrance anniversary

The commemoration of the dead on the anniversary of death is conditioned by the liturgical cycle - the annual circle. At its end, all church events are repeated again. And the anniversary of a person's repose is his birthday in eternity.

On the 40th day, the soul ascends to Christ again to resolve its fate.

Orthodox Church keeps many examples of how the departed expect prayers for them from living people: they come to us in dreamy visions, perform certain signs indicating the need for prayerful remembrance.

Christian love is eternal, and the dead are not dead, but alive and love us, because the human soul is immortal. Few of the righteous go to heavenly abodes and enjoy the joy of communion with the Heavenly Father. That is why prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased is so important.

Important! An equally effective commemoration of the departed is the offering of the Bloodless Sacrifice for them during the divine Liturgy.

Watch a video on how to pray for the dead.

DAYS OF SPECIAL REMEMBER

The hour comes when the remains of the deceased are buried, where they will rest until the end of time and the general resurrection. But the love of the mother of the Church for her child, who has passed away from this life, does not dry out. On certain days, she prays for the deceased and makes a bloodless sacrifice for his repose. Special days of remembrance are the third, ninth and fortieth (the day of death is considered the first). The commemoration these days is sanctified by an ancient church custom. It is consistent with the Church's teaching on the state of the soul behind the grave.

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 Most Holy Trinity.

For the first two days, the soul of the deceased is still on earth, passing along with the Angel accompanying her through those places that attract her with memories of earthly joys and sorrows, evil and good deeds. The soul that loves the body sometimes wanders around the house in which the body is laid, and thus spends two days like a bird looking for its nest. The virtuous soul walks to the places in which it used to create the truth. On the third day, the Lord commands the soul to ascend to heaven to worship Him - the God of all. Therefore, the ecclesiastical commemoration of the soul, presented before the face of the Just One, is very timely.

Ninth day. The commemoration of the deceased on this day is in honor of the nine ranks of the angels, who, as servants of the Heavenly King and intercessors to Him for us, intercede for mercy on the departed.

After the third day, the soul, accompanied by an Angel, enters the heavenly abodes and contemplates their unspeakable beauty. She remains in this state for six days. During this time, the soul forgets the grief that it felt while in the body and after leaving it. But if she is guilty of sins, then at the sight of the pleasure of the saints, she begins to grieve and reproach herself: “Alas for me! How much I got bored in this world! I spent most of my life in carelessness and did not serve God as I should, in order for me to be worthy of this grace and glory. Alas for me, poor! " On the ninth day, the Lord commands the Angels to again present their souls to Him for worship. The soul awaits with fear and trembling before the throne of the Most High. But even at this time, the holy Church again prays for the deceased, asking the merciful Judge to settle the soul of her child with the saints.

Fortieth day. The forty-day period is very significant in the history and tradition of the Church as the time required for preparation, for the acceptance of the special Divine gift of the grace-filled help of the Heavenly Father. Prophet Moses was honored to converse with God on Mount Sinai and receive from Him the tablets of the law only after forty days of fasting. The Israelites reached the Promised Land after a forty year journey. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself ascended into heaven on the fortieth day after His Resurrection. Taking all this as a foundation, the Church established that commemoration should be commemorated on the fortieth day after death, so that the soul of the departed ascended the holy mountain of Heavenly Sinai, was worthy of the sight of God, attained the blessedness promised to her, and settled in heavenly villages with the righteous.

After the second worship of the Lord, the Angels take the soul to hell, and she contemplates the cruel torments of unrepentant sinners. On the fortieth day, the soul ascends for the third time to worship God, and then its fate is decided - according to earthly affairs, it is assigned a place of stay until the Last Judgment. Therefore, church prayers and commemorations on this day are so timely. They atone for the sins of the deceased and asks his soul to be placed in paradise with the saints.

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

UNIVERSAL PANIKHIDS (PARENT SATURDS)

In addition to these days, the Church has established special days for the solemn, universal, ecumenical commemoration of all fathers and brothers who have passed away in faith from time immemorial, who have been vouchsafed a Christian death, as well as those who, being caught by sudden death, were not admonished to the afterlife by the prayers of the Church. The requiems performed at the same time, indicated by the charter of the Ecumenical Church, are called ecumenical, and the days on which commemoration is performed are called ecumenical parental Saturdays. In the circle of the liturgical year, such days of general remembrance are:

Meat Saturday. Dedicating the Meat-Passing Week to commemorating the last Last Judgment of Christ, the Church, in view of this judgment, established intercession not only for its living members, but also for all those who have died from time immemorial, who have lived in piety, of all kinds, titles and states, especially those who have died a sudden death. , and prays to the Lord for mercy on them. The solemn all-church commemoration of the dead on this Saturday (as well as on Trinity Saturday) brings great benefit and help to our dead fathers and brothers, and at the same time serves as an expression of the fullness of the church life that we live. For salvation is possible only in the Church - a community of believers, whose members are not only those who live, but also all those who have died in the faith. And communication with them through prayer, their prayerful remembrance is the expression of our common unity in the Church of Christ.

Saturday Trinity. The commemoration of all dead pious Christians was established on the Saturday before Pentecost in view of the fact that the event of the descent of the Holy Spirit completed the economy of man's salvation, and the departed also participate in this salvation. Therefore, the Church, sending prayers at Pentecost for the revitalization of all living by the Holy Spirit, asks on the very day of the feast, so that for the departed the grace of the all-holy and all-sanctifying Spirit of the Comforter, which they were honored during their lifetime, would be a source of bliss, since by the Holy Spirit “every soul lives ". Therefore, the eve of the holiday, Saturday, the Church devotes to the remembrance of the dead, to prayer for them. Saint Basil the Great, who composed the touching prayers of Vespers of Pentecost, says in them that the Lord especially on this day delights in accepting prayers for the dead and even for "those who are held in hell."

Parental Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of Holy Forty days. On the Holy Forty Day - the days of Great Lent, spiritual exploits, exploits of repentance and goodness to their neighbors - the Church calls on believers to be in the closest union of Christian love and peace, not only with the living, but also with the dead, to perform prayerful commemorations of those who have departed from real life on the appointed days. In addition, the Saturdays of these weeks are appointed by the Church for the commemoration of the departed also for the reason that on the weekdays of Great Lent there is no memorial service (this includes litanies, litias, memorial services, commemoration of the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death, magpie), since every day there is no complete liturgy, with the celebration of which the commemoration of the departed is associated. In order not to deprive the dead of the salvific intercession of the Church in the days of the Holy Forty-ness, the indicated Saturdays are allocated.

Radonitsa. The basis for the general commemoration of the dead, which takes place on Tuesday after Thomas week (Sunday), is, on the one hand, the memory of the descent of Jesus Christ into hell and His victory over death, combined with St. after Holy and Bright Weeks, starting with Fomin Monday. On this day, believers come to the graves of their relatives and friends with the joyful news of the Resurrection of Christ. Hence the very day of remembrance is called Radonitsa (or Radunitsa).

Unfortunately, in Soviet times, the custom was established to visit cemeteries not on Radonitsa, but on the first day of Easter. It is natural for a believer to visit the graves of their loved ones after fervent prayer for their repose in the temple - after the funeral service served in the church. During the Easter week, there are no funerals, for Easter is an all-encompassing joy for those who believe in the Resurrection of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, throughout the entire Easter week, the funeral litany is not pronounced (although the usual commemoration is performed at the proskomedia), and the requiem service is not served.

CHURCH REMEDIES SERVICES

It is necessary to commemorate the deceased in the Church as often as possible, not only on the designated special days of commemoration, but also on any other day. The main prayer for the repose of the departed Orthodox Christians is performed by the Church at the Divine Liturgy, bringing a bloodless sacrifice to God for them. To do this, before the beginning of the liturgy (or the night before), notes with their names should be submitted to the church (only baptized Orthodox Christians can be entered). At the proskomedia, particles for their repose will be removed from the prosphora, which at the end of the Liturgy will be lowered into the holy bowl and washed with the Blood of the Son of God. Let us remember that this is the greatest benefit that we can provide to those who are dear to us. Here is how they say about the commemoration at the liturgy in the Epistle of the Eastern Patriarchs: “We believe that the souls of people who fell into mortal sins and did not despair at death, but who repented even before being separated from real life, only did not have time to bear any fruits of repentance (such fruits could be their prayers, tears, kneeling during prayer vigils, contrition, consolation of the poor and expression in actions of love for God and their neighbors) - the souls of such people descend into hell and suffer punishment for their sins, without losing hope of relief. They receive relief by the infinite goodness of God through the prayers of priests and beneficence performed for the dead, and especially by the power of the bloodless sacrifice, which, in particular, the clergyman brings for every Christian for his loved ones, and in general for everyone, the Catholic and Apostolic Church brings daily. "

An eight-pointed Orthodox cross is usually placed at the top of the note. Then the type of commemoration is indicated - "On repose", after which the names of those commemorated in the genitive case are written in large, legible handwriting (to answer the question "who?" schema-abbot Savva, archpriest Alexander, nun Rachel, Andrey, Nina).

All names must be given in the church script (for example, Tatiana, Alexia) and in full (Michael, Lyubov, not Misha, Lyuba).

The number of names in the note does not matter; it is only necessary to take into account that the priest has the opportunity to read not very long notes more attentively. Therefore, it is better to submit a few notes if you want to remember many of your loved ones.

By submitting notes, the parishioner makes a donation for the needs of a monastery or temple. For the avoidance of confusion, remember that price differences (registered or plain notes) only reflect differences in donation. Nor should you be embarrassed if you have not heard the mention of the names of your relatives in the litany. As mentioned above, the main commemoration takes place at the proskomedia when removing particles from the prosphora. During the funeral litany, you can take out your memorial and pray for your loved ones. Prayer will be more effective if the one who commemorates himself on that day participates in the Body and Blood of Christ.

After the liturgy, you can serve a panikhida. The requiem is served before the eve - a special table with a crucifixion and rows of candlesticks. Here you can leave an offering for the needs of the temple in memory of the deceased loved ones.

It is very important after death to order a magpie in the church - a continuous commemoration during the liturgy for forty days. At the end of it, the magpie can be ordered again. There are also long periods of commemoration - six months, a year. Some monasteries accept notes for eternal (while the monastery is standing) commemoration or for commemoration while reading the Psalter (this is an ancient Orthodox custom). The more temples prayer is offered, the better for our neighbor!

Very useful in memorable days the deceased donate to the church, give alms to the poor with a request to pray for him. On the eve, you can bring sacrificial food. You can't just bring meat and alcohol on the eve (except for church wine). The simplest type of sacrifice for the deceased is a candle, which is placed on his repose.

Realizing that the most that we can do for our deceased loved ones is to submit a note of remembrance at the liturgy, we should not forget to pray for them at home and perform deeds of mercy.

Remembrance of the Deceased at Home Prayer

Prayer for the departed is our main and invaluable help to those who have departed to another world. The deceased does not need, by and large, neither a coffin, nor a grave monument, let alone a memorial table - all this is just a tribute to traditions, albeit very pious. But the eternally living soul of the deceased feels a great need for constant prayer, for it cannot itself do good deeds with which it would be able to propitiate the Lord. Home prayer for loved ones, including the dead, is the duty of every Orthodox Christian. Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, says this about prayer for the dead: “If the all-perceiving Wisdom of God does not forbid praying for the dead, does this mean that it is still allowed to throw a rope, although it is not always reliable enough, but sometimes, and perhaps often, salvific for souls who have fallen away from the shores of temporary life, but have not reached the eternal abode? Saving for those souls who hover over the abyss between bodily death and the last judgment of Christ, now rising by faith, now immersed in deeds unworthy of it, now rising by grace, now descending by the remains of damaged nature, now ascending by divine desire, now entangled in rough, not yet completely stripped off the clothes of earthly thoughts ... "

Home prayer commemoration of a deceased Christian is very diverse. One should especially earnestly pray for the deceased in the first forty days after his death. As already indicated in the section "Reading the Psalter for the Dead", during this period it is very useful to read about the deceased Psalter, at least one kathisma a day. You can also recommend reading the akathist about the repose of the dead. In general, the Church commands us to pray every day for departed parents, relatives, known people and benefactors. To do this, the following short prayer is included in the daily morning prayers:

Prayer for the dead

Rest, O Lord, the souls of the departed, Thy servant: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is more convenient to read the names from the memorial - a small booklet where the names of living and deceased relatives are recorded. There is a pious custom of keeping family commemorations, reading which Orthodox people remember by name many generations of their departed ancestors.

Memorial Meal

The pious custom of commemorating the dead at a meal has been known for a very long time. But, unfortunately, many commemorations turn into an excuse for relatives to get together, discuss news, eat delicious food, while Orthodox Christians should pray for the dead at the memorial table too.

Before a meal, a litiya should be performed - a short rite of a requiem that can be performed by a layman. In extreme cases, you need to at least read the 90th psalm and the prayer "Our Father". The first dish eaten at the commemoration is kutia (k € olivo). These are boiled grains of cereals (wheat or rice) with honey and raisins. Grains serve as a symbol of the resurrection, and honey is a sweetness enjoyed by the righteous in the Kingdom of God. According to the statute, kutia should be consecrated with a special rite during the requiem; if there is no such possibility, it is necessary to sprinkle it with holy water.

Naturally, the desire of the owners is to treat everyone who came to the commemoration more deliciously. But you need to observe the fasts established by the Church, and eat the permitted food: on Wednesday, Friday, during long fasts - do not eat the fast food. If the memory of the deceased happens on a weekday of Great Lent, then the commemoration is postponed to the next Saturday or Sunday before that.

It is necessary to refrain from wine, especially vodka, at the memorial meal! The dead are not remembered with wine! Wine is a symbol of earthly joy, and commemoration is an occasion for intense prayer for a person who can suffer severely in the afterlife. You should not drink alcohol, even if the deceased himself liked to drink. It is known that a "drunken" commemoration often turns into an ugly gathering at which the deceased is simply forgotten. At the table, you need to remember the deceased, his good qualities and deeds (hence the name - commemoration). The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread at the table “for the deceased” is a relic of paganism and should not be observed in Orthodox families.

On the contrary, there are godly customs worthy of emulation. In many Orthodox families, the first to sit down at the memorial table are the poor and the poor, children and old women. They can also distribute the clothes and belongings of the deceased. Orthodox people can tell about numerous cases of certification from the afterlife about the great help to the departed as a result of the creation of alms by their relatives. Moreover, the loss of loved ones prompts many people to take the first step towards God, to start living the life of an Orthodox Christian.

Thus, one living archimandrite tells the following incident from his pastoral practice.

“It happened in the difficult post-war years. A mother, who was crying with grief, comes to me, the rector of a village church, at whom her eight-year-old son Misha drowned. And she says that Misha dreamed about her and complained about the cold - he was completely without clothes. I say to her: "And what is his clothes left?" - "Oh sure". - "Give it to your friends Mishin, they will probably come in handy."

A few days later she tells me that she again saw Misha in a dream: he was dressed in exactly the same clothes that were given to his friends. He thanked him, but now he complained of hunger. I advised to make for the village children - friends and acquaintances of Misha - a memorial meal. No matter how difficult it is in a difficult time, what can you not do for your beloved son! And the woman, as she could, treated the children.

She came the third time. She thanked me very much: "Misha said in a dream that now he is warm and satisfying, only my prayers are not enough." I taught her about prayers, advised her not to leave the works of mercy for the future. She became a zealous parishioner, always ready to respond to requests for help, as much as she could and helped orphans, the poor and the poor. "