The Christian faith is imbued with reverence for the face of eternity and the preparation of the soul of every Christian for the judgment of God. The essence of the commemoration of the deceased is taking care of his soul at the hour of his death and on all days after his death. At the same time, a person who has left this world cannot influence the decision of the fate of his soul in the other world. But the commemoration of his loved ones and relatives can change this fate.
It is necessary
- Prayer book
- Church candles
- Alms
Instructions
Step 1
The main commemoration of the departed takes place in the church at the divine liturgy and in custom-made funeral prayers, namely at memorial services and lithias. A commemoration is ordered in any church, for example, for forty days - forty days, for a year - an annual commemoration. Church commemoration is allowed only for the baptized deceased.
Step 2
Relatives and friends of the deceased can remember him daily in their home prayers for the blessed repose of his soul. Home prayer for repose is in every prayer book - a special collection of prayers that can be purchased in every church. In addition, it is not necessary to pray for the departed "according to a book"; God will hear any sincere prayer composed in his own words. In home prayer, you can list all relatives and friends, including unbaptized, but believing people.
Step 3
In order to calm the soul of the deceased and contribute to a good decision of her fate beyond the grave, Christians necessarily commit merciful deeds, do charity work, selfless help and share their blessings in memory of the deceased.
Step 4
In the Christian church, there is a special custom on the days of commemoration of the departed: to come to church services to pray and bring alms for the deceased. These can be a wide variety of products (with the exception of meat), which are placed on the eve - a memorial table, and after the service are distributed to the servants of the temple and all those in need with a request to use them with prayer for the repose of your loved one. This type of commemoration has been adopted in Christianity since ancient times.
Step 5
On the days of commemoration of the dead, you should, if possible, visit the cemetery. It is better to do this after prayer in the temple and the funeral service. At the cemetery, you can light a candle, perform a litiya, read an akathist. If necessary, clean up the grave and silently remember the deceased. The Christian faith does not welcome memorial meals over the grave, it is especially unacceptable to drink alcohol and sprinkle the grave with vodka; one should not leave a glass and food at the tombstone. This custom is a relic of paganism, when the funeral was accompanied by abundant feasts and loud celebrations right on the grave of the deceased. If someone close to you still brings food to the cemetery, distribute it to the poor and needy.
Step 6
After completing the memorial prayers, you can sit down at the memorial table. The memorial meal is considered a continuation of the sacred service. Served kutia - boiled wheat or rice with honey and raisins, which is brought to the temple during the funeral service or litiya. Then they take her home and begin the funeral meal with the blessing of the consecrated kutya. Traditionally, pancakes and jelly are prepared for the commemoration. If the commemoration fell on fast days, then the memorial food should only be fast. Wine, and even more so vodka, should not be present at the memorial meal. Wine - a symbol of earthly joy - is not accepted to commemorate the departed. A relic of paganism is the custom to put cutlery “for the deceased”; it is even more unacceptable to put a glass of vodka and a piece of bread in front of a portrait. Such traditions should not be observed in Orthodox families. At the memorial table, remember the deceased, his good qualities and deeds (this is why memorial prayers are called - commemoration, from the word “memory”).
