Easter is the main Orthodox holiday, a symbol of rebirth and victory over death. Precedes this holiday Great post, observing which, a person is cleansed spiritually.
There is a long-standing tradition in the world of bringing in order not only thoughts, but also one's home to the Resurrection of Christ. Before Easter, they usually clean up after winter and the graves of loved ones.
What days do you need to clean up at the cemetery?
Church Charter appointed "Parental Saturdays" - days on which people spend in churches special services for peace. On the same days, they visit cemeteries, tidy up the graves, visit the resting.
Before Easter, during Great Lent, three Parent's Day: 2nd, 3rd and 4th from its beginning Saturday. If you adhere to the Orthodox canons, then it is better to visit the cemetery at this time.
However, not everyone will be able to do this on certain church days. For example, in areas where snow lies for a long time, you may not physically get to the grave. The last day before Easter when you can clean up the cemetery is Saturday before Palm Sunday.
Do they go to cemeteries on Easter?
On Holy week and for another 8 days after the Easter holiday, you cannot go to the cemeteries.
Visiting the graves on Easter itself is the height of misunderstanding of the meaning of the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord.
In order to share the joy of this event with the deceased, it is customary to come to their graves in Radonitsa, which is celebrated on the ninth day from the main holiday. Radonitsa is Easter for those who are in the other world.
How to properly conduct memorial days?
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- light a candle and leave a memorial note in the church;
- give alms with a request to pray for the soul of the deceased;
- put a candle in the cemetery by an icon or a cross; candles are not lit in front of the monument;
- read a prayer;
- remember the deceased with good deeds, mentally talk to him;
- remove garbage at the grave;
- renew the paint on the fence, monument or fix the cross;
- cut the grass, plant flowers, whitewash the trees.
And what should not be done in the cemetery on parent's day? It is prohibited:
- indulge in grief;
- arrange a feast;
- drink alcohol or pour it on the grave;
- leaving food in the cemetery - it is better to give it to the beggars;
- decorate the grave with artificial flowers;
- To talk loudly;
- leave trash.
If you are unable to visit the cemetery in parenting Saturdays, then there is no need to suffer from feelings of guilt. There are no clear instructions on what day the graves should be cleaned or the windows in the house cleaned. Worldly habits do not always reflect a person's true spirituality.
Light a candle in the church, celebrate the liturgy and panikhida, give alms and spend the day thinking about the dead. Your good deeds are the best that you can do for their blessed memory.
Palm Sunday is always celebrated exactly one week before the main Christian holiday- Happy Easter. This Sunday (this year Palm Sunday falls on April 1, 2018), they buy pussy willows to remember how the Savior entered Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago. In this regard, they are often interested not only in how to celebrate this holiday. We are concerned about the question of whether it is possible and necessary to clean up the cemetery on Palm Sunday, to come to the graves, and what to do if life circumstances force us to do this on a holiday. The detailed answer is discussed below.
The question of whether to go to the cemetery in Verbnoye on Sunday or not is controversial. On the one hand, they go to the cemetery in order to put things in order, clean up the grave, and most importantly, people commemorate their deceased relatives and friends. They start to work, clean up, put things in order so that everything looks neat. It is interesting that in our country there is still a tradition to carry the consecrated willow branches and put them on a monument or a cross instead of traditional flowers. So relatives pay tribute to their ancestors and, as it were, give a holiday to them.
There is nothing shameful, let alone sinful, in this tradition. There is no direct prohibition on such actions either in the Bible or in church canons... Moreover, the clergy speak positively about this practice. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible to remember deceased relatives on this day, to come to the cemetery, is positive. It is advised to do this in the afternoon - first, it is better to attend a church service, to consecrate the willows. And then visit those who are no longer with us.
It is important to understand here that you can go to the cemetery on Palm Sunday, but you do not have to. It is important to tune in correctly and understand yourself: festive feelings on such a day, of course, overwhelm the heart of every person. Even apart from religious arguments, the mood will still be good. Spring is coming, it is getting warmer, and the days are constantly increasing. The agricultural cycle begins - in a word, nature and people are reborn after a long northern winter.
It turns out that you must be aware of and hear your inner feelings. Perhaps you have not cleaned the grave for a long time, and the heart, as they say, asks for itself. Then you can go to the cemetery and pay your respects. But it is worth remembering some restrictions - they are described in detail below.
Arguments against"
So, people often go to the cemetery on this very day, put a pussy willow on the grave. But then what objections can there be? In fact, only one thing.
Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate and rejoice in Christ. After all, 2,000 years ago, a crowd of people also rejoiced and glorified him. The Savior rode on a donkey, and people lined palm branches right on the road. Now we are purchasing willows in honor of this holiday.
Therefore, the very energy of the holiday does not agree with grief, even contradicts it. And if the loss of a loved one still causes too strong feelings, the wound in the soul has not yet healed - ask yourself whether it is necessary to go to the cemetery on Palm Sunday. After all, on the grave, feelings will inevitably take their toll - and the festive mood will have to give way to sorrowful thoughts.
Therefore, you should not check yourself and indulge in despondency on such a bright day. In addition, there are special dates for commemorating the dead - everything has its time.
NOTE
If the answer to the question whether it is possible to visit the cemetery and clean up the graves on Palm Sunday can be yes, then as for traditional commemoration with a feast, this is not allowed. You should not drink alcohol, overeat, indulge in despondency. Palm Sunday is a holiday of life, a day when we praise and rejoice in Christ. After all, in a week he will be resurrected. Again, everything has its time.
When we make exceptions
We, perhaps, do not make an exception, only the plans of life do not always coincide with ours. But what if it so happened that the person died on Palm Sunday? Or did you have a memorable 9 or 40 days on this day? Of course, the sorrowful feelings of family and friends are more than understandable, since it just so happened that a loss befell on a holiday.
The family, of course, will pay tribute to the deceased. But it will be right if on such a day you do not overdo it with food and alcohol. It will be good if you still go to Church and consecrate the willows. Yes, grief has befallen you, and longing overwhelms you. But still, life goes on: in due time, each of us will leave the earthly refuge - and who knows when this will happen?
Therefore, in such situations, when a festive and unfortunate event coincided, we still need to tune in to a life-affirming wave. In addition, participation with Palm Sunday, going to church and purchasing pussy willows will surely help to change your mood a little.
Parents' days in 2018
Before Easter, believers always observe Great Lent. During this fast, there are special three days dedicated to the commemoration of the parents. They are called parental Saturdays. In 2018, these are the dates:
- During 2 weeks of Lent - March 3.
- During 3 weeks of Lent - March 10.
- During 4 weeks of Lent - March 17.
These days always fall on Saturday, which is why they are called that: parental Saturdays. Believers come to the temple, where a special funeral service is traditionally held - Panikhida. And before it is the Liturgy.
On such days it will be more than correct to visit cemeteries, clean up the graves and commemorate the dead. You can clean up, take away the trash, put things in order. It is believed that this should be done on parental Saturdays, since the souls of the deceased are waiting for their relatives. If they do not come and honor the memory, they are very upset.
You can honor the memory of deceased loved ones and at home, read prayers and try moderately traditional memorial dishes- kutya and pancakes. Do not overeat too much or, even more so, abuse alcohol. Remembrance is not a holiday, therefore a lavish feast will be inappropriate: there are many other, bright dates for it.
NOTE
Of course, if the melted snow has not yet melted, and the ground is still too wet and dirty around, it is better to postpone the cleaning to Radonitsa, which in 2018 will fall on April 17. And if that day is not lucky, there is an opportunity to come on May 26 - on Trinity Saturday.
On April 9, Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem - Palm Sunday. In addition to the traditions that originate in antiquity, there are certain prohibitions associated with this date.
Many believers visit the cemetery on major church holidays. However, according to the rules of the church, this is not always permissible: for example, priests do not recommend going to the cemetery on Easter, explaining that on the Great Feast one cannot indulge in sadness, which invariably accompanies the commemoration of the dead. For commemoration in church calendar there are special days called parental Saturdays.
However, on Palm Sunday, visiting the cemetery is not prohibited: there is a whole tradition of attributing consecrated willow branches to the graves of loved ones who have passed away. Even in ancient times, after the liturgy, one of the family members always went to the cemetery to put a willow twig on the grave and pray for the deceased. This custom has survived to this day.
Thus, you can go to the cemetery on Palm Sunday. The priests only insist that this should be done after the church service.
In what case is it better to refuse to visit the cemetery?
It is better to postpone the visit to the cemetery if the pain of leaving loved one from life is still very strong. Sorrow contradicts the very essence of the holiday, because Palm Sunday is dedicated to the remembrance of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem on the day after the Son of God performed a great miracle - he raised the righteous Lazarus. At this time, every believer should experience joy and exultation, hope for the best and hope for the mercy of God. Despondency on non-holiday days is considered a mortal sin, and even more so on a holiday you should not indulge in melancholy.
In addition, soon there will be Radonitsa, dedicated to the commemoration of the dead. It falls on the second Tuesday after Easter, that is, in 2017 it will happen on April 25.
Holy Sunday is celebrated by Christians in honor of the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus, and also as a symbol of the joy of Jesus' coming to Jerusalem. The willow in the northern regions replaces the palm branches and southern flowers, with which believers greeted God's prophet in ancient city... The branches were chosen precisely because they are the first to bloom in the spring. Therefore, Orthodox Christians associate this holiday with the consecration of willow branches, as well as with general jubilation and triumph. But do they go to the cemetery on Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday: is it worth going to commemorate your relatives?
The ministers of the Orthodox Church are advised to visit the cemetery on this sacred holiday after the liturgy, but not before it. If there is no urgent need for such an act, you can refrain from going to the cemetery. Remembrance of the departed is not included in the compulsory program on this day.
Previously, there was a custom to send one family member to the graves of deceased relatives with consecrated willows in order to honor their memory.
Now they go to the cemetery on a significant church holiday. on their own... Palm Sunday is primarily celebrated as a real celebration. Therefore, the feeling of joy on this day is quite appropriate.
Grief for the deceased loved ones, according to the clergy, can prevent a person from feeling all the charm of spiritual triumph. But this does not apply to the following cases:
- When a person has lost his family quite recently. Then all the festivities are relegated to the background for the believer, because he is in deep mourning.
- When the day of remembrance of the deceased falls on Palm Sunday.
In all other cases, the question of visiting the cemetery is decided on an individual basis.
Is it possible to remember deceased relatives on this day?
A simple commemoration of the dead on the last Sunday before Easter is quite appropriate. You can pray for those who have gone to festive service... This is also not prohibited.
But do they go to the cemetery directly on Palm Sunday if they feel unwell? In this case, you should postpone your visit until the end of Easter or take advantage of special days during Easter week.
It is a sin to work on such a holiday. And if you nevertheless decide to visit the cemetery on a given day, then just leave an edible mention for the deceased and leave. Three days are allocated to clean up the graves of relatives during the Easter period. The most famous of them is Radonitsa.
Palm Sunday is a holiday when you need to relax with the whole family. Things and work should be postponed or done in advance. There is a certain amount of wisdom and practical benefit in this order. During simple days Christians work and pray a lot, so their souls and bodies certainly need a good rest.
Go to the cemetery on a holiday or not, only you can decide. But if the scales are still tipped in favor of going to the cemetery, then try to visit the graves of the deceased in a peaceful state, since according to biblical traditions the answer to the question "Do they go to the cemetery on Palm Sunday?" depends only on the inner mood of the person.
Search line: funeral
Records found: 100
Mom died on March 27, the 40th day falls on May 1, is it possible to make a commemoration earlier, on Saturday, April 27? I was told that it can only be done on May 14, is that so?
HELENA
Elena, first of all, you need to pray for the deceased. The 40th day is very important for the soul of the deceased. Therefore, on the 40th day, it is imperative to pray for the deceased. In the church on this day, May 1, you need to order a funeral service and attend it yourself. Since this is Great Wednesday, ask the priest personally to serve a panikhida, perhaps he will not refuse you. The funeral meal can also be celebrated on May 1. But we must remember that this is Holy Week and strict fasting. The commemoration should be strictly Lenten and very modest. You can not eat meat, dairy, fish products and eggs, and alcohol is also prohibited. If this does not suit you, then it will be possible to celebrate the commemoration after May 12 on any day. May 14, for example - it will be Radonitsa, the universal commemoration of the dead.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Is it possible to make a commemoration, 9 days falls on Palm Sunday? Thanks.
Svetlana
Svetlana, first of all, you need to pray for the deceased. The 9th day is important for the soul of the deceased. Therefore, on the 9th day it is imperative to pray for him. In the church on this day, April 28, you need to pray at the Liturgy, and at the end of the service order a panikhida, and attend the memorial service yourself. The memorial meal can be celebrated on April 28, but you need to remember that the Great Fast is taking place now, and you cannot eat meat, dairy products and eggs at the meal. Since April 28 is Palm Sunday, fish is allowed at the memorial meal. For the rest, the commemoration should be strictly lenten and very modest.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! We want to baptize our son on May 12, 2013. Please tell me if it is possible to baptize on this day or choose a different date?
Helena
Elena, in the church there are some restrictions when it is impossible to marry, to arrange a commemoration. You can baptize at any time, there are no restrictions for baptism. You just need to agree in advance with the priest or sign up for baptism in the church for the date when you want to baptize your child. So do not hesitate, you can baptize your son on May 12th.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Dear father, my mother died. 40 days falls on March 26 (Tuesday). Please tell me if it is possible to hold a commemoration on Saturday 23rd, or Sunday 24th? How will it be correct?
Oksana
Oksana, for the first forty days my soul especially needs our help, our prayer and our church prayer. The 40th day is the most important for the deceased, on this day it is determined where to settle the soul before the Last Judgment, in heaven or hell. It all depends on what kind of life a person has spent, and our prayer on this day is simply necessary. On March 26, it is imperative to serve a panikhida in the church and pray on this day, submit a registered note for the Liturgy and be present at the service herself. There is no need to reschedule this day. The commemoration itself can be postponed to March 23 or 24, but you need to remember that this is the time of Great (strict) fasting, and you cannot consume meat, dairy, or fish products and alcohol at this time. It is necessary to make a purely lenten commemoration.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! I have a question. May 5 is the year since the death of my friend. This day is Easter. When (on what day) will it be possible to do everything that is supposed to be done in the temple and when to gather relatives for the commemoration?
Natalia
Natalia, Easter is a great church holiday. Easter is the Resurrection of Christ. Christ is Risen from the dead, and, of course, for all of us, Orthodox Christians, this is a joy. On this day church charter no funeral services are allowed. You cannot go to the cemetery on Easter. The church has a day for commemorating the dead during Easter days - this is Radonitsa (Easter joy for the dead), on this day it is customary to go to the cemetery and commemorate your departed relatives. Radonitsa will be on May 14, Tuesday, on this day and celebrate the anniversary of your friend, and it's okay that a little later. There will be a general memorial service for all the departed Orthodox Christians in the church, so you, too, submit a note of repose on this day. This will be the most correct option.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello, I have such a question, my grandmother died on September 2, 2012, and now, March 2, 2013 will be exactly six months, as she is gone, is it possible to hold a memorial service for half a year, and do they remember the deceased when he is not with us for six months?
Diana
Diana, in Orthodox Church such a tradition does not exist, these are some "Soviet" innovations and fantasies. You can remember the deceased at least every day - both with requiems and personal prayer - but you don't need to arrange something special for six months.
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Dear father, my dad died, 40 days he falls on March 22, what should I do? Maybe you need to postpone it to some other day? Tell me please. Thank you in advance.
Alyona
Alena, for the first forty days my soul especially needs our help, our prayer and the prayer of the church. The 40th day is the most important for the deceased, on this day they determine where to settle the soul, in heaven or hell. It all depends on what kind of life a person has spent, and our prayer on this day is simply necessary. On March 22, it is imperative to serve a panikhida in the church and pray on this day, submit a registered note for the Liturgy and be present at the service herself. You do not need to transfer. March 22 is the first week of Great (strictly) Lent, and on this day, a commemoration should not be arranged. The commemoration itself can be postponed to March 24 and you need to remember that this is a strict fast, meat, dairy and fish products and alcohol cannot be put on the table. The commemoration should be strictly Lenten - this will greatly benefit yourself, and especially your late dad.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello father! The anniversary of the death of the grandmother (year) falls on March 17, Sunday. Can you tell me if it will be possible to arrange a commemoration? Thank you very much.
Helena
Elena, of course, you can make a commemoration on this day, especially since this is the last day before Lent. First of all, it is necessary to celebrate prayerfully in the church, to pray at the Liturgy for the deceased, to order a panikhida. A memorial meal can be made, but without meat products. On Shrovetide, meat according to the church charter is no longer allowed, any food is allowed, except meat.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello dear father, my mother died on February 15 at 8.30 am. Can you please tell me if the 40th day falls on Monday, March 25, or is it still on Tuesday, March 26? Is it possible to hold a commemoration on Sunday, March 24th?
Oksana
Oksana, the day of death is considered the first day from which 40 days are counted, which means the 40th day will be March 25. This is a great strict fast, which means that the table should be strictly lean: without meat, dairy and fish products and without alcohol. The deceased needs prayer, and this is the main thing. On March 25, it is imperative to order a memorial service, a custom-made note of the repose for the Liturgy and pray at home. It would be nice that day to go to the cemetery to the deceased. The meal itself can be made on Sunday, March 24, but lean.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Dear father, my dad died, 40 days he falls on March 19, and this is the first week of Lent, what should I do? Maybe you need to postpone it to some other day? Tell. please. And after the funeral, I lost my engagement, wedding ring, what should I do in this case? Thank you in advance.
Svetlana
On the 40th day itself, order a panikhida in the church, you can also serve the funeral litiya in the cemetery, and transfer the funeral service to Sunday (probably, for the sake of such an occasion, you can cook fish dishes). Don't worry about the ring, buy a new one and ask the priest to consecrate it.
deacon Elijah Kokin
Hello! Tell me, please, grandfather has 40 days for March 18, 2013. When can we organize a commemoration for the deceased and what can we cook?
Anna
Anna, for the dead, the most important thing is not the table, but prayer. The 40th day is very important for the deceased, on this day a private judgment is performed on the soul, it is decided where to put it, in heaven or in hell, and therefore the most important thing is our prayer. It is imperative to order a panikhida on this day and pray yourself. It would be nice to visit the cemetery on this day. On March 18th, it is NOT allowed to make a memorial meal, as this is the beginning of the Great (strict) fast. A funeral meal can be served on March 17, at Shrovetide. Meat on this day (March 17) is also no longer allowed to eat. All products are allowed, but without meat.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! Please, tell me how it will be correct to hold a commemoration on the anniversary of death? Dad died on 02/28/12, and 02/28/13 will be a working day, and not everyone will be able to come, probably, I wanted to spend 02/24/13 - on Sunday. Is this allowed? Thanks.
Vladimir
Yes, Vladimir, you can postpone, although I must tell you that you must honor the very day of death with a visit to the church, a funeral service and at least the smallest memorial meal at home in the closest circle.
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Can a half-year funeral be done at 14.00?
Irina
You can, Irina, but by Orthodox tradition in half a year the commemoration is not arranged - this is an innovation.
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Hello! Could you please tell me if it is possible to hold a commemoration on Saturday for the fourth anniversary of death, if the anniversary falls on Thursday, that is, so that the commemoration is two days later? Many thanks!
Olga
Hello Olga, it is perfectly acceptable to postpone the commemoration as you describe.
Priest Sergiy Osipov
Hello! Tell me, please, when is it correct to make a commemoration for 40 days, on Monday, January 14, on a holiday, or on Sunday, January 13? On January 14, I will order the funeral magpie, but is it possible to have a memorial meal on a holiday? I would like to do everything day after day, but tell me how to do it right. Save me, God.
Irina
You can order a magpie and a panikhida, as well as arrange a memorial meal right on the holiday - there is nothing in this that would contradict the charter of the Church.
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Hello father! On January 2 of this year, my husband's father Vladimir died, people were called to the commemoration on the 9th and 40th day (day to day), January 2, 2013 will be the year since he left. Can you please tell me if it is necessary to invite people to the commemoration a year? I asked people, someone says that up to a year, the commemoration is celebrated day after day, and someone says that it is possible even earlier. Now is fasting, can you just take food to church and order a panikhida on this day or earlier, and on the way to church give alms to those in need? Tell me please. Thank you in advance!
Irina
Irina,
observe day to day only in relation to prayer for the departed. If possible, at the cemetery ask the priest to serve a panikhida, and pray all those to whom the deceased is dear.
They always try to arrange a commemoration on the day of the anniversary of death, but if it is easier on the next weekend, it is also possible.
The main thing is not a memorial meal, but a prayer. Even if she will be in a distant temple, if all who loved him gather.
And the memorial meal can be arranged at a different time and even in a different place.
Strengthen the Lord.
Priest Sergiy Osipov
Father, my relative died recently, but since I was very distant, I decided to make a food restriction for 9 days instead of a strictly 40-day fast. I found out about it only on the 4th day. The question is, would it be appropriate to fast on the ninth day or, on the contrary, to remember it by lifting the restriction?