These days have special meaning for a deceased Christian. Usually, within 40 days, the soul is determined in the other world, goes through ordeals, and only after that determines heaven or hell for itself. This is why the remembrance of the deceased before 40 days is very important, as is the commemoration of the soul of the deceased. Here are some tips on how to correctly pray for the repose of the soul of the newly deceased.
What is important before 40 days for the soul
It is believed that the soul of a deceased person goes through ordeals for up to 40 days. Important days before the due date are days 3, 9 and 40, when the soul goes through ordeals.
The soul lives close to the earth for up to 9 days. At this time, relatives experience a feeling of loss, especially of a loved one, and begin to read prayers about him every day. It is best to say special canons and prayers for repose, the content of which and the order of reading should be discussed with your confessor. There are special canons for the deceased. You can read them using the name of the deceased person or contact his guardian angel. Such canons are in every prayer book that can be purchased at the church. The soul of the deceased still has a very close connection with living people until the 9th day. Therefore, in addition to reading the canon, you need to give alms on behalf of the deceased in order to remember him, bake cakes with honey and say special prayers. By the way, a dead person may appear to many in a dream and ask them to do some action, to fulfill his will. If he asks you to feed him, then you need to give more alms, since the soul may be restless.
It is very good if after them you see the deceased person clean and happy. This means that his soul is calm and pure. Then, after 40 days, you can read long prayers on his birthday and the anniversary of his death.
The meaning of prayer
the soul needs to make the right choice. The better the memory of the deceased person, the conversations about him, the better his posthumous fate can become. However, forgiveness of even the most ardent sinner can be begged through prayers.I couldn’t calmly read the article; I recently lost a loved one. For a couple of weeks I walked like in a dream. I went to church, lit a candle for the repose, prayed, and my soul felt lighter. I try to pray every day and give alms. I would like to believe that the soul has found peace and is not tormented.
Having read here that until 40 days you should not allow yourself to lament or cry, since your soul will hear all this and experience severe torment, I pulled myself together. This is the least I can do for my grandmother now. I pray every day, driving away sad thoughts.
Here we live and don’t know what awaits us tomorrow. Who are we in this world? Is there another world where we will be held accountable for everything we have done? As you get older, thoughts haunt you. After all, we are all guests in this world. Death doesn't scare me, the unknown is much scarier. I am learning to enjoy and enjoy life!
Interesting, never thought about it. I live in a home-work-home mode. Usually, after death, everyone fusses about organizing a wake, then arranging the grave. Going to church, lighting a candle, making a donation, in my opinion, is much more useful and important, although in such situations you don’t know what to do.
Our suffering for the dead bothers them. We seem to be calling them all the time and pulling them back with our emotions, longing, and they feel it. For God we are all alive. Death is not torment or punishment; man has fulfilled his mission on earth and moved to another state and dimension. This is how you have to think.
We will all die someday. Death is inevitable and there are no immortal people. Our prayers will help those who are not with us now, since only the living can pray for the dead. For those who are going through a difficult period right now, do not isolate yourself, turn to God with prayers.
This is a painful topic, how to cope with the death of a loved one? I still can’t get out of the stupor, I’m so depressed in my soul. I understand that I need to somehow pull myself together, go to church, read prayers, light a candle for the repose. It is very difficult to cope with loss. Most likely, only time and prayers heal.
My grandmother died when I was 16 years old. I loved her very much. She was the most important person on Earth to me. I lived alone at that time and for forty days after her death I cried. There wasn't a day when I didn't cry. I fell asleep every night hugging her sweater. There wasn't a day when I didn't dream about her. (((How much torment I caused my beloved grandmother. This was the first loved one I lost. I didn’t know anything, at that time I had never been to church. I don’t know what my suffering led to her soul. And I can’t forgive myself for this. Now, realizing what I have done. 14 years have passed, and this pain of loss is so alive in my heart.. I ask for forgiveness from her and from God.
Prayer for the departed is a tradition of the Orthodox faith. All believers understand the miraculous power of prayers. Such a prayer helps the deceased to be cleansed of sins and find eternal peace in the Kingdom of Heaven. But besides this, such prayer requests in memory of deceased people allow you to enlist the support of the Higher Powers and attract good luck into your own life. By praying in memory of a deceased person, believers save their own souls.
Prayer requests in which we remember the deceased allow us to calm down after the loss of a loved one. They bring peace to the soul and set them up for a future happy life, in which the memory of the departed person will be preserved.
Orthodox prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased
Orthodox prayers offer a number of important prayers for the deceased, which should be read at certain periods. It is believed that one should pray most diligently for a deceased person in the first 40 days after his death. It is during this period that the fate of a person is decided by Higher powers. It is very important to pray with full concentration on thoughts of the deceased.
Prayer for the 9th day for the deceased
It is believed that from the 3rd to the 9th day the deceased is shown all the delights of heavenly life. Therefore, in order to increase the chances of a loved one going to heaven, it is necessary to arrange a wake on the 9th day. On this day you should also visit the temple to light a candle for the repose and, if possible, order a prayer service.
The prayer request on the 9th day after death sounds, when read independently, as follows:
“God of spirits and all flesh, you have trampled death and abolished the devil himself, and given life to the whole world! I ask, Merciful Lord, rest in peace the soul of Your departed servant, as well as all the patriarchs and metropolitans, your Eminences and Holinesses, the ministers of the church in any active rank, who sincerely served you, those creators of this temple, all Orthodox people resting here and in other places, as well as all the soldiers and their leaders who served their fatherland with honor and truth, who laid down their lives for their faith, who were killed in various internecine battles, all those who drowned and burned, who froze in the terrible cold, who were torn to pieces by fierce beasts, those who died suddenly, who did not have time to repent of their sins and to reconcile with the Church, those who committed suicide in a frenzy of soul and were deprived of the opportunity to be buried according to Orthodox traditions. Rest all souls and save them, forgive all known and unknown sins, committed by word or thought, since you are the only God who loves mankind. The truth on earth is only yours and only you can truly give everyone what they deserve. Rest your souls and grant them resurrection into the Kingdom of Heaven, I send up glory to you without beginning, and I signify myself with the cross. From now on and forever. Amen".
It is generally accepted that the fate of the deceased in the afterlife is determined on the 40th day. The entire period before this period should be prayed for the person who has passed away, and on the 40th day you should visit the temple, read a special prayer and arrange a memorial service. If possible, you should order a prayer service during the service. The priest in prayer will mention the name you wrote, and God will definitely hear his words.
At home, prayer for 40 days will allow a person suffering from a terrible loss to calm down. After it comes the understanding that the soul of a loved one has found refuge and you just need to continue living. You should retire to a separate room, light church candles and watch in silence for a while as they cry with wax.
After the soul is filled with peace, you should read the following prayer:
“Lord our savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I ask you to satisfy your spiritual grief for my loved one, the deceased servant of God (name of the person). Give me the strength to cope with this difficult loss and continue to live without grief in my soul. Today is the fortieth day, so accept the soul of the deceased and accept him into the Kingdom of Heaven, forgive all his sins and deliver him from eternal torment. Amen".
Prayer for the deceased after 40 days
Believers also pray for the departed for 40 days. This needs to be done on certain days, but you should also pray at moments when there is a spiritual need for it.
The words of the prayer are:
“Remember, O Lord, Ruler of the world, Giver of blessings and Great Lover of Mankind, of Your departed servant (name of the deceased), forgive his sins, forgive his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him from eternal torment, do not allow him to experience torment in hellish fire, grant him the enjoyment of eternal blessings which You have prepared for those who love You. For the one who sinned did not depart from You, glorified Your name in the Trinity and believed in the Trinity, strong in its Unity, until his last breath. But You are the One God who bestows His bounties on people, I send glory to You and fill my soul with sincere faith. Amen".
Text of the prayer “Lord rest the soul of your departed servant”
The text of the prayer translated into understandable Russian may sound like this:
“Lord God, who trampled death and conquered the devil, who gave life to all mankind. I ask for rest for the soul of your deceased servant (proper name). And if he has sinned in life, then forgive him his voluntary and involuntary sins. You, as a great philanthropist, forgive him and have mercy. Grant his soul to find peace in the Kingdom of Heaven, deliver him from retribution for his sins and from eternal torment in fiery hell. Remember him, Lord, as well as all the most holy ministers of the church, who served You with faith during their lives, the soldiers who defended their homeland from their adversaries, those who on occasion laid down their heads in internecine warfare. Every sin of Your deceased servant (name of the person) was committed through foolishness, and during his lifetime he repented of his misdeeds and deeds. I send up my prayer to You and believe in Your mercy. Amen".
Short prayer
“Remember, Lord, the deceased, the Servant of God (the person’s name), forgive all his sins and give him hope for resurrection. Help his soul, Lord, to find peace in the Kingdom of God and deliver him from eternal torment. Amen".
Children should definitely pray for their deceased parents. The church provides special days for this, but in addition to this, prayer can be offered at other times, when memories of loved ones come flooding back. This will remove melancholy from the soul, and memories after prayer will be filled with tender sadness.
Prayer for a deceased father
The prayer for the deceased father sounds like this:
“Lord Almighty, Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race! You are the guardian of truth, the refuge of grieving people and the comforter of those who cry. I, the Servant of God (my own name), come running to You, groaning and crying, and turning to You with a sincere prayer. Hear me and turn your gaze to me. Assuage, merciful Lord, Lover of Mankind, my spiritual sorrow associated with eternal separation from my father. Grant me faith that You accepted him into the Kingdom of Heaven and delivered him from eternal torment for his earthly sins. I bow before Your holy will and accept everything sent down by You. I ask only for Your mercy. Only You can punish for sins up to the fourth generation, but You also mercifully forgive sins committed through human folly. So forgive, Lord, not to punish my deceased parent for his earthly sins, forgive him all his voluntary and involuntary sins, have mercy on him and deliver him from fiery hell. Merciful and Just Lord, hear my warm prayer for my deceased parent. Give him your fair reward for raising me in Christian piety. All my life I will pray to you in reverence, thank you for my life filled with faith, and also seek refuge near you in sorrow and illness. Amen".
Prayer for the deceased mother (mother)
The prayer for the deceased mother is as follows:
“Lord Almighty, Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race! I, the Servant of God (my own name), turn to you with a prayer and ask you to quench my spiritual grief for the closest and dearest person - my deceased mother. I truly believe that you will accept her soul into your Kingdom of Heaven. I will accept any of Your will and Your decisions, just do not refuse Your mercy. Do not punish my deceased mother, Your servant (mother’s name) for the sins she committed during her earthly life and do not transfer the payment for them to future generations. Forgive all her voluntary and involuntary sins and do not punish her with eternal torment in fiery Gehenna. Grant me, All-Merciful Lord, until my last breath to thank You in prayer for Your deeds. I ask You to grant me peace of mind and leave the memory of my mother in my soul, and remove mental suffering and sadness. Reward, Lord, your blessings to my deceased mother for her labors in raising me in sincere faith and Christian piety. Grant peace to her soul and bestow the joys of Thy eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Amen".
You should definitely pray for other deceased relatives. Such prayers are a tribute to loved ones and hope for obtaining your own peace of mind.
Widow's prayer for her deceased husband
A woman’s prayer for her deceased husband is as follows:
“Our Savior Jesus Christ, Lord and Almighty of Heaven! You are a consolation for the suffering, and an intercession for the weeping widows. I, the servant of God (my own name), in moments of sorrow, come running to You and pray for support. Turn your gaze upon me, O All-Merciful Lord, and hear my prayer, filled with pain and suffering. You, Lord Almighty, did not leave me alone in life and gave me the servant of God (the name of the deceased spouse) as a companion. By your good will, you took it away from me and now you have prepared for me to experience the loneliness of earthly life. I accept Your will and ask you to quench your mental suffering and sadness for my deceased husband (husband’s name). I bow before Your image, I ask you to accept my request and not refuse it. Remember, Lord, the soul of my deceased husband (name of spouse), forgive all sins, voluntary and involuntary, committed by him in earthly life. Do not let him pay for them with eternal torment and experience fiery Gehenna. I will pray for the forgiveness of all his sins, committed through foolishness, all my life, so that you do not punish our children and our grandchildren for them. Let his soul move into Your Kingdom and experience the joys there. For there is not a person on earth who has not sinned at least once. You alone, sinless Lord, only you have been granted the power to have mercy and save human souls. Amen".
Prayers for deceased children
When parents lose a child prematurely, there is an emptiness in their souls. Healing emotional wounds is not easy, but sincere prayer for deceased children will help you continue to live.
It sounds like this:
“Savior of the human race, Son of God, Jesus Christ, in endless spiritual sorrow, I come running to you, servant of God (proper name), and pray with tears for support. By Your will a child was given to me, but by Your will You took him away from me. Your will and your power, I accept it and ask you to heal your spiritual wounds. May your name be blessed, O Lord, may no one doubt your mercy and truth, may no one lose faith in his soul. I pray to you, the All-Just Heavenly Lord, for the forgiveness of all the sins of my child committed in his short earthly life. Forgive my sins, voluntary and involuntary, so that my deceased child (name of the child) does not suffer punishment and eternal torment for them. With endless love for You, Lord, I come running and pray for the salvation of the soul of my deceased child, I ask you to bestow your blessings and mercies on her and take her to the Kingdom of Heaven. I will honor your commandments until the last days of my life, and glorify you in my sincere prayers. Do not despise my prayer. Amen".
When older people pass away, it is considered natural. But even in this case, there is always heartache. Adult grandchildren who follow their grandmother, who gave them all of herself, suffer especially often. Therefore, in order to find peace of mind, you need to pray for the deceased.
The prayer for the deceased grandmother is as follows:
“Remember, Lord, Your servant (name) who passed away. You are a true lover of humanity, so I beg you to forgive the voluntary and involuntary sins of my beloved grandmother. She lived a righteous life, raised me in the true Christian faith and fear of God. Let this be counted towards her and help her avoid God’s punishment for sins committed through foolishness in earthly life. Do not let her experience torment in fiery hell, give her the opportunity to repent and receive communion, so that she can experience peace and joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. You are the One God, and only You can show mercy to sinful people, for you know that only You are sinless. I will pray to you for your mercy and glorify all your good deeds until the end of my days. Amen".
Prayer to Archangel Michael for the unbaptized departed
It is also possible for unbaptized deceased. Sincere prayers will definitely be heard by the Higher powers. Prayer will help quench spiritual grief and give hope that the soul of the deceased, who is not an Orthodox believer, will still find peace.
A very powerful prayer in such cases is the prayer addressed to the Archangel Michael, which is said on September 19 and November 21. It is believed that praying for the dead at midnight on these dates has miraculous power. It was during this period that Archangel Michael descends into hell and lowers his wing into fiery Gehenna to extinguish it. Therefore, you need to pray for the unbaptized deceased, be sure to name their names, so that the saint will lead them out of hell.
The prayer text reads as follows:
“Lord the Great Heavenly King, All-Merciful and All-Merciful! I ask You to send me, the Servant of God (my own name), to help Your Archangel Michael. Ask him to protect me from all enemies, visible and invisible. I turn to you, Great Archangel Michael of the Lord, Prince and commander of all the heavenly forces of God, the Seraphim and Cherubim. I ask you to become my assistant and provide support in sorrows, sorrows, in deserts and river spaces. Protect me, Great Archangel Michael, from devilish temptations, defeat all my enemies and enemies with the power of the Honest and Life-giving Cross of the Lord and the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos. I ask you, Holy Archangel Michael, to bring the deceased (the name of the unbaptized deceased) out of the lake of fire and bring him, under the cover of your wing, to the Throne of God for repentance. Pray to the Lord God, the All-Merciful Lover of Mankind, to forgive the sins of the servant of God (name of the deceased) and to grant peace to his soul. Amen".
In the Orthodox faith, dead people are called deceased, since faith in eternal life is always present in the souls of true believers. As a rule, during a funeral, prayers are read by a priest. But subsequently, prayers must also be read at the grave of the deceased.
After the grave has been removed, you should light a candle and read the following prayer:
“Remember, O Lord, all-merciful and all-merciful. Your deceased servant (name of the deceased), a person close to me. Show, Lord, your love for mankind and forgive him all his earthly sins, voluntary and involuntary, for he committed them out of his own foolishness and sincerely repented of them. Only You are truth and truth, only You have been granted the power to forgive sins and give peace to the soul. Show your mercies and blessings, deliver the deceased, the servant of God (name of the deceased) from punishment and torment in fiery Gehenna. A person cannot live his life without sinning, for You alone are sinless. I pray to you and send glory to your deeds. Amen".
What prayers are ordered in the church for the deceased?
When a loved one dies, it is a terrible loss, but despite this, you should know how to behave in such a situation. It is important to order a memorial service for the deceased after the funeral.
To do this you need:
- Visit the temple.
- Place a candle in the appropriate place for the repose of the soul of the deceased.
- Place funeral products on the funeral table.
- Write a note with the name of the deceased for the priest.
- Tell the minister about your desire to order a memorial service.
The memorial service must be ordered on the 9th and 40th day. These dates are significant for determining where the soul of the deceased will end up, and prayers in this case play an important role. Texts of prayers for memorial services are not ordered. As a rule, the priest reads all the initial prayers first, then the prayer continues with the reading of the 90th Psalm. After this, special texts are read for the repose of the soul of the deceased; they must mention the name of the deceased person. It is permissible to order a memorial service at the cemetery.
Prayer for a deceased loved one is an important action that the living must perform. One day our parents will no longer be alive, no matter how sad it may sound. This event will be the saddest event in my entire life, the most bitter loss and acute sadness in my hearts. Parents are the most sacred thing in the world. In order for loved ones to feel good in Heaven, and for us to feel calmer on earth, we need a prayer for deceased parents, which everyone should know.
Special days for reading prayers for the repose of the soul of a deceased parent
Exactly 8 times a year the day comes when everyone should forget about their problems, worldly worries and devote all their time to prayer to their parents. What are these days on which it is important to pray?
- parents' Saturday;
- all Saturdays of the second, third and fourth weeks of Great Lent;
- Radonitsa;
- Trinity Saturday;
- Dmitrievskaya Saturday;
- Day of the Dead Warriors, i.e. 9th May.
It is on these days that it is very good if every child visits the temple and begins to read a prayer for their deceased parents. You can bring food with you, which must be laid out on the funeral table. Usually these are candies, cookies or fruits.
There is no need to think that children’s prayer for deceased parents is a tribute, a day when everyone remembers their loved ones. First of all, it is communication with the dead. They hear everything and will protect every loved one living on earth in every way. You can not only come to church, but also visit the cemetery to read the Psalter so that life in Heaven becomes the happiest, most joyful and eternal for your beloved parents.
Text of prayer for deceased parents
« Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping. I come running to You, orphaned, groaning, and... crying, and I pray to You: hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes.
I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from the one who gave birth and raised me, my parent (name); accept his soul, as if it had gone to You with true faith in You and firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, into Your Heavenly Kingdom.
I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away Your mercy and mercy from him. We know, Lord, that You, the Judge of this world, punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment your deceased servant, unforgettable for me, my parent (name), but forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him in his life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him and deliver him from eternal torment.
You, merciful Father of fathers and children! grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , from here all illness, sorrow and sighing have escaped. Merciful Lord!
accept this day for Thy servant (name), my warm prayer and give him Thy reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He who taught me first of all to lead You, My Lord, in reverence to pray to You, in You alone to trust in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments;
for his concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of the prayer he brought for me before You and for all the gifts he asked me from You, reward him with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal kingdom.
For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen".
About remembering the dead at home
Within the walls of your home there should always be a memory of your parents; do not be afraid to remember them in your room, standing in front of the icons. Home prayer is a real salvation for loved ones of the deceased. You can ask Father in more detail about how exactly the text should be read, because it must be included in the morning address to a relative or in the evening. Those who have passed on to another world feel much freer as soon as we begin to read the sacred text for them. All prayers are as short as possible, so you can easily learn them by heart yourself.
Prayer for deceased parents up to 40 days
It is very important to remember a deceased soul as quickly as possible, especially if a relative has died recently. For this, many people order magpie in church. This is a special liturgical rite that lasts from the day of death of a loved one to 40 days. Sorokoust can be ordered again as soon as the first reporting days are over. Such periods of remembrance can only be ordered in the church for a year or six months. Also, sacrifice takes place here - these are the most ordinary candles that we are used to lighting and placing on lamps with prayer. True, everything is not arranged like that here: for the departed there is not a bright lamp, but sand, into which everyone puts a lit light from a pure heart.
Anniversary prayer for a deceased parent
For the Lord God, the world is not divided into the living and the dead. There are only those who live on earth and those who are in Heaven. If a lot of time has passed since the death of a loved one, and the anniversary of death is coming very soon, then you can give to the deceased in the following way:
- invite everyone who was closely acquainted with the deceased;
- organize a wake at home or in a cafe;
- be sure to go to the cemetery early on the day of the funeral and read a prayer there, placing beautiful fresh flowers on the grave;
- gather everyone for a funeral dinner;
- go to church, light a candle for the repose, and on the way out help all the poor with money (if you have extra).
It is impossible to do without prayer, which frees the soul from torment and gives strength to every deceased person. You can’t even imagine how good it is in Heaven, especially if prayers are read for the deceased. After all, this is real peace for the soul. And here is the prayer itself, which is important to read on the anniversary of the death of a loved one:
“God, merciful Lord, remembering the anniversary of the death of Thy servant N (Thy servant N), we ask You to honor him (her) with a place in Thy Kingdom, grant blessed peace and bring him into the radiance of Thy glory.
Lord, look mercifully on our prayers for the soul of Your servant N (Your servant N), whose anniversary of death we remember; We ask You to number him (her) among the host of Your saints, grant forgiveness of sins and eternal peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
A few rules for what to order for a death anniversary
- If the date of death falls in the first week after the celebration of Great Easter, then a special Easter canon is sung at this time, and for the second week it is necessary to order mass, proskomedia and requiem.
- Be sure to take the prosphora and eat it after the church service at home on an empty stomach. This is a kind of memory of the deceased.
- Always pray and read a prayer - this is the most valuable thing for those who are in Heaven.
Remember about your parents, spend as much time as possible with them, otherwise someday the very moment will come when they will not be in this world. Pray for their health. And as soon as the people closest to you are no longer alive, be sure to read the sacred texts for their repose. This is the best thing that can be done for souls.
Children's prayer for deceased parents for the repose of the soul was last modified: July 8th, 2017 by Bogolub
Remember, O Lord our God, in faith and hope the life of your eternal newly departed servant, our brother ( Name), and as the Good One and the Lover of Mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forgive and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Thy eternal good things, prepared for those who love Thee: otherwise and sin, but do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, God glorify You in the Trinity, faith, and the Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until your last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and the faith that is in You, instead of deeds, and rest with Your saints, as you are Generous: for there is no man who will live and not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin, and Your truth is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercy and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The death of loved ones is a great loss and sorrow. And at the same time, believers do not completely despair, having hope of meeting them. Where such confidence? Why does the church pray not only for the living, but also for the dead? The main thing is what can a person do for his beloved relative? After all, the worst has already happened; the deceased cannot be brought back. Is it so?
Important: The Orthodox Church prays for the baptized (notes, services, services, Sacraments). If the deceased is not baptized (he is a non-Russian, a suicide), his loved ones pray for him, wherever it is convenient for them, independently (at home, in church, silently). If it is unknown, they discuss the conditions with the priest on the spot.
The worst is yet to come
Yes, death is a terrible event, but it is not the most terrible thing, for this is a temporary state, like our stay on earth. The eternal destiny of man is the most important factor for all people. The final determination will be made at the Last Judgment, after the Second Coming of Christ to earth. Before this, there is a little time to correct what was not done during life.
Why does the church pray for the dead?
If the dead could take care of themselves, they would not need our prayers. While we are alive, we are able to change, be transformed, accumulate the Holy Spirit, which sanctifies, freeing us from passions. Having buried the body, consigning it to ashes, an immortal component remains from a person:
- soul – inherent in all living beings, including animals;
- spirit (personality, self-awareness, “I”) - only people possess it.
There is no full-fledged person after death, since the body lies in the ground. Without it, the soul (together with its “I”) has no will. What they filled her with is what she will remain with, moving into the threshold of eternal life. If the deceased had passions, then they all remained with him. The horror is that the craving for the familiar increases 1000 times in comparison with earthly desires.
The soul does not sleep, does not eat, is not distracted, its entire essence thirsts for the satisfaction of passions in order to be satisfied with the previous “goods”. Just as a drug addict suffers without doping, so the soul that loved to eat deliciously, drink, smoke, revel in wealth, fame, etc., cannot calm down, because there is nowhere to get the “dose.”
Thanks to the prayers of the church, the dead receive relief, some consolation and help - Light that burns the irrepressible passions of the soul. Relatives can be very helpful. It is necessary not only to order services, but also to pray yourself. Who will do it better? Those who have a family connection, one Spirit with the deceased. For example, children who love their parents and are ready to do everything possible for them.
One Spirit
It is said: Save yourself, and thousands around you will be saved. Having one Spirit with relatives, the owner of a soul sanctified by God will help the dead most. The prayer of a loving heart works miracles. She saves those who cannot do it themselves. By what force? By the grace of the Holy Spirit (by the grace of the Lord), the soul is rescued from hell. To do this you need:
- Pray for the departed at the Liturgy.
- Order a memorial service on significant dates.
- Read the psalter.
- Order sorokoust.
- Remember it daily in morning prayers.
- Read the canon for the one who died and
- Litiya for the laity.
Thanks to the prayers of the church and relatives, the soul not only receives relief, but gradually weakens earthly attachments. Freed from the shackles of passions. Illuminated by the prayers of loving people. Receives hope of salvation in eternal life.
Note: A memorial service can be ordered on any weekday. During Lent, a short litany is served for the deceased. Three services (3; 9 and 40) must be performed.
Why is the prayer of children (relatives) for the departed important?
God created man immortal. If it were not for the fall of the first people, the bony old woman with a scythe would have been left without a job. Those who were baptized received the Spirit of Christ (eternal) as a gift, but did not maintain holiness and fell without having time to be cleansed before death. That is why sinful souls suffer, awaiting the Last Judgment. The living can help by illuminating themselves and begging their parents.
When we are resurrected, the body laid in the ground will unite with the eternal soul and be renewed. What a new person will become depends on the connection with God. It is necessary to become like the Lord, so that His resurrected Power will also transform our bodies. Having accumulated Grace within themselves, relatives illuminate the dead. Their prayer can bring long-awaited peace and joy of bliss to loved ones.
Note: In Orthodoxy they read the canon “For the One Who Died.” An Akathist circulating on the Internet is the homemade work of unknown people. There is no blessing for reading it.
How the church can help
The first three days. The most important moments for the deceased are contained in the posthumous 40 days. The first three - the soul parts with earthly joys: with its favorite places, family and friends. She faces a long separation. So that the sadness is not very strong and mournful, in the church every day it is remembered at the proskomedia and prayed at the Liturgy. Therefore you need to:
- Order the magpie in the church where the Liturgy is served every day. Find out this right away, since this practice does not exist everywhere. You can order a memorial in several churches.
- It is advisable to attend services and pray for the deceased when the pieces are removed.
- At the litany on Parental Saturday, both the living and the dead are remembered. Only the names of deceased people are read out loud.
- To make your prayers more effective and have greater power: confess and take Communion. Communication with the deceased will have less interference.
- At home, read the psalter all 40 days, more if possible. The number of kathismas per day is not limited. Finished the circle, start again.
- For each significant day (3; 9; 40), order a Requiem Service (served after the Liturgy), submit a Registered Note to the altar.
- Give alms to those in need. Good deeds are done for the sake of relatives. You can take some kind of vow (at least for the first 40 days). It must be fulfilled.
Children, when you offer prayers, perhaps at this moment the soul of your loved ones is nearby. Thanks to the Blood of Christ, in which a particle is washed for the deceased, attachment weakens, preparing the soul for the heavenly abodes. Finally, she goes on a “journey.”
- Six days There will be an “excursion” to the heavenly places. At this time, the church and relatives pray intensely so that the weak-willed soul will be favored by what it sees. She leaned towards her near and dear ones. Attachment to virtues at this moment will affect your future destiny. Happy are those who discover a congenial place within themselves.
- From 9 days to 40 A review of the Underworld is coming. May the Lord have mercy on your soul at this moment. So that she can hold on, having discovered a place where, due to human passions, she will be drawn to sin that is related to herself. For example, a smoker cannot resist cigarette smoke, an alcoholic cannot resist rivers of wine, a fornicator... etc. This is why we need to pray. So that the weak-willed Spirit “I” does not exchange the good abodes of Paradise for its passions.
Note: Do not take this description as 100% truth. The angel talking with Saint Macarius, explaining the heavenly world, warned: look at everything as if through a dark glass, fortune-telling. For it is impossible to give a more precise explanation - there is nothing to compare with on earth.
Where are souls after death?
From days 9 to 40 the soul goes through ordeals. It is impossible to say exactly how this happens. According to the available information and assumptions of the saints who contemplated that world, they are not able to explain knowledge, for not everything lends itself to understanding accessible to everyone. There are two versions:
- The soul is tested by the temptations of the passions, as described above. She rushes to what is close to her spirit (according to the assumption of St. Theophan the Recluse)
- There are 20 ordeals (according to the descriptions of Blessed Theodora). At each of them they are met by demons who have charters with records of a person’s unrepentant sins. According to them, they lay claim to the poor soul.
No matter which option is correct (it is possible that both), there is nothing soothing for the sinner. This is torment that we cannot even imagine, it is so terrible. Before the Last Judgment, a private ruling is made. Souls are on the threshold of Heaven or Hell.
After the resurrection, those who have illuminated bodies (like Christ’s) will find heavenly abodes. Others will go to eternal torment in hell, where, in addition to their passions, they will be subjected to the bullying of demons. That is why, while there is time, save your loved ones and relatives, sanctify yourself, pray for them. Then both you and your family will be saved.
Conclusion: The church brings prayers for deceased parents (any relatives) - renewing the seed of Christ given at baptism. The prayers of children will help Him grow - this is fertile soil. She suppresses the weeds of passion, cultivating what the Lord has sown.
Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased for 9 days
God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, your eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly, ecclesiastical and monastic ranks; the creators of this holy temple, the Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for the faith and fatherland, the faithful, who were killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen to death, torn to pieces by beasts, who suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in a frenzy of mind, those who committed suicide, those for whom we were commanded and asked to pray, for whom there is no one to pray and the faithful, deprived of a Christian burial ( Name) in a brighter place, in a greener place, in a calm place, from where illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Lover of mankind, God forgives, as if there is no man who will live and not sin. For You are the only one besides sin, Your righteousness is truth forever, and Your word is truth.
Prayer to the Lord for the newly departed deceased
Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Thy newly departed servant (or Thy handmaid), (name), and as he is good and a lover of mankind,
forgive sins and consume untruths, weaken, forgive and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, raising him up at Your holy second coming to partake of Your eternal blessings,
For their sake we have faith in You, the One, the true God and Lover of Mankind.
For Thou art the resurrection and life and rest of Thy servant, (name), Christ our God.
And we send glory to You, with Your beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.
Prayer for the deceased before burial
Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your departed servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins,
and consume untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and pleasure of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You:
Even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, God glorify You in the Trinity, faith, and the Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until your last breath of confession.
In the same way, be merciful to him, and faith, even in You instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as you generously rest:
There is no man who will live and not sin.
But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.