Ecology of Consciousness: Life. "Parental" Saturdays began to be called, because Christians prayerfully commemorated, first of all, their deceased parents.

9 days of special remembrance for the dead in 2018

Parental Saturdays are days of special commemoration of the departed. These days, at the Liturgy, prayers are read for the dead Orthodox Christians, funeral services are performed. Since almost all such days are associated with the Easter calendar, the dates of parental days change from year to year.

9 days of special remembrance for the dead in 2018:

Universal Parent Saturdays

These days the Church prayerfully commemorates all the dead Christians. A special, ecumenical memorial service is served in the temple.

A week before Lent, on the Saturday before the Week of the Last Judgment. On the day preceding the remembrance of the Last Judgment, Christians pray to the Righteous Judge to show His mercy to all the departed Christians.

2. Trinity Saturday - Saturday before the feast of the Holy Trinity - May 26

With God, everyone is alive. In the Church, we feel connected to all the dead Christians. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. On the eve of this day, the Church prays for Christians who have crossed the threshold of earthly life.

Parental Saturdays of Great Lent

"Parental" Saturdays began to be called, because Christians prayerfully commemorated, first of all, their deceased parents. These days in the temple, after the Liturgy, a special funeral service is performed - a memorial service.

Throughout Great Lent, there are very few days when it is possible to celebrate the full Liturgy, and hence the main church prayer for the departed. In order not to deprive the dead of prayer intercession during this period, the Church has established three special days for prayer for them.

Private parenting days

These days of commemoration of the departed exist in the liturgical practice only of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1. Commemoration day for all those who died during the Great Patriotic War - May 9

After the liturgy, a thanksgiving service is performed for the gift of victory and a funeral litia.

2. Radonitsa - 9th day after Easter, Tuesday of St. Thomas' week - April 17

From this day on, the Charter of the Church again, after a long break for Great Lent and Easter days, allows the church-wide commemoration of the dead.

3. Day of Remembrance of Orthodox soldiers, for the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland on the battlefield of those killed - September 11

The commemoration was established by decree of Catherine II during the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). In modern liturgical practice, it is often omitted.

4. Dimitriev parental Saturday - November 3. (October 28, 2017. Postponed due to the celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God)

On the Saturday preceding the day of memory of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (November 8). Installed by the right-believing prince Dmitry Donskoy after returning to Moscow from the battle on the Kulikovo field (1380).published If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project

Dmitriev's parental Saturday in 2018 is celebrated on November 3 - this is the day of universal commemoration of the dead, when memorial liturgies and memorial services are held in Orthodox churches. Dmitriev's parental Saturday in the church calendar does not have a fixed date - the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates it on Saturday, before the memorial day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (November 8). Dmitrievskaya is the last parental Saturday of the year, when the dead Orthodox Christians are commemorated in churches in a special way.

The history of the emergence of Dmitrievskaya Saturday, the day of commemoration of the dead on November 3, 2018

This day, as the legend tells, was established by Dmitry Donskoy more than six centuries ago to honor the memory of the soldiers who died during the famous Battle of Kulikovo. On the Kulikovo field in September 1380, many Russian soldiers were killed.

Prince Dmitry, having won a victory at such a high price, dismissed the surviving soldiers home, and he himself went to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery to honor the memory of the heroes who died in the battle.

Reverend Sergius of Radonezh, having blessed the prince for the battle with the infidels and sent two monks with the Donskoy, served a memorial service for the fallen soldiers. The dead monks - Andrei Oslyabya and Alexander Peresvet were buried in the Old Simonov Monastery near the walls of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the Battle of Kulikovo as a whole, more than 100 thousand soldiers died for the Fatherland - along with the joy of victory, their families suffered the bitterness of loss. Since then, this private parental day has become, in fact, a universal day of remembrance in Russia.

The tradition to annually make such a commemoration before the day of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica has developed over time. In Russia, the name of this Saint has always been associated with a military feat, patriotism and the defense of the Fatherland.

Prince Donskoy venerated the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius - on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, he solemnly transferred to Moscow the icon of Thessalonica from Vladimir, written on the board of the tomb of the Saint - the main shrine of the Vladimir Dmitrievsky Cathedral. Saint Demetrius was depicted on icons as a warrior in feathered armor, with a spear and a sword in his hands. Russian soldiers believed that they were always under his special protection.

Church Traditions of the Day of Remembrance of the Dead

On Dmitriev Saturday, according to tradition, panikhidas and funeral liturgies are held in churches - special prayers are offered for the departed. To commemorate the deceased parents on this day should be in the church - according to tradition, the flock gives the priest notes with the names of deceased relatives, and also prays for the repose of their souls in the afterlife.

On Dmitriev Saturday, according to tradition, refreshments for the poor are brought to the temple. The treat is consecrated during the service, and later distributed to everyone. On the Day of Remembrance of the Dead, according to tradition, alms are given to the poor with a request to pray for the dead.

Orthodox, on the day of remembrance of the dead, according to tradition, visit the cemetery, clean the graves and read prayers for the repose of the souls of deceased relatives. Those who could not visit the temple or cemetery can pray at home for the deceased relatives.

According to church canons, a great memorial service is held on the eve of Dmitriev Saturday, so you need to come to the temple on Friday evening to pray for the repose of the soul. And on Saturday morning, a funeral liturgy is held, after which a common memorial service is served.

Dmitrievskaya parental Saturday has long been considered the day of transition from autumn to winter. Therefore, people tried to finish all the things left after the Feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is celebrated on October 14, and to meet the severe frosts fully armed.

Festive feast on the Day of Remembrance of the Dead on Dmitriev Saturday November 3, 2018

The hostesses, according to custom, did a general cleaning, cleaned both the house and the yard and the barn. The whole family, according to tradition, washed before Dmitrievskaya parental Saturday. After that, a broom and water were left for the deceased relatives.
Dinner on Dmitrievskaya parental Saturday, according to custom, was special and different from other memorial days.

The dead began to be commemorated on Friday, and the table was necessarily covered with a new white tablecloth. Housewives, according to tradition, tried to cook a lot of meat dishes - roast, jelly, and so on, but the stuffed pork head remained the main one. According to custom, special funeral food was also served on the table - kutya, pies, pancakes and other dishes that the deceased loved.

On Dmitriev's parental Saturday, funeral pies occupied a special place. According to tradition, a huge amount of pastries, oblong in shape, with a variety of fillings - with cabbage, cottage cheese, meat, and so on, were served on the table.

According to custom, candles were placed on the table both on Friday and Saturday - in this way people gave a sign to the dead that they were remembered. According to tradition, the whole family gathered together on Dmitriev Saturday, since in ancient times people believed that the dead visit their homes these days.

The customs of the day of remembrance of the dead on Dmitrievskaya Saturday on November 3, 2018

For different Slavic peoples, the last memorial day of the year was called differently. So, in Belarus and Ukraine, the name of the Friday commemoration was “grandfathers”, on Saturday “women” were arranged - even more modest and lean. Accordingly, the entire Dimitrievskaya parental week was called grandfather's.

A curious custom existed among the inhabitants of the Vyatka province. On Dimitrievsky Saturday, the villagers slaughtered a hen, a mother hen, who gave her owners three broods of chickens in her life. The meat of this bird was used to prepare dishes that were part of the meal, which was organized for widows.

Today, the traditions and customs of Dimitri's parental Saturday have changed radically. On this day, they now go to the temple, where they order and defend funeral services, including memorial services. Together with other parishioners in the church, Orthodox Christians pray for the repose of the souls of deceased relatives and friends, but above all, parents, if they are no longer alive.

Food is brought to the temples so that they can prepare a memorial meal and arrange charity dinners. Also, traditionally, people visit cemeteries on Dimitriev's Parental Saturday. There, on the graves of the deceased loved ones, they pray, cry, talk with the dead, some, according to the ancient custom, leave food on the grave.

Parental Saturday in November is called Demetrius Parental Saturday, it is closest to the day of veneration of the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. In November 2018, it is celebrated on the 3rd day. In churches on this day, as is customary on parental Saturdays, the clergy will perform a funeral Liturgy and a memorial service.

On Friday evening they will serve the Great Panikhida, called Parastas. In Greek it means "to intercede". Thus it is explained what parental Saturdays mean for a believer.

On parental Saturday in November 2018, the dead Christians are commemorated

Going to another world, a person loses the opportunity to change his mind, correct his mistake and repent for his sin. But all this can be done for them by living people and for this, turn to the Lord with a prayer - ask Him to be merciful to the deceased and forgive all his sins.

On parental Saturday, Orthodox believers remember the Orthodox Christians who have gone to another world, commemorate their parents. They visit the graves of deceased relatives and perform requiems there.

Orthodox priests hold a special commemoration on five parental Saturdays:

• before Lent (2 weeks before). This parental Saturday is called the universal Meat-Feast;
• before the Holy Trinity (49 days after Easter). This parental Saturday is called the universal Trinity;
• second Saturday for Great Lent;
• fourth Saturday for Great Lent.

Parental Saturday in November 2018 is historically associated with the Battle of Kulikovo

Commemoration of the dead on Saturdays before November 8 - the day of veneration of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, is associated with bloodshed during the Battle of Kulikovo. This event coincided with the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos (1380). At first, it was decided to honor only the memory of those who died in the battle on the Kulikovo field, but over time, Demetrius Saturday was made the day of commemoration of absolutely all the deceased Orthodox Christians.

On Parents' Saturday in November 2018 there are some restrictions for believers

On parental Dimitriev Saturday, in no case should you speak badly about the deceased, and even more so scold them. It is supposed to say only all the good things about them, otherwise the soul of the deceased will be angry. According to church canons, it is impossible to drink alcohol as a commemoration. Remembering the dead, no one laughs and sings songs.

Memorial Saturday for parents is not exactly a mourning event, but it is a memory of loved ones who are no longer in our world, and it would be completely immoral to have fun at the same time. On parental Saturday, those who have gone to another world are commemorated in a special way - they pray and thereby provide an invaluable service to the deceased - they save their souls. For parental Saturdays, there are a number of unwritten rules that any believer should be aware of.

On November 3, on Dimitri's parental Saturday, you should visit the temple, defend the memorial service to the Lord, a memorial service, light candles, and pray. On this day, any help to a poor person or someone who is in trouble will be a good deed. In Russia, Dimitriev Saturday is considered the day of replacing autumn with winter, so by this day they are trying to finally curtail all work in the yard and on the field and be ready for frost.

Parental Saturday in November 2018 has its own signs and traditions

One of the traditions of Dimitri's parental Saturday is to visit the bathhouse. Single guys and girls don’t get married until the end of the year if they made it to this day. A popular sign says that a cold snowy day on Demetrius - by late and cold spring. If the day turned out to be warm, then the spring will be early and warm.

It has long been a custom to cook kutya at home on parental Saturdays, and all household members should begin their memorial meal with kutya. It is a sweet porridge made from whole wheat grains and seasoned with honey, raisins and nuts.

Remembrance days, when the Orthodox Church in each church holds requiem services for all the departed Christians, are called Parental Saturdays. They really (with the exception of the Radonitsa and the days of remembrance of the soldiers) are held on Saturday. Saturday - the day of rest since biblical times, is the best suited for prayers for the souls of the reposed. In addition to these common days of remembrance according to the church calendar, on the date of death, birth and name day of our deceased relatives and close people, as a tribute to their memory, we arrange memorial dinners, visit the cemetery and the temple. These days are different for each person. Parental Saturdays or days of commemoration of the dead in 2018, according to the Orthodox tradition, begin a week before Great Lent from the Ecumenical Meat-Feast Saturday on February 10, 2018. Ecumenical or common for all, this Saturday is named because a common memorial service is held in churches, at which everyone prays for God's mercy to the departed Christians on the eve of the Week of the Last Judgment. So, the parental Saturdays of 2018 and memorial days of 2018 are next.

Universal parent Saturday (meat) 2018

In 2018, it falls on February 10. On this day, it is customary to read prayers not only for deceased relatives, but also for all the deceased, starting from Adam and Eve. This is the most global Saturday, it is designed to remind everyone of the Last Judgment and call people to prudence and mercy. As for the name, each word has its own meaning. Ecumenical - on this day they pray for all the dead without exception, in the Church they pay special attention to prayers for people who did not die by their own death, because all souls must rest in peace. It is called parental because we pray for the forgiveness of all the sins of our ancestors - the "parents" who gave us life. And the very word "meat-putting" suggests that on this day meat food should be excluded altogether. As for the celebration of this Saturday, there is a whole list of rituals. The main thing is to come to the temple and write the names of those whom you want to commemorate on a special piece of paper “For the Repose” and pay a fee for this to the person responsible for collecting the sheets. Of course, it is better to defend the entire service, but not necessarily. It is also desirable to give alms to those who ask on the way home. It is believed that by this act you commemorate those for whom you cannot pray. These are unbaptized, suicides, who died from abortions. At home at the table it is worth remembering all those who have passed away. And also cook kutya, or it is also called “kolivo”, here this dish reminds that the deceased will be resurrected when the Last Judgment comes.

Parental days for the Orthodox in 2018

The Christian religious timetable contains all the data regarding celebrations significant for religion. What date are parental Saturdays in 2018?

1. On the 10th of February, the sacred meat-fare (universal) Saturday is celebrated;
2. 3 numbers in March - the Saturday period of the 2nd week of Great Strict Lent;
3. 10th in March - the Saturday period of the 3rd week of strict fasting;
4. March 17 - Saturday period of the 4th week of strict fasting;
5. On April 17, Orthodox Radonitsa is celebrated;
6. On May 9, believers meet the date of remembrance of all the deceased soldiers;
7. The 26th in May is the date of the celebration of the holy Trinity Saturday;
8. November 3rd - Memorial Christian Dmitriev Saturday. The girl prays for repose.

All listed parental days in 2018, according to the Orthodox calendar, always fall on the Saturday period of the week. This moment is designated as a memorial not in vain. In religion, it is Saturday that is associated with a state of rest, therefore it is the most suitable for remembering the souls of the departed people. In Orthodoxy, there are several versions as to why memorial days are called parental days. The main (first) version says that the name "parent's day" did not appear in vain. Remembering dear and beloved people, a person first of all thinks about his parents. If the closest relatives have already died, then on the memorial day they are also remembered in the first place. The second version indicates that in religion a person who is buried in the earth is recognized as having gone to the forefathers, that is, parents. And the Sabbath day of the week was chosen as a sign that this period of the week is calmer.

Saturday 2nd Week of Lent 2018

Falls on March 03, 2018. Due to the fact that daily liturgies are not held in the church during Great Lent, the deceased are left without commemoration. In order to correct this and not leave the dead, the church decided to allocate three days for remembrance - ecumenical memorial Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Great Lent. On such a Saturday, there is an opportunity not only to order a magpie and give a note “On repose”, but to personally pray for the deceased. If it is not possible to attend the Liturgy, it is better not to ask anyone about it, the priests do not welcome such actions.

Saturday 3rd Week of Lent 2018

Falls on March 10, 2018. It is on this Saturday that it is worth praying for your dead with special zeal. This day is ideal to light a candle for the repose, serve memorial services, give alms to forgive sins, go to the cemetery. In this, true love for neighbors is manifested not in words, but in deeds. This is one of the main rules of fasting.

Saturday 4th week of Lent 2018

Falls on March 17, 2018. This day is intended to help the dead not in word, but in deed. After all, having gone to the afterlife, they cannot ask for the forgiveness of their sins, which is why even a small sin dooms the deceased to eternal torment. By praying for deceased loved ones, we help them find peace. This proves true love for our ancestors.

The main memorial day in 2018

The main memorial day for the Orthodox is Radonitsa. In different regions of Russia, it is celebrated at different times. According to church canons, the main parental memorial day falls on the ninth day after Easter, namely on Tuesday. In 2018 it will be 04/17/18. It should be noted that this day is called differently in different regions of Russia. Somewhere it is called Mogilki, somewhere the Easter of the Dead, and somewhere Radovnitsa. However, the essence of this holiday is unchanged. This is a special day to commemorate the deceased parents and closest people. It is believed that the name "Radonitsa" came from the verb "rejoice", because on this day we not only remember our dead loved ones, but also congratulate them on Easter, believing that the Kingdom of Heaven will come and all the dead will be resurrected. The main feature of this day is the preparation of a special treat, which is intended both for the people living now and for the dead. On Radonitsa, eggs are again dyed and kutya is prepared. It should be noted that most of the eggs are painted red. In some regions of Russia, the tradition of "christening with the dead" has been preserved. For this, red eggs are buried in the ground.

In some villages, it is customary to place them in the ground directly at the cemetery, in others it is enough to dig them in a field or behind the house where the deceased lived. In such an area, as a rule, it is believed that "the dead move underground." Another invariable dish on Radonitsa is kutya. This is what I call porridge made from wheat or rice, mixed with raisins, nuts, poppy seeds and dried fruits. Before you start a meal at the funeral table, you must definitely taste kutya. Some Slavic peoples also kept the tradition of baking pancakes on this day. Some housewives bake thin translucent treats, others prefer lush delicacies. Regardless of this, it is considered that pancakes are fully prepared according to the rite, if they are well oiled. It is the amount of oil that indicates how relatives remember the dead. The first pancakes are traditionally placed in a bundle or basket and carried to the cemetery. Until now, all relatives come to the graves of the dead on Radonitsa to remember their loved ones together and taste pancakes. In the old days, this was the end of the meal in the cemetery. People went home and at the festive table continued to remember the dead.

If the commemoration at home took place with the use of alcohol, then it was forbidden to clink glasses. The use of knives and forks was also unacceptable. It was forbidden to throw away the remains from the memorial table. It was customary to feed them "birds of heaven." It is worth noting that during the Soviet era, some traditions have changed. If before the October Revolution of 1917, Radonitsa was considered a holiday, and everyone could visit the cemetery without any problems, then in the Soviet period this became problematic. Despite this, people still came to their deceased relatives, but not on Tuesday, but on Sunday. Another change was that next to the graves they began to arrange sumptuous meals with alcohol. And after them, eggs, glasses with vodka, bread and other food were left at the burial sites. The Church considers this unacceptable. Remembering loved ones, it is necessary to pray for their souls and hope that resurrection awaits all of us. The ministers of the church believe that Easter cakes, eggs, etc., which are left after the commemoration, are a sign of pagan traditions - "to treat the dead." If you consider yourself an Orthodox person, then you should not do this. Pouring graves with alcohol is also unacceptable.

Radonitsa in 2018

Saturday Trinity 2018

Falls on May 26, 2018. This Saturday marks the entry into fasting. People go to church to pray for all the dead, even those who have gone to hell. After the service, they usually go to the cemetery, where they decorate the grave of their relatives with greenery and hold a memorial meal. It is customary to leave the remaining food on the grave so that a passerby can treat himself and remember loved ones, it was a kind of almsgiving. On this day, one should not refuse those who ask and need help. There are also a number of folk traditions that are not related to commemoration. On this day, it was forbidden to work and walk alone in the forest, because you could stumble upon a mermaid. It was believed that on this day, evil spirits are activated, because of which they were afraid to graze cattle near forests and reservoirs. In no case was it possible to do work related to water: washing, washing dishes, bathing, so as not to disturb the abode of mermaids. Better appease them. And if it rains that day, then there will be an excellent harvest of berries and mushrooms.

Saturday Dmitrievskaya in 2018

Falls on November 03, 2018. This is the last memorial day of the year. Demetrius Saturday precedes the Day of Remembrance of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. On this Saturday, it is customary to go to the graves of relatives, where they pray for their repose and cry, after which they arrange memorial meals. Memorial services were also served in the cemeteries, for which the priests received generous gifts. As on other memorial days, special attention should be paid to helping the poor. Dmitrievskaya Saturday also marks the change of autumn into winter. It was very important to finish preparing for the cold weather on this particular day. The hostesses diligently cleaned the dwelling and baked oblong funeral pies with all kinds of fillings. It is advisable to visit a bathhouse on the eve of Saturday, and leave a broom and water for the deceased relatives. It is important to remember that if we really love our dead relatives, we need to pray more often for their repose and ask for the forgiveness of their sins. Dying, a person loses the opportunity to turn to the Lord. It was to help the dead that memorial days were created. Of course, it is better to do everything while observing the rules and principles, but if it is not possible to visit the temple or go to the cemetery, even a simple prayer at home will help.

In the hearts of loved ones and relatives, the dead always remain alive - they are alive to the same extent for God. The commemoration, which must be carried out on certain days, allows you to pay tribute to the departed, ask for the forgiveness of their souls - and simply remember the good that was associated with them during their lifetime.

Dear visitors of the site, you will find the memorial days of 2019 in a new article: Parent Saturdays 2019

Parent Saturdays in Orthodoxy

The commemoration of the dead in Christianity is held on specially designated days for this - parental Saturdays. These days are associated with the reading of prayers, holding services specifically for the departed. Funeral services are held these days by each church. Parental days change from year to year according to dates, you should find out about their holding in advance.

Orthodox calendar with memorial dates for 2018

According to the Orthodox calendar, for 2018 these dates will be as follows. Ecumenical parental Saturdays, of which there are only nine, are celebrated by holding an ecumenical memorial service; these days are suitable for commemorating each of the Christians who have died at any time. The most important among the days of remembrance are considered to be the following:

Correct behavior on memorial days

Reverence for ancestors and deceased loved ones is an integral part of the emotional experiences of every person, and commemoration is usually carried out sincerely. But it is worth knowing that in this case there are own rules that must be followed in order to prevent mistakes that will bring outright harm.

All the canons of the day on which you decide to hold a commemoration must be fully complied with. For each of the memorial days there are private, own traditions, but there is also a general set of rules, norms of behavior for an Orthodox person who commemorates his loved ones on his parents' day.

So, on this day you should visit the temple and pray, put a candle for the repose, it is also worth giving alms, helping those in need by giving them memorial products. It is worth going to the cemetery, if there is such an opportunity, leaving gifts in the form of pastries or sweets on the graves, and cleaning up. If conditions allow, cleaning the cemetery and ennobling the grave on one of these days will be very helpful.

But at the same time, Orthodox commemoration excludes alcohol. Drinking alcohol is sinful, and it makes no sense to combine a known sin with the commemoration of loved ones, besides, it is immoral. You can not turn a memorial meal into a drinking bout. It is also forbidden to use foul language in the cemetery, those who commemorate should be in a bright, calm state of mind, nothing should interfere with quiet reverence. Crying and grief are not an obligatory component of commemoration, bright memory and memories of pleasant moments associated with the deceased are the best atmosphere for commemoration, because despondency is also a sin.

Sayings and signs on parental Saturdays

There are a number of signs and sayings associated with memorial days, and they all carry a certain folk wisdom. The right words can be found a lot, which only words are worth “While your parents are alive, honor them, and when they are dead, remember them”. Folk sayings teach us to commemorate the dead with kindness, and not dashing, to say goodbye to the dead and let them go.

As for signs, there are even more of them.

• On the Trinity Saturday a freshly cut aspen was brought into the house - it was believed that if its leaves did not lose their green color overnight, then there would be no dead in the house for a year. Black leaves in the morning testified to the opposite.
• On the Dmitrievskaya Saturday observed the weather - it is believed that if this day is warm, with a thaw, then the spring will be early, and if it is the other way around, then the spring will be delayed. Until that day, it was believed that winter had not yet come, the weather had not settled. It is also believed that rivers should freeze on this day.
• After the funeral meal, nothing can be removed from the table, everything is left overnight as it is. Pancakes baked on this day are also associated with some signs - the first of them should be intended for the deceased, and if it fell on the floor, it was necessary to read a prayer for protection, as this could promise death in the family. A wedding on parental Saturday is also a very bad omen.
• On any of the parental Saturdays, you can go to the cemetery to commemorate the dead, and Christian tradition forbids leaving alcohol on the graves, it is believed that this can only aggravate the suffering of the soul, especially if during life a person was distinguished by such an addiction. Too lush commemoration with an abundance of food, frequent snacks on this day and drinking alcohol are also not welcome.