Memorial service for 40 days: 7 rules to follow when organizing, 10 dishes that can be prepared, 6 prayers that are read for 9 and 40 days, 7 memorial dates in Christianity.

People who do not believe in an afterlife consider death to be the final chord of human existence. Like, he died - and that's all, nothing of him remained, except for the grave. And about the immortal soul - this is all nonsense. But even among inveterate atheists, rarely does anyone dare to violate memorial traditions.

40 days of commemoration is an opportunity to remember the deceased, to drink a glass for the repose of his soul, to light a candle in the church, to gather with relatives.

But this date is far from the only one that needs to be dedicated to the deceased.

People say that a person is alive as long as the memory of him is alive.

In the first year, the deceased is remembered quite often, and not only by grief-stricken relatives, but also by everyone who takes part in the commemoration.

Memorial rites are mandatory for Orthodox Christians. They are conducted according to specific rules that you need to know in order to provide peace and grace to the soul of a loved one.

Conventionally, any commemoration can be divided into 2 parts:

1. Church. This includes a memorial service ordered by relatives in the church, and a series of prayers read by relatives of the deceased. Unchurched people are afraid of making a mistake, ordering something wrong, doing something wrong. Do not worry, because in any temple you will be prompted for the right decision.
2. Gastronomic. That is exactly what we mean when we say the word "commemoration": a dinner to which people from the inner circle of the deceased are invited to remember his soul.

Another important point is visiting the cemetery. At the commemoration, you go "on a visit" to the deceased in order to:

• demonstrate to him - you have not forgotten about him;
• tidy up the grave;
• bring fresh flowers;
• put a treat for the poor, who will eat it with gratitude for the remembrance of the soul.

There are a lot of commemorations in the first year:

1. After burial. It is on the day of the funeral that the first memorial dinner is organized, to which everyone who paid the last tribute to the deceased in the cemetery is usually invited.
2. Breakfast. In the morning after the burial, the family goes to the churchyard to take breakfast to the “deceased” and commemorate it near the grave. No one except the closest relatives is invited to this action.
3. 3 days. This date is important precisely for the family of the deceased. The main stages of the commemoration: a visit to the burial place and a family dinner.
4. 9 days. It is believed that up to 9 days the human soul dwells in "heavenly booths", but not yet in heaven. The commemoration is held on the ninth day, because there are so many "angelic ranks".
5. 40 days. According to Christian canons, it was on the 40th day that Jesus Christ ascended to heaven - that is why the date is so important for Christians. Feast for the "40s" is a prerequisite.
6. Six months. The date of the commemoration is not considered obligatory, therefore, many are overlooked. If you want to remember your loved one on this day, visit the cemetery, order a memorial service in the church and sit modestly with your family, remembering the good things about the deceased.
7. 1 year. The last major commemoration number. On this day, they not only order a memorial prayer service, but also organize a large dinner in honor of the deceased. Ideally, you need to call everyone who was at the funeral, but if finances do not allow, then you can get by with a smaller number of "guests".

After a year from the date of death, you can commemorate your loved one whenever you want (for example, on the day of his birth and death, on other important dates for you), ordering memorial services and handing out sweets for the peace of the soul. Large feasts can no longer be organized.

The most important dates of commemoration, in addition to the funeral date and 1 year, are the 9th and 40th days. We will talk about them further in more detail, because many traditions have been forgotten.

9 days: commemoration according to the rules

This is the first of three important memorial dates. There are certain rules and traditions to be followed.

What the soul expects from the commemoration on the 9th day

According to church dogmas, exactly 9 days are given to a person after death in order to complete his earthly journey, to say goodbye to relatives and friends whom he happened to leave and prepare for a meeting with the Lord.

9 is a sacred number in Christianity, because that is how many angelic ranks exist. It is the angels who must lead the spirit of the deceased on the 9th day after death to the Lord's Judgment, so that her fate can be decided: to stay in paradise or descend into hell if her sins are too serious.

But the verdict has not yet been pronounced, and from the 9th to the 40th day, the soul will face ordeals. That is why relatives should be especially careful during this period, so as not to aggravate the sins of the deceased with their rash actions. And it's not only about the correct organization of the commemoration.

Of course, you will grieve for your loved one, but it is important that your grief is not so inconsolable that your soul cannot leave this world at all.

Memorial service for 9 days according to church canons

Relatives are required to express their grief for the deceased not with endless tears, but with prayers and good deeds.

Mandatory on the day of the commemoration:

1. Book a memorial service at the church.
2. Defend the service on this day in order to pray in the temple for the deceased and light a candle that will illuminate the way for him in the days of ordeals.
3. Give sweets and money to the poor.

You can make a donation on behalf of the deceased to those in need: an orphanage or nursing home, a hospital, a shelter for the homeless, etc.

Be sure to visit the grave on the 9th day to remove dried flowers from the day of the funeral, light a candle, and pray for the soul of the deceased.

If there is such an opportunity, order a lithium - the priest will come and pray at the burial for your loved one. But it is permissible to read prayers at the commemoration on your own.

In addition to the traditional "Our Father", you can read the following prayers:

God of spirits and all flesh, correcting death and abolishing the devil, and a gift to Thy world! Himself, Lord, rest the souls of the departed Thy servant: the most holy patriarchs, most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops who served You in the priestly, church and monastic ranks; the creators of this holy temple, the Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors for the faith and fatherland who laid down their lives, the faithful, killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen on the scum, torn apart by beasts, suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in the outburst of the mind of the suicidal, those for whom they commanded and asked us to pray, for whom there is no one to pray and the faithful, the burial of the Christian deprived (the name of the rivers) in a brighter place, in a place of evil, in a place of peace, disease, sorrow and sighing are by no means removed.

Any sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, forgive the good Man-lover God, as if there is no man, who will live and will not sin. Thou art one, apart from sin, Thy righteousness is righteousness forever, and Thy word is truth. As if Thou art the Resurrection, and the Belly and Peace of the dead are Thy servant (the name of the rivers), Christ our God, and we glorify You with Thy beginningless Father, and the Most Holy, and Good, and Thy Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

Remember that it is not the words themselves that are important in prayer, but the sincerity.

40 days of commemoration: everything you need to know about this date

This is the second important date in the tradition of Christian remembrance, which in no case should be ignored if you are concerned about the well-being of the deceased in the next world.

What happens to the soul on the 40th day and does it need a commemoration?

It is on the 40th day that the soul must hear the verdict of God, where it will be next: in Paradise or Hell.

It is believed that it is after this time that the soul is completely detached from the body and realizes that it is dead.

The 40th day is the last time when the spirit visits its native places to say goodbye to worldly life, things close to the heart.

Relatives and friends in no case should weep and lament heavily on the day of the commemoration, so as not to increase the suffering of an already fragile soul, not to bind it forever to the earth, where it would forever wander between the world of the living and the dead.

You can often hear stories that it was on the 40th day that the deceased appeared in a dream to say goodbye.

And after this period, you should stop feeling his presence nearby. If this did not happen, then somewhere at the commemoration you made a mistake, did something to bind the soul of the deceased to the ground.

Talk to your priest about how to remedy the situation.

Church rules of remembrance for 40 days

The deceased himself is no longer able to change anything, he is not able to correct any of the mistakes made during his lifetime. But his loved ones are able to facilitate the transition of a loved one to Paradise with the help of worthy commemoration on the 40th day.

Order a magpie from the church and give a donation for the temple. Be sure to pray yourself (in church or at home) in your own words or the texts of special prayers:

Rest, Lord, the souls of the departed, Thy servant: 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. Amen.

It will not be superfluous to give up on the 40th day from some of your sin, for example, drunkenness or adultery, in order to make it easier for the dead to go to heaven, or to make a monetary donation to some charitable foundation.

On the 40th day, in addition to the commemoration at home or in some institution, visit the cemetery to:

• carry flowers;
• light a candle;
• treat the poor (if you don't meet anyone, put the treat on the grave);
  pray;
• say goodbye for the last time - after all, soon the soul will finally leave the earth.

Memorial service for the dead

Memorial dinner on the 9th and 40th day

An important part of the memorial day is lunch. It is significant, first of all, for the living, because the dead are more important for church commemoration and sincere sorrow of loved ones.

Remember that no invitations to commemoration are sent out on either the 9th or 40th day. Those come who remember the deceased and want to honor him with their attention. Therefore, the commemoration usually takes place in a narrow circle of friends and relatives.

Here are a number of rules that must be followed when organizing a commemoration on the 9th and 40th day:

1. Don't chase the amount of food you eat. Do not set yourself the goal of impressing the "guests", showing them that you have money, feeding the audience to the bone. Such pride is a sin from which it is the deceased who will suffer.
2. Look for a post on your calendar. If the commemoration on the 40th or 9th day fell on a church post, give up meat - give it up altogether. Several fish dishes are allowed, the rest of the food should be prepared from vegetables in vegetable oil. If the fast is strict, then dairy products should also be excluded. But even if the commemoration fell on a period free from food restrictions, do not fill the table with meat. Adhere to the policy of moderation in the formation of the menu.
3. Do not place forks on the memorial table. They symbolize the pitchfork used by devils in hell to torment sinners. The main cutlery is spoons, even for main courses and snacks. The illiterate, indignant at the lack of forks at the commemoration, can be explained why you do this.
4. Start your meal with the Lord's Prayer. Ask everyone present to pray for the commemoration of a loved one and make the sign of the cross before you start dinner.
5. Speeches in memory of the deceased should be welcomed by relatives. You don't need to force anyone to speak, but you also can't forbid people to speak, rush them to finish their speech as soon as possible. Those present gathered not to eat a week ahead, but then to remember the deceased with a kind word.
6. Prepare the room where the commemoration will be held on the 9th and 40th days. Be sure to post a photo of the deceased with a mourning ribbon. Light a candle or an icon lamp near the image, place a bouquet of flowers. A glass of water, covered with a slice of bread, and cutlery are also placed near the photo so that the deceased can have a meal with everyone.
7. Keep order. If you see that someone is behaving in an inappropriate way (swearing, laughing, talking loudly), carefully reprimand this uncivilized person. If this does not work, ask him to leave, explaining that by his behavior he multiplies your grief. But in no case start scandals at the commemoration - this is a great sin before people, and before God, and before the deceased.

Dishes that can be prepared / ordered for the commemoration on the 9th and 40th day:

Separately, it must be said about alcohol. The church does not encourage drinking at the commemoration and believes that it is possible to do without alcohol at all, but people usually have a different opinion and put wine and / or vodka on the table.

It will not be a big sin if you still add alcohol to the memorial menu, but make sure that those present drank no more than three glasses, otherwise the memorial will turn into a banal drunkenness, during which they will forget for what reason they were gathered at all.

You can control the amount of alcohol consumed on the 9th and 40th days after the funeral by limiting the number of bottles on the table. Estimate how many people came to the commemoration and how many bottles of wine / vodka are needed for everyone to drink only 3 glasses. Hide the excess and do not give in to the requests of drunks, such as: “Bring more alcohol. How is it to remember Mikhalych dry? He will be offended! "

40 days - commemoration, which are arranged only for the closest ones. It is not so much the feast itself that is important as the church component of the commemoration and the sincerity of your feelings for the deceased.

One of the eternal questions to which humanity does not have an unambiguous answer - what awaits us after death?

Ask this question to the people around you and you will get different answers. They will depend on what the person believes in. And regardless of faith, many are afraid of death. They do not try to simply admit the very fact of its existence. But only our physical body dies, and the soul is eternal.

There was no time when neither I nor you existed. And in the future, none of us will cease to exist.

Bhagavad Gita. Chapter two. Soul in the world of matter.

Why are so many people afraid of death?

Because they relate their “I” only with the physical body. They forget that in each of them there is an immortal, eternal soul. They do not know what happens during and after dying.

This fear is generated by our ego, which only accepts what can be proven through experience. Is it possible to find out what death is and is there an afterlife “without harm to health”?

All over the world there are a sufficient number of documented stories of people,

Scientists on the verge of proving life after death

An unexpected experiment was carried out in September 2013. at an English hospital in Southampton. Doctors recorded the testimonies of patients who survived clinical death. The head of the research group, cardiologist Sam Parnia, shared the results:

“From the earliest days of my medical career, I was interested in the problem of 'disembodied sensations'. In addition, some of my patients have experienced clinical death. Gradually, I gathered more and more stories of those who insisted that in a state of coma they flew over their own bodies.

However, there was no scientific evidence for such information. And I decided to find an opportunity to test it in a hospital.

For the first time in history, a medical facility was specially re-equipped. In particular, in the wards and operating rooms, we hung thick boards with colored drawings under the ceiling. And most importantly, they began to record everything that happens to each patient in the most thorough way, up to seconds.

From the moment his heart stopped, his pulse and breathing stopped. And in those cases when the heart then managed to start and the patient began to come to his senses, we immediately wrote down everything he did and said.

All behavior and all words, gestures of each patient. Now our knowledge of "disembodied sensations" is much more systematized and complete than before. "

Almost a third of patients clearly and distinctly remember themselves in a state of coma. At the same time, no one saw the drawings on the boards!

Sam and his colleagues came to the following conclusions:

“From a scientific point of view, it's been a big success. Established general sensations in people who, as it were.

They suddenly begin to understand everything. Completely relieved of pain. Feel pleasure, comfort, even bliss. They see their dead relatives and friends. They are enveloped in soft and very pleasant light. There is an atmosphere of extraordinary kindness around ”.

When asked if the participants in the experiment believed that they had been in “another world”, Sam replied:

“Yes, and although this world was somewhat mystical for them, it still was. As a rule, patients reached a gate or some other place in the tunnel, from where there is no way back and where it is necessary to decide whether to return ...

And you know, almost everyone now has a completely different perception of life. It has changed due to the fact that the person has passed the moment of blissful spiritual existence. Almost all of my charges admitted that, although they did not want to die.

The transition to another world turned out to be an extraordinary and pleasant experience. Many after the hospital started working in charitable organizations. "

At the moment, the experiment continues. Another 25 UK hospitals are joining the study.

The memory of the soul is immortal

There is a soul, and it does not die with the body. Dr. Parnia's confidence is shared by the UK's largest medical luminary.

The famous professor of neuroscience from Oxford, the author of works translated into many languages, Peter Fenis rejects the opinion of the majority of scientists on the planet.

They believe that the body, when it stops its functions, releases certain chemicals, which, passing through the brain, really cause extraordinary sensations in a person.

“The brain does not have time to perform the 'shutdown procedure',” says Professor Fenis.

“For example, during a heart attack, a person sometimes loses consciousness with lightning speed. Along with consciousness, memory also goes away. So how can you discuss episodes that people are unable to remember?

But since they clearly talk about what happened to them when their brain activity is disabled therefore, there is a soul, spirit or something else that allows you to be in consciousness outside the body. "

What happens after you die?

The physical body is not the only one we possess. In addition to it, there are several thin bodies assembled according to the principle of matryoshka dolls.

The subtle level closest to us is called ether or astral. We simultaneously exist in the material world and in the spiritual world.

In order to maintain life in the physical body, food and drink are needed, in order to maintain vital energy in our astral body, communication with the Universe and with the surrounding material world is needed.

Death ceases to exist the densest of all our bodies, and the astral body is cut off from the connection with reality.

The astral body, being freed from the physical shell, is transported to another quality - to the soul. And the soul has a connection only with the Universe. This process is described in sufficient detail by people who have experienced clinical death.

Naturally, they do not describe its last stage, for they only get to the one closest to the material substance level, their astral body has not yet lost its connection with the physical body and they are not fully aware of the fact of death.

The transport of the astral body to the soul is called the second death. After that, the soul goes to another world.

Once there, the soul discovers that it consists of different levels intended for souls of varying degrees of development.

When the death of the physical body occurs, the subtle bodies begin to gradually separate. Subtle bodies also have different densities, and, accordingly, different amounts of time are required for their disintegration.

On the third day after the physical, the etheric body, which is called the aura, disintegrates.

After nine days the emotional body disintegrates, in forty days mental body. The body of spirit, soul, experience - casual - goes into the space between lives.

Suffering greatly for the departed loved ones, we thereby prevent their subtle bodies from dying in due time. Thin shells get stuck where they shouldn't be. Therefore, you need to let them go, thanking them for all the experience they lived together.

Is it possible to deliberately look beyond life?

As a person dresses in new clothes, throwing away the old and worn-out ones, so the soul is incarnated in a new body, leaving the old and lost strength.

Bhagavad Gita. Chapter 2. Soul in the material world.

Each of us has lived more than one life, and this experience is stored in our memory.

Every soul has a different experience of dying. And you can remember it.

Why remember the experience of dying in past lives? To take a different look at this stage. To understand what actually happens at the moment of dying and after it. Finally, to stop being afraid of death.

At the Institute of Reincarnation, you can get the experience of dying using simple techniques. For those in whom the fear of death is too strong, there is a safety technique that allows you to painlessly view the process of the soul leaving the body.

Here are some student reviews of their experiences of dying.

Kononuchenko Irina , first year student of the Institute of Reincarnation:

I watched several deaths in different bodies: female and male.

After natural death in female incarnation (I am 75 years old), the soul did not want to ascend to the World of Souls. I was left to wait for my husband, who was still to live. During his lifetime, he was an important person and close friend to me.

Feels like we lived in perfect harmony. I was the first to die, the Soul came out through the third eye. Realizing my husband's grief after “my death,” I wanted to support him with my invisible presence, and I didn't want to leave myself. After some time, when both "got used to it and got used to it" in a new state, I ascended to the World of Souls and waited for him there.

After natural death in the body of a man (harmonious incarnation), the Soul easily said goodbye to the body and ascended into the world of Souls. There was a sense of a completed mission, a successfully completed lesson, a sense of satisfaction. Discussion of life took place at once.

At a violent death (I am a man dying on the battlefield from being wounded), the Soul leaves the body through the chest, there is a wound. Until the moment of death, life flashed before my eyes.

I am 45 years old, my wife, children ... so I want to see them and squeeze them .. and I like this .. it is not clear where and how ... and alone. Tears in my eyes, regret about the "unlived" life. After leaving the body, it is not easy for the Soul, it is again met by the Angels-helpers.

Without additional energetic reconfiguration, I (soul) cannot independently free myself from the burden of embodiment (thoughts, emotions, feelings). A "capsule-centrifuge" is presented, where through strong rotation-acceleration there is an increase in frequencies and "separation" from the experience of incarnation.

Marina Cana, 1st year student of the Institute of Reincarnation:

In total, I went through 7 experiences of dying, of which three were violent. I will describe one of them.

Girl, Ancient Russia. I was born into a large peasant family, I live in unity with nature, I love to spin with my girlfriends, sing songs, walk in the forest and in the fields, help my parents with the housework, and babysit my younger brothers and sisters.

Men are not interested, the physical side of love is not clear. The guy was wooing, but she was afraid of him.

I saw how I was carrying water on a yoke, he blocked the road, and said: "All the same, you will be mine!" To prevent others from wooing, I spread a rumor that I was not of this world. And I'm glad, no one is needed, I told my parents that I would not marry.

She did not live long, died at the age of 28, was not married. She died of a strong fever, lay in a fever and delirium all wet, her hair stuck together from sweat. The mother sits next to him, sighs, wipes her with a wet cloth, gives water to drink from a wooden ladle. The soul flies out of the head, as if pushed out from the inside when the mother went out into the hallway.

The soul looks from above to the body, no regret. Mother comes in, starts wailing. Then the father resorts to shouts, shakes his fists in the sky, shouts to the dark icon in the corner of the hut: "What have you done!" The children huddled together, hushed and frightened. The soul leaves calmly, no one is sorry.

Then the soul seems to be drawn into a funnel, flying up to the light. It looks like clouds of steam in its outlines, next to it there are the same clouds, whirl, intertwine, rushing upward. Fun and easy! Knows that life has lived as planned. In the World of Souls, laughing, a beloved soul meets (this is unfaithful). She understands why she left life early - it became not interesting to live, knowing that he was not in embodiment, she strove to him faster.

Simonova Olga , 1st year student of the Institute of Reincarnation

All my dying was the same. Separation from the body and smooth rise above it ... and then just as smoothly up above the Earth. Basically, this is a natural death in old age.

One was overlooked by force (cutting off the head), but I saw it outside the body, as if from the side and did not feel any tragedy. On the contrary, relief and gratitude to the executioner. Life was aimless, feminine. The woman wanted to commit suicide in her youth, as she was left without parents.

40 days after death, what does this date mean for the soul of the deceased person and his loved ones? They can drag on indefinitely or pass too quickly. All people go through the stages of grief in different ways. But we know that the soul of a person after death meets with the Heavenly Father. And we can help the soul of the deceased to pass the posthumous tests. Therefore, it is so important to pray for a person even after his death. But how do you do it right? How to behave so that prayer for the departed is pleasing to God? In this article, we tried to collect answers to frequently asked questions about why it is customary to commemorate deceased relatives and loved ones at 40 days after death.

What do 40 days after death mean?

40 days is an important period that is often found in Bible history. The prophet Moses fasted 40 days before he received the tablets of the Law. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before they came to the promised land.

According to the Orthodox tradition, after death, the soul of a person does not immediately go to heaven or hell. For three days after death, the soul is next to the body and does not immediately leave everything earthly. Only on the third day, the Guardian Angel takes the soul of a person and shows it the heavenly abodes. This time will not last long, only until the ninth day, when the human soul appears before God and under the weight of unrepentant sins, this meeting can be difficult for the deceased. Therefore, prayer support of relatives is so important. Of course, God is merciful, but you cannot represent Heavenly Father the way we represent man. It can be difficult for a soul to face a perfect creator from the realization of its unworthiness. Until day 40, a person looks at what hell is, life without God.

What happens to the soul of the deceased 40 days after death

On the 40th day after death, it is determined where the soul of a person will stay - in heavenly abodes or in hell. We do not know exactly what hell and heaven look like, but we have a promise that in hell a person's soul suffers. This decision remains in force until the Last Judgment. We assume that the soul of a person is especially difficult at these moments, which is why the prayer support of those who remained in earthly life and are worried about the deceased is so important. Man's sins create obstacles for him to meet the Lord joyfully. But the Guardian Angel and the prayers of loved ones help the soul to go through difficult trials, which last from 9 to 40 days after death. This is also important for loved ones. After the death of a dear person, we can no longer do anything for him except prayers. We can express our love to a person who has gone into Eternity only through prayer.

Commemoration for 40 days after death

Until the 40th day after death, the soul goes through trials, ordeals. In these days, a person is forced to answer for the sins he committed during his lifetime, without repenting of them. On the 40th day, the Church tries to help a person at a meeting with the Lord and on the day of determining his future fate. In order to pay tribute to the good deeds accomplished by a person during his lifetime, commemorations are organized where relatives of the deceased can remember the person's good deeds, find words of comfort for each other. In the Orthodox tradition, death is considered grief and an inevitable consequence of the fact that evil has come to this world, therefore grief over the death of a person is natural. The Lord created all of us for eternal life. But we know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to give us eternal life, therefore despair and despondency do not accompany the transition of a Christian from earthly life to Eternity. It is very important that in a difficult moment there should be someone close to the loved ones of the deceased who could find words and consolations and reminders of the Eternal Life that the Lord has given us. For someone to pray for the soul of a person next to the mourners. But swearing and arguments at a person's commemoration, memories of past grievances are completely inappropriate.

Relatives at the commemoration are united by a joint meal. Orthodox commemorations do not involve drinking alcohol. It is customary to dress modestly, in clothes of dark colors. One of the dishes of the memorial meal is kutia - porridge made from whole grains of wheat, barley, rice or other cereals. Nuts, raisins or other sweets are added to kutya. The dish is poured with honey, and served with kutya at the very beginning of the memorial meal. If the commemoration of the deceased took place during the fast, the dishes of the memorial table should be lenten. The meal ends with pancakes or pancakes, if the church charter allows it on a particular day. At the commemoration, as a rule, they drink compote. The memory of the deceased is sometimes honored with a minute of silence.

Is it possible to remember 40 days earlier

For 40 days after death, relatives mourn the deceased and help him hard with prayer. The 3, 9 and 40 days after death are specially marked, because it is on these days, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, that important events take place with the human soul. Especially on the 40th day, when the fate of a person is decided before the Last Judgment. You can prayerfully remember a person on any day, but it is these milestones in parting with a person that are considered important. You can always go to the cemetery, pray for the deceased rite of cell prayer for the laity. The most important thing for a person's soul is prayer, all other worldly traditions are secondary. There are also exceptions:

If 40 days after death falls on the last week before Easter and the first Sunday after Easter week. There are no memorial services on Easter itself. On Christmas and other twelve holidays, it is also not customary to serve a panikhida, but, in agreement with the priest, they read the litiya.

40 days after death - what to do for the relatives of the deceased

40 days after death is an important milestone in parting with the Deceased. On this day, a funeral service is ordered in the Church. A memorial table is being assembled. They read prayers for the deceased in private. Unfortunately, there are many superstitions and worldly traditions that are often attributed to the Church. Questions are often asked: “Is it possible to clean up before 40 days after death? Is it possible to distribute the belongings of the deceased. " The church charter does not prohibit cleaning and there are no special instructions on how to deal with the things of the deceased, because everything related to the material world no longer matters for a person who has passed into Eternal life. The main thing that we can do is to pray and not defile the memory of a person with memories of his bad deeds or past grievances against him.

What prayers to read up to 40 days after death

Rite of lithium (fervent prayer) performed by a layman at home and in the cemetery
Through the prayers of the saints, our Father, Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfill everything. Treasure of the good and life to the Giver, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all defilement, and save, Beloved, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (It is read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow in the waist.)

Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquity; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for your name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Three times.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord have mercy. (12 times.)
Come, let us worship our Tsar God. (Bow.)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ, our King God. (Bow.)
Come, let us worship and fall down on Christ Himself, the Tsar and our God. (Bow.)

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the roof of the Heavenly God. The Lord speaks: Thou art my protector and my refuge. My God, and I trust in Him. Yako Toy will deliver you from the hunter's net, and from the word of rebellion, His splash will overshadow you, and under His krill you hope: His truth will go around you with a weapon. Do not be afraid of the fear of the night, from the arrow flying in days, from the thing in the darkness of the transitory, from the crumbling, and the demon of the midday. Thousands of your country will fall, and tma at your right hand will not come close to you, look at both your eyes, and behold the reward of sinners. As Thou, Lord, my hope, the Most High, Thou hast laid thy refuge. Evil will not come to you, and the wound will not approach your body, as with His Angel the commandment about you, keep you in all your ways. They will take you in their arms, but not when you have stumbled your foot on a stone, step on an asp and a basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I will trust in Me, and I will deliver and: I will cover it, as my name is known. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him: I am with him in sorrow, I will scour him, and I will glorify him, I will fulfill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, God (thrice).
From the spirits of the righteous who have died, the soul of Thy servant, Savior, rest, preserving it in a blissful life, even with You, Human-loving.
In Thy resting place, Lord, where Thy sanctuary rests, rest the soul of Thy servant, as if you were One Humanitarian.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: Thou art God, who descended into hell and having broken the bonds of the bound. Rest yourselves and the soul of Thy servant.
And now and forever and forever and ever. Amen: One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without seed, pray that his soul be saved.

Kontakion, voice 8:
Rest with the saints, Christ, the soul of Thy servant, where there is no illness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.

Ikos:
You yourself alone are the Immortal, who created and created man: we will be created from the earth, and we will go into the earth, as if you commanded, Creating me, and the river mi: as if you were the earth and drive away into the earth, also all human beings will go, a funeral sob: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, we magnify the Mother of God.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy (three times), bless.
Through the prayers of the saints, our Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
In blissful dormition, give me eternal rest. Lord, Thy deceased servant (name) and make him an eternal memory.
Eternal memory (thrice).
His soul will be settled in the good, and his memory will be for generations and generations.

Memorial service for 40 days

There are prayers that laymen can say for the soul of the deceased and prayers that are performed 40 days after death in the temple. The requiem is read on both 3 and 9 days after death. This service begins in the evening and continues throughout the night. This service turns into Matins. For some of the deceased, unfortunately, you can only pray in private. The Church cannot pray for those who, during their lifetime, did not want this prayer, since faith is an act of goodwill. You cannot order a memorial service for a person who has not been baptized, for blasphemers and for people who committed suicide without suffering from mental illness.

Even if the Church for some reason cannot pray for the deceased, loved ones can always pray in home prayer and hope for the mercy of the Lord.

Great funeral service - Rest, Lord, the souls of the departed, Thy servant (Assumption Church, Yekaterinburg)

Death is grief and pain for the loved ones of the deceased. Natural consolation is the desire to help, to facilitate the deceased's transition to other facets of life. According to the Christian religion, the 40th day is considered the most important of all memorial days, because during this period the soul forever says goodbye to the earth and leaves it. Many organize for commemoration. What to say on this day and how to behave?

What is the meaning of the memorial rite

It is important to know that the essence of the memorial rite is to make the transition of the soul of a deceased person to another world painless, to help the soul appear before God, to feel peace and tranquility. And this is achieved through prayers. Everything that will be said about a deceased person on this day: kind words, prayers, good memories and speeches, will help the soul to endure God's judgment. Therefore, it is so important to observe all the traditions associated with this day, and to know

The main thing on this day is to pray. You can do this yourself, or you can invite a priest.

Christian traditions on the 40th day

The rite of remembrance has been known from the very beginning of the birth of Christianity. The purpose of the ceremony is to give the soul of the one who has departed to another world peace and tranquility, to help to cognize the eternal heavenly Kingdom.

For this, the friends of the deceased must also gather at the memorial table. When are post-death commemorations organized, what to say to those present? It is believed that the more people remember the deceased in their prayers, the better the soul of the one for whom they are praying will be. On this day, it is customary to remember moments from the life of the deceased, focusing on his virtues and good deeds.

Life does not stand still, if before the commemoration was held in the house of the deceased, now it can be done in a restaurant or cafe. The traditions of Orthodoxy oblige on this day to accept more people than on day 9, because the soul leaves the earth, and not only relatives, but also everyone who wants to do this should say goodbye to a person.

40 days after death, commemoration: what to say in the cemetery?

A visit to the grave of a deceased person is an obligatory part of the memorial ritual. You need to take flowers and a candle with you. It is customary to carry a pair of flowers at the cemetery, even numbers are a symbol of life and death. Laying flowers is the best way to show respect for the deceased.

Having arrived, you should light a candle and pray for the tranquility of the soul, then you can simply stand, be silent, remembering the good moments from the life of the deceased person.

Noisy conversations and discussions are not arranged at the cemetery; everything should take place in an atmosphere of calm and tranquility.

Commemoration for the fortieth in the church

Church commemoration is the mention of the name of the deceased during the prayer at the Liturgy for the salvation of the soul and the eternal good of the one who is remembered. The ceremony is held after the relatives of the deceased submit a note "On the repose." It is important to know that in this note only the names of those who have been baptized in the Orthodox Church are given.

For the relatives of the deceased, the best kind of donation would be a candle for the deceased. At the time of installing the candle, you need to pray for the peace of the soul, asking the Lord to forgive the free and involuntary sins of the deceased person.

According to the canons of Orthodoxy, commemoration (40 days after death) is not held earlier than the established date. If, nevertheless, by coincidence, it is necessary to carry out the ceremony at an earlier date, then on the next weekend after the fortieth day it is necessary to give alms. On the same day, hold a church commemoration.

Organization of the memorial table

The purpose of the memorial dinner is to remember the deceased person, to pray for the peace of his soul, to provide psychological support to those in need, to thank people for their participation and help. You cannot arrange a dinner with the aim of impressing guests with expensive and refined dishes, boast of an abundance of dishes or feed them to the bone.

The main thing is not food, but unification in grief and support of those who find it difficult. It is important to take into account the main rules of Christianity: restriction in the intake of alcoholic beverages, fasting and the presence of the simplest dishes on the table.

Do not take the funeral service as a feast. Large expenditures in this case are unjustified, it will be much more useful to direct financial investments into the field of charity.

If more than 40 days have passed after death, the commemoration can be arranged later, if only the memorial table is moved. It is necessary to pray for the soul of the deceased on the 40th day.

The main dishes of the memorial table

When setting the table, it is advisable to give preference to lean dishes. At the head of the table should be porridge cooked from whole grains, with the addition of honey, nuts and raisins. The dish personifies the rebirth of the soul, symbolizes the benefits of eternal life.

The composition of the dishes mainly depends on the funeral service. Traditionally cooked: pancakes, pies, porridge, cabbage soup and jelly. Various appetizers are acceptable: salads, vegetable or Among the first courses: borsch, noodles in chicken broth, beetroot. Garnish - buckwheat porridge, pilaf or mashed potatoes. The Church is against alcoholic beverages, in any case, their use should be limited.

If the commemoration coincided with fasting, then the meat should be exchanged for fish. From salads, vinaigrette is perfect. Let mushrooms, vegetables and fruits be on the table. The main thing at the commemoration is to strengthen the strength in order to continue to tirelessly pray for the deceased.

How to prepare a memorial speech

Not a single commemoration is complete without a memorial speech. Sometimes, especially for this occasion, a host is invited to help arrange the order of speeches. If the presenter is absent, a close relative should take over his role.

When a commemoration is arranged for 40 days after death, the words spoken at the table should be distributed according to some order of speakers. First, the speech is made by the closest relatives, then friends and, last of all, acquaintances.

Don't rely too much on improvisation. This is a sad event, and people who are in grief will listen to you. Brevity and accuracy are the main criteria for a memorial speech. Try to find time to work out at home so you can figure out where to keep quiet and what to add.

Usually all the closest ones come to the commemoration (40 days after death). The speech delivered at the table should not consist of the biography of the deceased person, because there will be people who already know all the stages of the deceased very well. It is very good to tell about some fact from life that will serve as proof of the deceased's virtues.

When a commemoration is being prepared for 40 days after death, poems dedicated to the mourning event can be more useful than ever. They will help you tune in to a lyrical and tragic mood, contributing to the creation of an atmosphere of commemoration.

Your speech can be supplemented with a photograph of the deceased or a thing that belonged to him, which will prove to those present what a good person the deceased was. Avoid mentioning the deceased's mistakes, gossip, and secrets. There is no place for such speeches at the memorial table.

Sample speech

Many people think when they organize a commemoration for 40 days after death: “What to say?” ... There is no established version of such a speech. The most important thing is to speak the words from the heart. But still, there are certain rules, using which you can prepare and speak correctly during the memorial ceremony.

You should start by greeting those present, followed by a story about who you are to the deceased. Say a few words about mourning and move on to telling about the good sides of the person being remembered. If possible, remember the good times you shared. It will be very appropriate to involve other people in the memories so that your story will be complemented by good memories. The speech ends with a promise to forever remember the one who is remembered.

Still, you can remember a deceased person whenever you want. The main thing is to observe the basic rules of the memorial rite: prayer, alms and good memories of the deceased.

The Christian Church primordially accepted the commemoration of the departed on the third, ninth, fortieth day and anniversary. She also gave an interpretation of these terms in Christian categories and images.

According to the teachings of the church, for two days the soul is somewhere near her beloved body, near her home, wandering accompanied by angels in her dear earthly places. And on the third day she must worship the Lord. In the next six days - until nine o'clock - the soul is shown paradise abodes. And in the next thirty - different branches of the underworld. After that, the Lord places her in heaven or hell.

For the first two days, the soul of the deceased is still on earth, passing along with the Angel accompanying her through those places that attract her with memories of earthly joys and sorrows, evil and good deeds. The soul that loves the body sometimes wanders around the house in which the body is laid, and thus spends two days like a bird looking for its nest. The virtuous soul walks to the places in which it used to create the truth.

Ninth day. The commemoration of the deceased on this day is in honor of the nine ranks of the angels, who, as servants of the Heavenly King and intercessors to Him for us, intercede for mercy on the departed.

After the third day, the soul, accompanied by an Angel, enters the heavenly abodes and contemplates their unspeakable beauty. She remains in this state for six days. During this time, the soul forgets the grief that it felt while in the body and after leaving it. But if she is guilty of sins, then at the sight of the pleasure of the saints, she begins to grieve and reproach herself: “Alas for me! How much I got bored in this world! I spent most of my life in carelessness and did not serve God as I should, in order to merit this grace and glory. Alas for me, poor! " On the ninth day, the Lord commands the Angels to again present their souls to Him for worship. The soul awaits with fear and trembling before the throne of the Most High. But even at this time, the holy Church again prays for the deceased, asking the merciful Judge to establish the soul of her child with the saints.

Fortieth day. The forty-day period is very significant in the history and tradition of the Church as the time required for preparation, for the acceptance of the special Divine gift of the grace-filled help of the Heavenly Father. Prophet Moses was honored to converse with God on Mount Sinai and receive from Him the tablets of the law only after forty days of fasting. The Israelites reached the Promised Land after a forty year journey. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself ascended into heaven on the fortieth day after His Resurrection. Taking all this as a foundation, the Church established that commemoration should be commemorated on the fortieth day after death, so that the soul of the departed ascended to the holy mountain of Heavenly Sinai, was worthy of the sight of God, attained the blessedness promised to her, and settled in heavenly villages with the righteous.

After the second worship of the Lord, the Angels take the soul to hell, and she contemplates the cruel torments of unrepentant sinners. On the fortieth day, the soul ascends for the third time to worship God, and then its fate is decided - according to earthly affairs, it is assigned a place of stay until the Last Judgment. Therefore, church prayers and commemorations on this day are so timely. They atone for the sins of the deceased and asks his soul to be placed in paradise with the saints.

Anniversary. The church commemorates the dead on the anniversary of their death. The reason for this establishment is obvious. It is known that the largest liturgical cycle is the annual circle, after which all fixed feasts are repeated again. The anniversary of the death of a loved one is always celebrated with at least a heartfelt commemoration of his loving family and friends. For an Orthodox believer, this is a birthday for a new, eternal life.

“The dead hope to receive help through us: for the time of doing has flown away from them; souls cry out every minute ", - stated Blessed Augustine in" The Word on Piety and Remembrance of the Departed. "

We know that with the death of even those closest to us in this earthly life, all the threads and bonds of sensory ties with them break. Death creates a great chasm between the living and the dead. But it only separates them precisely sensually, physically, and not at all spiritually: spiritual connection and communication do not stop and do not interrupt between those who continue to live in this world and those who have migrated to the afterlife. We think about them, even talk to them mentally. We want to help them. But how? The priest will unequivocally answer this question: "By prayer." For forty days, the fate of the soul has not yet been decided.