| Saturday | date | Description |
| Ecumenical Parents' Saturdays | ||
| Trinity Saturday | Saturday before the Feast of the Holy Trinity | On Trinity and Meat Saturdays, an ecumenical memorial service is celebrated. |
| Meat Saturday | The week before Lent | It is called Meat Eating Week because it precedes Meat Eating Week (the Sunday before Maslenitsa). |
| Parental Saturdays of Great Lent | ||
| Saturdays | Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th weeks of Lent | During the weekdays of Lent, the usual Liturgy is not celebrated unless there is a major holiday. Consequently, the main liturgical commemoration of the dead is also performed less frequently. In order not to deprive the dead of prayer representation for them, I established these three special days for prayer for them. |
| Private Parent Saturdays | ||
| 9th day after Easter, Tuesday | Radonitsa - from the word joy, because this day always falls during the Easter period. Usually on this day a memorial service is held, which includes Easter chants. After the service, believers visit the cemetery to pray for the departed. | |
| Day of Remembrance of Orthodox Warriors | 11 September | The commemoration was established during the Russian-Turkish War (1768-1774) |
| Saturday preceding the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (November 8) | Established by the noble Prince Dimitry Donskoy after returning to Moscow from the battle on the Kulikovo Field (September 8, 1380). Upon returning from the battlefield, Dimitri Ioannovich attended the funeral service at the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Over time, a tradition developed to perform such a commemoration annually. | |
| Day of Remembrance of all those killed during the Great Patriotic War | 9th May | Afterwards it is served. Special commemoration of all those who died during the years of persecution for faith in Christ is performed on the day of remembrance of the new martyrs and confessors of Russia (the first Sunday after January 25) |
Parents' Saturdays- nine days of special remembrance for Orthodox Christians. Every Saturday is dedicated to the remembrance of the dead, but there are also special ones. Saturdays. They are called parental because parents are the people closest to us, but these days they pray not only for relatives.
All parent ones, except one (May 9), have a moving date.
On these days, funeral services are performed - funeral services. Please note that public worship may begin the night before (i.e. Friday) as The liturgical day begins in the evening.
Of the nine days of special commemoration of the dead, two Ecumenical Memorial Saturdays stand out: Meat Saturday and Trinity Saturday. The main meaning of these “universal” (common to all Orthodox Church) funeral services - in prayer for all deceased Orthodox Christians, regardless of their personal closeness to us.
Parents' Saturday is a generalized name for the day of special remembrance of the dead. Special, not in terms of something different, but in terms of intensified ones. On this day, the entirety of the Church prays for the repose of the souls of deceased Orthodox Christians. For us – the living – this day of remembrance of our loved ones should, if possible, be spent in prayer. The leitmotif of all prayers for repose is forgiveness of sins. The dead have no time to repent and ask for forgiveness, but we can make every effort and ask God for mercy towards them. And the Lord, seeing our zeal, taking into account our deeds of prayer and alms (and alms can be given for the deceased), can forgive all the sins of a deceased person.
On parental Saturdays, an Orthodox Christian, if possible, needs to attend the funeral liturgy and memorial service, pray during the service not only for our loved ones, but also for all deceased Orthodox Christians (in Church Slavonic - “departed from eternity”), then visit the cemetery and there perform a private prayer - a memorial service, litia, or, if time permits, read the 17th kathisma of the Psalter. It is most important. As for the meal, this side of life is not regulated in any way by church rules. There is only one rule - moderation. In everything. And don’t forget: the main thing on this day is prayer.
Priest Pavel Konkov (magazine “Foma”)
***
When are funeral services for parental Saturdays held in the church?
The liturgical day begins in the evening, so funeral services often begin in the evening of the previous day. The most important commemoration is at the Liturgy (usually served in the morning).
Is it necessary to go to the cemetery on Parents' Saturday?
Prayerful remembrance in a church is incomparably more important for the deceased than visiting a grave, but the first does not exclude the second. It is important to maintain a hierarchy: worship comes first, a trip to the cemetery comes second. Christians perform the ceremony at the grave or invite a priest.
Why do they bring food to the temple?
Initially, food was brought for a joint funeral meal. In our time - as a sacrifice to the clergy and clergy for the soul's sake.
One should be sober about the tradition of bringing food “to”, based on modern realities. No matter how hard the priests try, they can’t eat 30 loaves of bread or 20 packs of gingerbread, so it makes sense to bring food that will last for a long time. You can also make a donation to the church mug; the church has many needs, not just food.
Parents' Saturdays are very important moments in life. Orthodox people. Indeed, on such days they can calmly surrender to prayers and ask for forgiveness of all the sins of their family and friends. Go to church, give alms, and also remember the souls of the departed at the dinner table.
Orthodox people have several versions of why special memorial days were called "Parents' Saturday". The first version says that a person always remembers his loved ones and relatives who are no longer around. And it is they who are remembered first, especially when it comes to parents.
The second version is close to religion, which recalls that a person is close to the “earth” and is recognized by his “gone” parents. Saturday is the calmest day, which is why it was chosen as such a special and revered time. A visit to the Temple for Orthodox Christians during this period is important point, because there they pay their respects to the dead. Each special date of the Sabbath period has its own meaning.
- Meat Saturday
- Trinity Saturday
- Radonitsa
- Dmitrievskaya Saturday
- Traditions and customs
Meat Saturday
This time falls on the date that occurs 7 days before Easter. On such a significant day for the Orthodox, the Son of God appeared after own death, thereby strengthening people's faith and proving its irresistible power. A week before fasting, people remember the departed, pray for them and ask the Son of God to forgive the souls of the departed and accept them to himself. 
Trinity Saturday
This Saturday comes the day before Trinity, that is, the main holiday is celebrated on Sunday. This establishment originated a long time ago and has reached our time. On such a special day, people pray for the departed so that they may find peace.
Parents' Saturdays in Lent
As you know, fasting is the most significant and strict time. 3 memorial dates are set during this period, which speaks of respect and attention to the departed “souls”. It is at the appointed time that one can remember the “departed” relatives and friends, because at other times it is forbidden to hold liturgies and commemorations.
Radonitsa
This time is considered the most important and special of the year. On such a day, people remember the dead. They visit cemeteries and pay their respects in Temples, where memorial services are held. They pray that family and friends who are no longer around will find peace. 
Day of Remembrance of All Dead Warriors
This day is dedicated to the memories of the soldiers who died during paramilitary actions. They remember deceased relatives and friends, and also remember John the Baptist, who suffered for his faith and was beheaded.
Dmitrievskaya Saturday
At first, Demetrius Saturday was strengthened in honor of those who died at the Battle of Kulikovo and was celebrated before the date of memory of Demetrius of Thessaloniki, but over time, this time began to concern the memories of all the deceased on Earth.
All memorial days related to religion are called parental Saturdays and have their own dates, of which there are exactly 8. There are also religious traditions, for example, lighting candles and visiting the Temple.
Memorial services are held in Temples, prayers are read, listing the names of the deceased. Usually priests receive “notes” in which the names of departed relatives and loved ones are written in advance; by listing them, they pay their respects to the departed, thereby remembering and praying for their souls.
On universal Saturdays, all dead and missing people are remembered. Memorial services are held in the Temples, and the clergy read prayers, thereby paying tribute to the departed, dead and missing people.
Significant dates of religion 2019
Parents' Saturdays 2019 have their own dates:
· 02.03. - meat-eating Saturday is coming;
· 23.03. – period of the 2nd week strict fasting;
· 30.03. – 3rd period of the week of the Great Time;
· 07.04. – 4th period of the week of strict fasting;
· 07.05. – Radonitsa;
· 09.05. - remember all the fallen soldiers;
· 15.06. – Trinity Saturday;
· 02.11. - Dmitrievskaya Saturday. 
The listed moments fall on the Saturday period, because Saturdays are recognized as the quietest time of all weeks and on these days you can calmly pay honors and memories to all the deceased on “Earth.”
Traditions and customs
The traditions and customs of the Orthodox say that prayers at home in front of icons are allowed, but, of course, it is much more important to visit the church. On such revered days, you need to go to cemeteries, and after lunch all your relatives gather and remember the dead. For this, kutia is often prepared. Indeed, on such special days, thanks to prayers and honors, the dead can receive liberation from “afterlife” punishments.
IN church calendar a date falling on May 9 is not transferable. The “requiem service” that takes place in the Temple means “intercession,” that is, believers ask the Lord to show mercy for the dead and forgive their loved ones. 
According to already established traditions, it is necessary to remember parents and loved ones, as well as pray for their souls, in church. Personal presence at the liturgy is very important. According to old customs, people can only bring foods of Lenten origin to church; wine is allowed. In such significant days It is very important to provide assistance and give alms to the poor and poor people who sincerely need it. Often after church, when people go to the cemetery, burial sites are cleaned and beautified. Although according to the church charter this is not necessary. Because attention to the “soul of the deceased” is more important than to his absent body.
The Church does not prohibit the presence of alcoholic drinks, but everything should be in moderation. There should be no quarrels, fights or other conflicts on parents' Saturdays. On such a significant day, it is forbidden to scold and punish children. That is, anger and irritation must be avoided. 
This period of time must be dedicated to the memory of the souls of deceased people, therefore it should pass in calmness, and not the other way around, it is important to maintain a balanced, restrained state and, perhaps, then it will be possible to beg forgiveness from the Lord for the souls of departed relatives.
Parental Saturdays of Great Lent– days when love and warmth for the souls of deceased loved ones are especially manifested. According to the calendar, they fall on March 23 and 30, as well as on April 6. On this day, believers pray for loved ones who are dear and close to their hearts, so that the Lord does not leave them without his prosperity.
Since this year the last parental Saturday of Lent falls on the eve of the great feast of the Annunciation, it is cancelled.
Although, with the modern rhythm of life, everyday worries and routine, the once kind and warm feelings for those we love seem to be erased. Regardless of how a person feels about church holidays, whether he is a believer or not, in any case, one must gratefully honor and remember his loved ones. That is why parental Saturdays are special days of greatest respect and honor for each other.
Rules for memorial days
The rules on all memorial days are practically the same. These days it is customary to attend churches, in particular memorial services. Believers take Lenten food with them as a donation to the funeral table. They are distributed to all those in need: the poor and the needy. In addition to church, on Parents' Saturdays it is customary to visit cemeteries and remember deceased loved ones. It is considered a great sin to drink alcohol in a cemetery. The best thing you can do for the dead is to pray for the repose of the soul.
From the article you learned that the calendar has exactly eight days of commemoration of the departed and now you know what dates the main days fall on in 2019. By the way, in some regions of Russia, the Radonitsa holiday was equated to a day off, which once again suggests that parental Saturdays are important days when we pay tribute to loved ones and loved ones.
♦ Category: , .We have all heard this expression - “parents' Saturday” more than once. Of course, the name itself seems to indicate that it should be somehow connected with parents or the older generation. But is it? And what should you do on this day?
To begin with, the main thing is that there is not just one parent’s Saturday a year, there are several of them. The first one is today February 10. However, first things first.
First, let’s talk about why Saturday was chosen for commemoration. This tradition dates back to biblical times, when this day was considered a day of rest. And peace - best condition for prayer and remembrance of those who are no longer with us.
The first and closest parental Saturday to us is called Meat-free universal Parent's Saturday– it falls two weeks before Lent. This year, we repeat, February 10.
Then, before Trinity, on the 49th day after Easter, it precedes the beginning Apostolic Fast Trinity Ecumenical Parents' Saturday (May 26). Please note that both of these Saturdays, Meat Saturday and Trinity Saturday, are ecumenical. On such days, ecumenical memorial services are served in churches, and during the day they commemorate all deceased Orthodox Christians without exception.
During Great Lent (2nd, 3rd, 4th Saturdays, that is, this year, March 3, March 10 And March 17) these days are specially set for commemoration, since at this time the traditional daily commemorations of the deceased are canceled.
There are also so-called Saturdays of Small Fasts- This last Saturdays before the Nativity (November 28 - January 6), Petrovsky, or Apostolic (June 4 - July 11) and Assumption (August 14 - August 27) fasts. On these days, commemoration of the dead is also carried out traditionally.
In addition, commemoration of the deceased is performed on Dimitrievskaya (November 3), Intercession and Mikhailovskaya Saturdays, although this period is not marked as a funeral period. These are the so-called Private parent days.
The departed are remembered on Radonitsa. In 2018 it falls on April 17. Please note - this is Tuesday. Radonitsa comes nine days after Easter. On Radonitsa it is also supposed to visit the graves of relatives and put them in order.
On the nearest Parents' Saturday, February 10, we traditionally visit churches and cemeteries. Moreover, the first is more important than the second. On this day, with the most sincere, brightest words, they pray for departed loved ones, asking for the peace of their souls in the next world. It is necessary to order special commemorations.
At the end of the service, which must be defended to the end, you need, if possible, to distribute alms to those who are in need, to whom you can help in some way. This is how they remember those who church rules they do not remember – including those who were not baptized and those who died voluntarily. When visiting the grave of deceased relatives, it is necessary to put it in order and pray.
According to tradition, on Ecumenical Parental Saturday, kutya, a dish made from honey and wheat, was placed on the table. Now, for obvious reasons, rice is used instead of wheat, which is cooked with the addition of honey and raisins. It is not difficult to prepare kutya according to the rules:
1. Wash the rice before cooking, cook the cereal until tender without pre-soaking. The grains of rice should be soft but crumbly.
2. Boil syrup from honey and sugar, add to rice (to taste).
3. Steam the dried fruits, dry them, cut them into small pieces and mix with rice.
4. Place the prepared kutya in a small bowl into a bowl. The top of the kutya can be decorated with nuts or raisins. Sometimes raisins are mixed inside, this is not forbidden. If you decide so, pre-fry the raisins with honey or sugar for butter in a frying pan.
But extra tears are not welcome on this day. Bright memory, the best memories and good words to the departed - best memory about them.
As for the implementation of other rules, most of which are simply traditional, it is believed that on this day you can do household chores, but not overwork yourself, you should help as much as possible more of people. But it’s not worth organizing a “wake” in the sense of a feast, and even with alcohol. IN as a last resort It is permissible to drink a little wine, but strong drinks are prohibited.
TO THE POINT
Another day of remembrance is the seventh Thursday after Easter, the so-called Semik. Remembering those who went to Semik is pure folk tradition. On this day, those who died voluntarily and unbaptized are also remembered. Semik falls on May 24 this year.
The teaching of the Orthodox Church about the soul says that death is not the end of earthly life, but only a transition to another world. With God, everyone is alive - that is why the Church constantly prays not only for its living members, but also for all those who have died. To show how important the role of funeral prayers is, we list the main points of their presence in worship:
1) prayers for repose are performed in the Church daily(at the liturgy, during funeral services);
2) according to the church charter, each of the seven days of the week is dedicated to a specific event and has its own characteristics of worship. Saturday is dedicated to the memory of saints and all deceased Christians;
3) private commemoration of the dead is performed on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death, as well as on the anniversary. Every year, funeral services for relatives are ordered on name days or on the birthday of the deceased;
4) days of general church remembrance are called parental Saturdays. Two of the six parental Saturdays (Meat and Trinity) are called ecumenical, since they are completely devoted to prayer for the deceased at all times and have an exceptional liturgical order.
Throughout the year, the number of funeral prayers varies from the smallest on pre-holiday and holidays to the greatest on universal parental Saturdays, which consist almost entirely of funeral prayers.
What are Parents' Saturdays?
Days of special remembrance in the Orthodox Church are called parental Saturdays. This name is explained by the fact that these days Christians pray for the repose of their parents (this word should be understood more broadly - grandfathers, great-grandfathers and all ancestors of their kind (grandparents)), as well as all deceased Orthodox Christians. These days, people visit cemeteries, care for graves, order memorial services in churches, or perform services over graves on their own - in a secular rite (reading litia).
Ecumenical Parents' Saturdays
The Saturdays before Maslenitsa and Spiritual Day (Pentecost) are days when all Orthodox Christians are called to intense prayer for deceased members of the Church - known and unknown, distant and close.
Meat-eating Saturday precedes the Week (Sunday), on which the Church remembers the Last Judgment and especially prays for all those who have died. This commemoration of all deceased Orthodox people in general speaks of the unity of the Church, the body of which is made up of the souls of not only the living, but also the dead, united in Christ.
Trinity Saturday is associated with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ. This event is one of the key events for understanding the doctrine of salvation. The Holy Spirit who descended on the apostles is for all humanity evidence of the presence of God next to people, a promise of salvation. It is believed that the Apostolic Church was formed on the day of Pentecost.
The rite of worship for the two ecumenical Saturdays is composed in a special, exceptional way: some prayers said on this day are not present in any other services. If the memory of saints falls on this day, it is transferred to the next day. If a patronal or twelfth feast falls, the funeral service is performed in a separate part of the church - the tomb, or moves to the previous Saturday or Thursday.
It should be noted that, first of all, during the ecumenical Saturdays, all Orthodox Christians who have died from time to time are remembered, and secondly, our relatives themselves. However, in order to allow people to pray more personally and earnestly specifically for their relatives, in addition to the remembrance at Matins and Vespers, a great requiem service is also performed. What is the difference between these commemorations? If Matins and Vespers are performed according to an exceptional order specially drawn up for these two days and is comprehensive in nature, then during the requiem service prayers are said that are more general in content and are also used in other circumstances (for example, the canon from ordinary funeral Saturday services). Another important difference is that at Matins the commemoration is performed without specifying specific names, but for all “the forefather, father and brothers...”, and at the requiem service it occurs according to church synodics and personal commemorations.
Saturdays of Lent
Deliberate (special) commemoration of the dead is also performed on Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Lent. These Saturdays are a kind of compensation for the fact that during Pentecost there is practically no liturgical commemoration. The listed Saturdays are also called parental Saturdays, but their rites are not of such a special nature as in the case of Trinity and Meat Saturdays, therefore the parental Saturdays of Great Lent are not called ecumenical.
Another difference is that on Ecumenical Saturdays the commemoration of all the dead in all centuries of human existence comes to the fore, and on Lenten Saturdays the main role still given to prayers for deceased relatives (performed during Matins and Vespers). A separate ecumenical memorial service is not celebrated on this day. The parental Saturdays of Great Lent are distinguished from the ecumenical ones by the fact that on these days the glorification of the saints is not canceled, and if Saturday coincides with the Annunciation, patronal feast day or polyeleos, then the funeral service is not postponed to another day, but simply omitted.
Private parent days
Some days of remembrance are found only in the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church. These include Dimitrievskaya Saturday, Radonitsa, May 9 (memory of those killed in the Great Patriotic War) and September 11 (the day of remembrance of Orthodox soldiers, established by decree of Empress Catherine II, is celebrated irregularly).
Dimitrievskaya Saturday
As the legend says, this day was approved by the blessed Prince Demetrius Donskoy on the Saturday before the day of remembrance of his patron saint - the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki (October 26) - in the year of the Battle of Kulikovo (1380). Then the prince for the first time ordered to serve a funeral service in the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh in memory of the soldiers who fell on the Kulikovo field.
Over time, the connection of this day with its historical origin has weakened, and today Dimitrievskaya Saturday is a memorial parental Saturday, without a particular correlation with the events of 700 years ago.
Radonitsa
Radonitsa is perhaps the most famous (even in non-church circles) day of remembrance of the dead. On this day, a public holiday is always declared so that all people (both believers and secularists) have the opportunity to visit their family graves.
The date of Radonitsa is moving - depending on the date of Easter. Most often it is scheduled for Tuesday (if it does not coincide with important holidays) of St. Thomas Week (the second week after Easter).
The establishment of such a special day of remembrance is associated with Lent. The fact is that during Lenten weeks very often deliberate commemoration of the dead (which always takes place on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days) cannot be performed due to the peculiarities of the Lenten liturgical charter. Therefore, by the end of Lent, many uncelebrated memorial services accumulate, which are transferred to the first day, when a full liturgy and memorial service can be celebrated. Radonitsa is such a day.
Since Radonitsa always coincides with an after-feast, on this day there are no special funeral prayers, either at the liturgy, or at Matins and Vespers. Funeral prayers are present only at the Midnight Office, and a great requiem mass is also served after Vespers.
Superstitions associated with death and funerals
Surprisingly, but true: in the world of victorious science, where people often question all world religions, the so-called folk signs, or superstition.
The etymology of the word “superstition” speaks for itself: vain faith, belief in something empty, non-existent.
Since death for any person is a topic surrounded by many secrets and questions, the same number of different superstitions are attracted to it, like a magnet. Thus, numerous prejudices associated with organizing funerals are very common. Often a real funeral service is held for the deceased with a large variety of food and alcohol. However, church people must understand that funeral services are organized primarily to show mercy to the people who attended the funeral service and funeral. The living need food, but the soul of the deceased needs prayers.
All signs associated directly with funeral food are also absolutely meaningless. Some particularly superstitious people believe that food from a wake should not be taken home because it “has negative energy.” This statement is an unfounded superstition. The food was prepared to feed people, and if there is any left over, it can and should be distributed.
A lot of superstitions are associated with preparations for funerals. You often see how mirrors are hung up in the house (so that the deceased does not accidentally appear in them), the chairs on which the coffin stood are turned over (so that the living do not sit on them) and many similar things. As believing Christians, we must do our best to eradicate such pagan prejudices in the surrounding society and explain to people the complete senselessness of such actions.
The tradition of bringing food or sweets to the cemetery, as well as leaving a shot of vodka “for the deceased,” is absurd and at the same time ineradicable. Is it worth talking about all the absurdity of such customs? The soul, which no longer has a material shell, does not need anything material, including food. To honor the memory of our relatives, we can take care of their graves and keep them clean and tidy. We can bring flowers and wreaths to the cemetery. But the most important thing we can do is serve a litiya over the grave, asking the Lord to remember the deceased.
There is no place for magic in Christianity. The purpose of a Christian's life is to purify his own soul. The purpose of his death is to unite with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. Unlike everyday superstitions and prejudices, every religious action has a high purpose. We must firmly remember this and distinguish one from the other.
Loading...