Parental Saturdays in 2019 are days of special remembrance for the departed. At this time, a special commemoration of deceased Christians is performed in Orthodox churches, and believers visit the graves of their relatives who have left this world in cemeteries. There are seven parent Saturdays in the church calendar throughout the year.
Special days of commemoration of the dead began to be called parental Saturdays because, first of all, they remembered their deceased parents, and then other deceased relatives and other close people. According to another version, the name was formed because it was once customary to call the deceased parents, that is, "departed to their fathers."
Universal Parent Saturdays
If we are talking about the universal parental Saturday, it is understood that all baptized Christians are commemorated. Seven days before the beginning of Great Lent, the Meat-Passing Ecumenical Saturday is celebrated. Meat Saturday is called because it falls on the week of the same name, which is also called the Small Maslenitsa. This is the first parental Saturday in March.
On the eve of the feast of Pentecost, the Trinity Ecumenical Saturday is celebrated. On Trinity Saturday, all baptized Christians are also remembered in prayers. On these days, special ecumenical requiems are performed. They serve a memorial service "The memory of all the departed Orthodox Christians from the age, our father and brethren."
Five Other Parent Saturdays
Radonitsa or Radunitsa falls on Tuesday after St. Thomas' week, that is, the second week after Christ's Bright Resurrection. main topic this day is the victory of the risen Christ over death. On this day, according to tradition, believers visit the cemetery and glorify the resurrected Son of God at the graves of deceased relatives.
May 9 on the day of victory in the Great Patriotic War in temples they serve a memorial service for the multitudes of warriors who gave their lives for the salvation of the Motherland. Many families have lost someone close in this terrible and long war. Therefore, on this day, they commemorate all the dead soldiers, thanks to whose feat the a great victory, and their loved ones who died during the war.
Dimitri's parental Saturday is also associated with hostilities that only took place several centuries earlier. It's about about the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380. Initially, soldiers who died during a large-scale battle were commemorated on this day.
Later this day was transformed into the day of commemoration of all the dead, which is indicated in the Novgorod chronicle of the 15th century. It is known that in 1903, Emperor Nicholas II issued a decree ordering a memorial service in memory of the soldiers who died for the Motherland "For faith, the tsar and the Fatherland, who laid their lives on the battlefield."
In 2019, Orthodox parental Saturdays are celebrated in the following order:
- March 16 - Saturday meat-fare
- March 23 - Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent
- March 30 - Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent
- April 6 - Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent
- May 7, Tuesday - Radonitsa, church-wide commemoration of the dead
- May 9 - Commemoration of the deceased soldiers
- May 26 - Saturday Trinity
- November 3 - Saturday Dimitrievskaya
Features of parental Saturdays
On the days of ecumenical parental Saturdays, memorial services are performed, funeral services, during which believers read prayers for their deceased relatives, asking God for forgiveness of sins for them. According to the charter, during the parental Saturdays of the second, third and fourth during Great Lent, they do not perform funeral commemorations, that is: funeral litanies, litias, memorial services, commemorations of the 3rd, 9th and 40th day after death, magpies. These days are specially set aside so that believers can pay tribute to the memory of loved ones.
On the Friday evening on the eve of parental Saturday, a great memorial service (parastas) is served in the temples. Notes with the names of your deceased relatives can be given to the Divine Liturgy for the dead. On this day by ancient tradition it is customary to bring fasting products and Cahors to the temple for the celebration of the liturgy. Wine and fasting products brought to the temple on Friday are called brought "on the eve."
In the old days, it was customary for believing parishioners to bring Lenten dishes for a common table in the temple, where they could commemorate dear to my heart deceased relatives. This tradition has been preserved, only on a smaller scale.
Lenten products and Cahors are left on a special table in the temple. This food is used for the needs of the temple and for the transfer to poor people who are under the care of one parish or another.
Often, believers are faced with a choice - to visit the grave of a relative on parental Saturday or to come to the temple for a service. The clergy are more inclined to believe that sincere prayer is much more important for the souls of your loved ones, which can be performed during a special service. Therefore, it is recommended to give preference to visiting the temple.
You can read a prayer for the departed: “God rest the souls of your departed servants: 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.”
How to celebrate Memorial Day
Before you go to the temple, write down on a piece of paper the names of all the deceased relatives and other close people whom you would like to mention while reading the prayer. Earlier in Christian families there was a very important tradition - from generation to generation to write down the names of all deceased relatives. This is how family memorials were formed, which were used during the reading of prayers for the dead.
On the days of special commemoration of the dead, it is very important to think about what death is, perhaps, rethink your own life and relationships with loved ones, try to reconcile in all controversial issues.
Metropolitan Anthony of Surozh speaks very accurately and succinctly about the issue of the relationship between life and death. For fifteen years he worked as a military doctor, and after forty-six years he was a priest. Here is one of his quotes: “Russians believe in life, go into life. And this is one of the things that every priest and every person should repeat to himself and to others: we must not prepare for death, we must prepare for eternal life.
Children's prayer for deceased parents
Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the guardian of the orphans, the grieving refuge and the weeping comforter. I am running to you, orphan, groaning and weeping, and I pray to You: hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from the sighing of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, quench my grief about separation from my parent who gave birth and raised (who gave birth and raised) me (my mother), (name) (or: with my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) - his soul ( or: her, or: theirs), as if departed (or: departed) to Thee with true faith in Thee and with firm hope in Thy philanthropy and mercy, receive into Thy Kingdom of Heaven. I bow before Your holy will, it has already been taken away (or: taken away, or: taken away) be from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, as You are 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 generation: but also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of the heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the deceased unforgettable (departed unforgettable) for me Your servant (Your servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his sins ( her) free and involuntary, in word and deed, by knowledge and ignorance created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and philanthropy, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him (s) and eternal spare the pain. You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, do not stop remembering my deceased parent (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and beg Thee, the righteous Judge, and put him (s) in a bright place, in a cool place and in a place of rest, with all the saints, all sickness, sorrow and sighing will flee from nowhere. Gracious Lord! Receive this day about Your servant (Your) (name) this warm prayer of mine and give him (her) Your recompense for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as if he taught (taught) me first of all lead Thee, your Lord, in reverently pray to You, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his (her) well-being about my spiritual success, for the warmth that he (she) brings prayers for me before You and for all the gifts that he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy. With your heavenly blessings and joys in your eternal Kingdom. You are the God of mercies and generosity and philanthropy, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
P.S. Death is an inevitability that each of us will face at one time or another. And the position of a person both in earthly life and after death depends on the correct attitude to this issue. Metropolitan Anthony recalls that it is very important not to commit such a common sin as indifferent or with ostentatious care, insincere attitude towards a dying relative.
On the days of commemoration of the dead, you will mentally play these moments again and again: when you could spend a few more minutes with a loved one, and not refer to employment and daily important things, you could give him more heartfelt warmth, but did not.
These days are important both for the dead, whom living relatives can help with their sincere prayers, and for the living themselves, who, preserving the memory of the family, can grow spiritually and take care not only of earthly, but also of eternal life.
Parents' Day 2016 is a bright date that calls on everyone to pay tribute to relatives who have gone to the other world, to remember them once again kind word and visit their resting places. There are many such days in the Orthodox church calendar, and each of them is associated with some important, significant and great religious events. In addition, every Saturday is called parental, because it is on this day that, according to tradition, dead Christians are remembered and fervently pray for their immortal souls. Priests hold funeral services in temples and, at the request of relatives, call people who have left this world by name. The faithful bring various non-meat products to the church and lay the so-called eve - a funeral table. It is believed that in this way the living give alms for the dead. After the service, all food is given to the poor and disadvantaged or taken to nursing homes and orphanages.
Parents' Day in 2016: what date will it come
Among all church memorial days, the most famous and revered is Radonitsa. True, this Parents' Day never falls on Saturday, but always falls only on Tuesday. To find out what date it comes, it is necessary to add 9 days to the date of the bright Easter of Christ. In 2016, Radonitsa will come into the world on May 10.
On this great Tuesday, priests urge the faithful not to grieve because loved ones have passed into another world, but to rejoice at their miraculous birth for a new, eternal life. Biblical texts say that on Parents' Day it is necessary to remember the victory of Jesus Christ over death, to rest, to indulge in pious reflections, but not to cry or grieve for the dead.
Why is it customary to go to the cemetery on Parents' Day, traditions and customs
- On Parents' Day, it has long been customary to go to the cemetery, bring flowers with you and decorate the burial place in every possible way. loved one. Immediately before this, it is necessary to visit the temple of God and, before the start of the morning service, submit a note to the altar with the name of the deceased. This is done so that the priest publicly mentions the deceased person, and all the parishioners offer up a prayer to God for his soul.
- The generally accepted custom to bring and leave all kinds of food on the grave (including a glass of vodka covered with a piece of bread) has nothing to do with Orthodoxy. These are ancient pagan rituals, firmly entrenched in modern society.
- The canons of Orthodoxy call on the faithful on Parental Day to put the grave of the deceased in order, clean up the accumulated debris, carefully sweep the dust and decorate the tombstone with an even number of fresh flowers. Then you can just sit nearby, remember all the good things associated with the deceased, pray fervently for his soul and honor the memory with silence.
- The Orthodox Church claims that drinking alcohol on the territory of the cemetery and on the grave itself is a great sin and does not recommend that parishioners behave in this way either on the memorial day or at any other time.
- Bringing food to the cemetery is also completely optional. It is better to distribute it to the poor, the poor and the needy people, to transfer it to an orphanage or to a church. On the grave on Parents' Day 2016, it is worth leaving only a lit candle, symbolizing the memory of the living about the deceased person.
The Orthodox calendar tells us the exact dates of all church holidays, which means that it is thanks to him that you can accurately find out the days of Parental Saturdays in 2016. After all, they are closely connected with festivities or fasts.
To begin with, it is necessary to shed light on the term "Parental Saturday": these are the days when Orthodox Christians commemorate the dead. These days are called so, because earlier in Russia all the dead were called fathers. According to other versions, this day is called so because parents are always remembered first of all.
Parental Saturdays in 2016
In 2016, we will have 8 Orthodox Parental Saturdays. Contrary to popular belief, they may not always be Saturdays according to the usual calendar. 5 out of 8 such days fall exactly on the “correct” day of the week - they are called Ecumenical Parental Saturdays.
First Universal Parental Saturday- This is Meat-Putting. It will be celebrated this year 5th of March. This holiday is church calendar means the intention of God to remind us that we are all mortal and sooner or later, but we will be next to him. All deceased loved ones are also remembered.
Second Parental Saturday— Trinity. This holiday is dedicated to all the dead, without exception. This year this day will be June 18- 50th day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. On this day, according to the Gospel, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples of Christ.
Third, fourth and fifth Parental Saturdays- Saturdays of Great Lent. It will March 26, April 2 and April 9. This is a tribute to the departed in honor of the most difficult and significant post for all Orthodox Christians.
Sixth parent's day — May 9- Day of Remembrance of soldiers who died on the battlefields in the Great Patriotic War.
Seventh parent's day 2016 is Radonitsa, May 10, Tuesday. Radonitsa is the ninth day after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Eighth parent's day— Demetrius Saturday November 5, the day of memory of the Battle of Kulikovo, when Russia lost almost a hundred thousand of its soldiers on the battlefield. On this day, all warriors, defenders of their homeland, are commemorated.
How to Celebrate Parents' Saturday
During Lent, March 26, April 2 and April 9 are special days of commemoration of the dead. These days, it is customary to simply read prayers in memory of relatives who are not with us.
Trinity Saturday is the day of memorial services in Orthodox churches in honor of all baptized people. The same thing happens on Meatfare Saturday - all believers come to the temple for a memorial service.
On Radonitsa, it is customary to visit the graves of the dead with good thoughts in their souls, since Jesus is Risen. This is the day when death loses its power, because after death we are united with God.
Well, on Demetrius Saturday, it is customary to come to the temple for a festive liturgy and the subsequent memorial service. On this day, it is customary to submit notes with a request for the repose of their loved ones and for the peace of their souls.
Every Parent Saturday is a very important Orthodox holiday, as it is a reminder to us that life will end sooner or later, but another, more important one will begin. Appreciate your life and the lives of your loved ones and do not forget to press the buttons and
Parental days are memorial days for deceased ancestors. In the calendar of the Orthodox Church, every day is dedicated to a specific event, memorial days. Remember according to the church Orthodox custom their deceased relatives are taken on certain days of the year. These days are called parental days or parental Saturdays, although these dates do not always fall on a Saturday.
Radonitsa, Trinity Saturday and Dimitrovskaya are considered the most important parental days among the people, but there are also Ecumenical memorial days.
In addition, it is necessary to honor the memory of departed relatives on the day of their birth and on the day of death. Many commemorate the deceased on the day of his angel (the saint in whose honor he was baptized).
As for the parental Saturdays of 2016, they are scheduled for certain days when common liturgies (departure services) are read in churches, and every believer can join this prayer, remembering their loved ones. During the year there are 9 such special memorial days, of which 6 times always fall on Saturdays, they are called "Ecumenical Parental Saturdays". Once we honor the memory of the dead on Tuesday on Radonitsa, and May 9 and September 11 are set aside for the remembrance of the deceased soldiers and can fall on any day of the week.
Commemoration at the Divine Liturgy (Church note)
Those who have Christian names are commemorated of health, and only those baptized in the Orthodox Church are commemorated of repose.
Notes can be submitted to the liturgy:
At the proskomedia - the first part of the liturgy, when for each name indicated in the note, particles are taken out of special prosphora, which are subsequently lowered into the Blood of Christ with a prayer for the forgiveness of sins
First, on March 5, the universal meat and meat Saturday will come. Then, on March 26, comes the second Saturday of Great Lent. The next parent's day falls on April 2. Saturday of the fourth week of Great Lent will come, a week later, on April 9th.
May 9 will be the day of remembrance for all those who died during the Second World War. On June 16, on the seventh Thursday after Easter, there will be a day of remembrance for suicides, unbaptized and violently killed. In 2 days, June 18 will be Trinity parental Saturday. September 11 is the day of remembrance for soldiers who died in the war. November 5 - Dmitrievskaya parental Saturday.
Universal Parent Saturdays
Ecumenical parental Saturdays, or Ecumenical memorial services, according to the liturgical charter of the Orthodox Church, are performed twice a year:
Meatfare Saturday - On March 5 there will be a memorial day called the Ecumenical Meatfare Saturday
This is the most ancient and solemn memorial day. Its history dates back to the early centuries of Christianity and should remind believers, first of all, of the Day of Judgment. According to church tradition, the first Christians gathered in cemeteries and prayed for their fellow believers, especially for those who died suddenly and therefore did not receive a decent burial.
The meaning of the rite is to prepare the souls of all believers for a new, afterlife and meeting with God, not forgetting about the souls who left the earthly world. On Meatfare Saturday, they remember those who have died from Adam to our time. In folk beliefs, there is also a motive for preparing for the upcoming renewal - only here it means the renewal of nature and the transition to spring; It is no coincidence that Saturday precedes the merry Maslenitsa.
In Belarus and the western regions of Russia, the Meatless Parental Saturday is a kind of meeting of all members of the family, both current and former. When the table is laid, you can see the number of devices that exceed the number of those present: in this way they treat the deceased relatives. On this holiday, alms are served in the name of the salvation of all Christian souls.
Indestructible Psalter
The indestructible Psalter is read not only about health, but also about repose. From ancient times, the ordering of a commemoration on the Unsleeping Psalter is considered a great almsgiving for the departed soul.
It is also good to order the Indestructible Psalter for yourself, support will be vividly felt. And one more crucial moment, but by no means the least important
There is an eternal commemoration on the Indestructible Psalter. It seems expensive, but the result is more than a million times more than the money spent. If this is still not possible, then you can order for a shorter period. It's also good to read for yourself.
Trinity Saturday -On June 18, a memorial day falls, which is called Trinity Saturday.
An equally significant day for the special commemoration of the dead in Orthodoxy is Trinity Saturday. According to legend, on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and they received the gift of teaching people the Word of God.
The day symbolizes the complete purification of the soul by the Holy Spirit, the transition to the highest level of perfection and familiarization with universal human knowledge. On Trinity Saturday, absolutely all the dead are commemorated, including those who are in hell.
It is considered a bad sign if it is not possible to visit the graves of relatives on Trinity: then they will come to the house and begin to disturb the living. To appease the dead, sweets or the remains of a memorial dinner are left in the cemetery. A lot of folk legends are connected with Trinity Saturday.
Girls can't do any homework. A wedding on the Trinity is an extremely ominous sign; people believe that the marriage will be unhappy. Beliefs advise not to swim, because mermaids frolic on the Trinity and can carry the living into their kingdom.
Parental Saturdays during Lent
Saturdays, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of Great Lent
On April 9 there will be a memorial day - this will be the fourth parental Saturday of Great Lent.
The meaning of Lenten memorial days is a manifestation of care and love for the souls of the deceased neighbors. During the most important fast for the Orthodox, divine liturgies are not held - it turns out that the souls remain forgotten. Due respect is given if believers go to church and read prayers for people dear to their hearts, so that the Lord does not leave them without his mercy. It is advisable to read a prayer for the departed and at home.
It must be remembered that such a prayer brings God's grace to the Christian himself. In the whirlwind of everyday routine and household trifles, the kindest feelings seem to be overwritten; to those whom we truly love, we begin to treat with condescension, and sometimes with disdain. It is a pity that the realization of the importance of each word or moment comes too late, and then many forget the deceased.
Regardless of whether a person considers himself a Christian or not, he must accustom himself to grateful reverence and memory - this is part of his upbringing and moral culture. Therefore, parental Saturdays are, first of all, days of deep respect for each other.
Private parenting days
Radonitsa, the ninth day after Easter, is a significant day for the Eastern Slavs, in which Christianity and ancient folk customs are closely intertwined. The word "Radonitsa" is the same root as the word "rejoice". According to church interpretation, the idea of the complete victory of Jesus Christ over death was reflected in the celebration; it was on the ninth day after his Resurrection that the Savior descended to the dead and announced to them the joyful news of his Resurrection.
The commemoration of the dead at this time bears the imprint of solemnity: when visiting cemeteries, one should not indulge in noisy festivities, and the dead should be remembered in silence. Often, Easter eggs are buried in the graves and they are christened with loved ones in a similar way.
In the Chernihiv region, it is customary to leave crumbs in the hope that the ancestors will come, feast on them and bring news. There is a sign on Radonitsa: whoever calls the rain first, he will become more successful. From Radonitsa, funeral services begin to take place in Orthodox churches.
Day of Remembrance of Orthodox Warriors, for the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland on the battlefield killed -11 September
The commemoration of Orthodox wars on this day was established in the Russian Orthodox Church by decree of Empress Catherine II in 1769 during the Russian-Turkish war (1768-1774). On this day, we remember the Beheading of John the Baptist, who suffered for the truth.
Against the background of other memorial days and parental Saturdays, this day seems the most poignant and tragic. The celebration is connected with the biblical legend of Herod. During the celebration, King Herod, delighted with the dance of his stepdaughter Salome, swore in public to give her everything she wanted.
At the instigation of her mother, the insidious Herodias, Salome asked for the head of the prophet John the Baptist on a golden platter. The king, fearing universal condemnation, complied with the request. Since then, the holiday has become the embodiment of courage and perseverance in the struggle for faith and a just cause.
In 1769, when Russia was at war with Poland and Turkey, the church included it in the Charter as the Day of Remembrance of the soldiers who fell in battle, so that the feat of compatriots would remain for centuries. On a holiday it is necessary to strictly fast; it is forbidden to eat even fish. It is believed that if you do not eat anything but bread, you can make a wish at night.
There is a superstition that on September 11 you can not pick up sharp objects, as well as everything that in one way or another resembles a head. However, superstition is contrary to the commandments of the official church.
Sorokoust about repose
This type of commemoration of the dead can be ordered at any hour - there are no restrictions on this either. During Great Lent, when a full liturgy is performed much less frequently, in a number of churches commemoration is practiced this way - in the altar, during the entire fast, all the names in the notes are read and, if they serve the liturgy, then they take out the particles. It is only necessary to remember that people baptized in the Orthodox faith can participate in these commemorations, as well as in notes submitted for proskomedia, it is allowed to enter the names of only the baptized deceased.
Dmitrievskaya Saturday is another day associated with a special commemoration of the deceased soldiers. The appearance of the celebration is referred to the victory over the horde of Mamai in the Battle of Kulikovo.
According to legend, Dmitry Donskoy asked for blessings for the battle from Sergius of Radonezh himself. The Tatar-Mongol yoke was defeated, they managed to save their native land from desecration, but this came at a very bloody price: about 100,000 soldiers died. The army also included two monks: Peresvet and Oslyabya.
Starting from the 19th century, the holiday was strictly observed in all military units: a special memorial service was served on Dmitriev Saturday. They prepare for Dmitrievskaya Saturday in advance: a day before the celebration, it is customary to go to the bath and wash, and after leaving, leave a towel for the ancestors.
It is customary not only to visit the graves, as on all other Saturdays, but also to celebrate a magnificent feast there. On a holiday, the whole family gathers at the table. Popular wisdom says: the more magnificent the table, the more satisfied the forefathers will be, and the more satisfied the forefathers, the better and calmer the survivors. One of the dishes must be pork. It is important to remember only good things about the dead and that someone from the youngest generation be present during the conversation. There is a sign that if there is snow and cold on Dmitriev Saturday, then spring will also be cold.