In Orthodoxy, there is a lot of patristic literature devoted to what awaits people after death. Also, entire works have been written on how to pray for the dead. This is not done just like that, but in accordance with the entire teaching of the Church. Each ritual, each prayer has its own meaning.
Life after death
In fact, the entire Christian earthly life should serve as preparation for the moment of transition to eternal life. Why is this so important? Because on the other side a person can no longer express his repentance, cannot do good to his neighbor. And he can serve the Lord only through prayers. And how much grace can be received. After all, feelings are sharpened many times over, that is, the torment of conscience, barely audible here, will be deafening there.
There are several famous books that describe in detail the journey of the soul in the afterlife. Prayer for the departed is very important - it protects against the attacks of unclean spirits, which in the Orthodox tradition are called ordeals. It is believed that earnest petitions, fasting and good deeds can mitigate the sentence. Until 40 days, a person is considered newly deceased, and he needs especially strong support.
Types of remembrance of the dead
Prayer can be both church and personal. Since Christians constitute one body of Christ, after death the Church continues to care for them.
But it is still better to call the priest, because a person needs to remove sins from his soul, to partake of the holy mysteries of Christ - this is the best death for a believer, which the righteous are awarded. Petitions for such a departure are heard at every Liturgy.
- The Psalter is essentially a collection of religious hymns compiled by King David. Since there are many psalms, the Orthodox Church divided the book into parts called kathismas, there are only 20 of them. From the moment of death, these chapters are read for the soul of the deceased. Between them there are special prayers in which mercy is asked from God for the soul of the deceased; one can remember not only the newly deceased, but also all the deceased.
- Psalm 90 plays a special role - it is filled with a repentant mood, the author’s thoughts are directed towards God. The first verses describe how the soul is attacked by dark forces on its way to heaven. Here the strength of faith that the soul must show is tested. The psalmist believed that the Lord would deliver his children from any danger. It is this prayer, among others, that is traditionally read during the funeral service.
Now let's look at how the Church remembers its children. Notes about deceased parents and husband should be regularly submitted to the proskomedia and memorial service. It’s better not to leave, but to pray with everyone. Who else will support the dead if not children. After all, someday they will also need such support.
Burial traditions
The body of the deceased should also be taken care of. The custom of washing, putting on new clothes, and closing one’s eyes is known from very ancient literary sources. Washing symbolizes that people will appear clean before God, without sins and vices. New clothes are a sign of the incorruptible nature that is bestowed after the resurrection. Yes, and you need to prepare properly for a meeting with God.
It is customary in Orthodoxy to place a crown on which prayers are written on the head of the deceased. All Christians read them daily. The crown indicates that the deceased fought with dignity for Christian values. It also symbolizes the hope of receiving a worthy reward.
What prayers to read
There are many prayers for the deceased - all of them are addressed to the Lord. At home, you need to remember your loved ones every day. The texts of prayers should be taken only from reliable sites, and avoid various occult forums. Nowadays there are many non-canonical texts circulating around. If in doubt, take the Psalter. No one knows how incorrectly composed prayers will respond to your parents.
You can regularly order the magpie; any monastery accepts notes for reading the Psalter - for a long period of time. At home, you need to do this to the best of your ability; if you cannot cope with all the kathisma in a day, then even the weakest can read 2-3 psalms.
When my husband died
A special prayer has been compiled for widows; there are no restrictions on reading. It is important to do this slowly, stand in front of the image, and sincerely forgive everything that the deceased did to you that was bad. Your resentment is of no use - it will not bring the person back, it will only harm your own soul. A widow's prayer should not be filled with despair. After all, according to the prophet Daniel, instead of the departed husband, the Lord Himself now takes care of the woman.
The teachings of the elders say that one should not indulge in grief without looking back. We must give others the opportunity to help themselves, to console themselves. All the love that a woman had for her husband should be directed towards her children. There is no need to be afraid of the future; it is better to devote more time to communicating with God. Honest widowhood is a worthy feat. You can get married a second time, but only according to Christian traditions. Prodigal cohabitation is not approved in any case.
What prayer to read
What prayer to read for the deceased at home is chosen by the person himself. If you have the desire and strength, it is better to devote time and slowly read the 17th kathisma about repose. The mental attitude must be calm, you must trust God, hope for His mercy. It’s good to attend services more often; you can read the Panikhida yourself at the grave in a secular manner. Do not insult the memory of the departed by drunkenness! Better feed the poor. Every deceased person will be grateful for any prayer, even a short one - that’s what they expect from us.
Widow's prayer for her husband
Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are the consolation of the weeping, the intercession of the orphans and widows. You said: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow, I run to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Master of all, have blessed me to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was your good and wise will to take away this servant of yours from me and leave me alone. Bow down before this Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend. Even if you took it away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites for a widow, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not deliver him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, weaken and forgive all his sins and commit them with Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and to place him in the heavenly abodes that You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even until your last breath of confession; with the same faith, even in You, instead of works, impute to him: for there is no man who will live and will not sin, You are One besides sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever. I believe, Lord, and I confess that You have heard my prayer and have not turned Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; thus, having compassion, calmed down my sorrow. For Thou didst open to Thy servant Theophilus, who went to Thee, the doors of Thy mercy and forgave him his sins through the prayers of Thy holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to Thee, accept my prayer for Thy servant, and bring him in to eternal life. For You are our hope, You are God, to have mercy and to save, and to You we send glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!
Children's prayer for 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, an orphan, come running to You, 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 my parent (matter) (name), and his soul (her), as if she has gone to You with true faith in You and firm hope in Yours accept philanthropy 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 from him (her or them) Your mercy and mercy. 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 Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the deceased, unforgettable for me, Your servant (s), my parent (mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his (her) sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him (her) in his (her) 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 saints, have mercy on him (you) 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 (mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him (s) in a place of light, in a place cool and in a calm place, with all the saints, from where all illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as having taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, pray to You in reverence, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your Commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual progress, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) 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 ages of ages. Amen.
The death of loved ones is a real tragedy that every person is forced to go through at some point in life. No words about the immortality of the soul and the end of earthly torment can console a grieving person in his loss. But tears cannot help grief, but words can heal. Prayers for the repose of the dead will bring benefit to the soul moving to a new level of existence, and to the person experiencing loss - it’s so nice to know that you are doing something good for your dear heart.
In this article
Church about death
The Christian Church adheres to a common opinion on issues of death, which is presented in the form of 3 postulates.
- The destinies of God are incomprehensible - death can take any form and comes regardless of a person’s merits at any time known only to God. You should not blame the universe for the injustice of your loss - this is a direct insult to God. A church building collapsed on St. Athanasius of Athos, but he did not grumble and found himself near his Lord.
Saints who were martyred
- Human life is the will of God, God’s providence, although not always understandable, controls people and sets everything up in their favor. The Monk Leo wrote that everyone who has been baptized must believe that life on earth is not the end of existence, but the beginning of True joy.
The Church says that under no circumstances should one grieve excessively for the dead - this is displeasing to God and contrary to his plans and orders.
- The memory of death will teach you to understand yourself - thinking about death is normal and necessary, this helps you analyze your earthly path and act in accordance with the word of God. Elder Macarius wrote about life as a small drop before eternity, opening up.
All the subtleties of church teaching on death are covered in the program “The Hour of Orthodoxy”; priest Dionisy Beloglazov answers key questions:
The church clearly speaks positively about funeral prayers: this action brings reassurance to the relatives of the newly deceased.
Where did this tradition come from and why is it needed?
The tradition of praying for the dead dates back to ancient times - even pagans recognized the need to support the soul with special words after its transition to the other side of life. In the light of different cultures, this custom is refracted from different angles, but its essence remains the same: after a diagnosed death, perform a special ritual to alleviate the fate of the soul of the deceased.
Sins do not allow one to soar to the kingdom of eternal bliss - they weigh down the soul and pull it down. Sincerely spoken words of prayers for peace remove part of the burden.
After death, it is undesirable to cry for a person: the grief of relatives will be burdened by extraterrestrial existence. Hysteria and tears carry a charge of destructive energy and can lead to irreversible consequences.
If they grieve excessively for the deceased, there is a possibility that his soul will not find the desired peace. Having been subjected to tearful lamentations about a painful loss on the part of loved ones, the soul begins to rush about and does not get to the place assigned to it by the Higher Powers, getting stuck somewhere halfway.
When to read
Prayer is a powerful weapon for people on earth who want to help deceased relatives or simply close souls. It is considered an important part of the memorial service and ignoring this ritual will have negative consequences. God, seeing the lack of support from the outside, will not show much mercy to the etheric body of an untimely departed person.
You can pray right away - the words offered to God in the temple will certainly be heard. You need to come to perform the ceremony 5-10 minutes before the start of the service, be sure to leave a note near the altar (any words, but from the heart) and take communion.
The ideal time to attend a service is considered to be the time of proskomedia - a sacrament involving the acceptance of the prosphora - the body of Christ. If you get there, in the name of the deceased, they will take part of the liturgical bread and place it in the Chalice of the Sacred Gifts. This ritual carries with it purification from sins.
On certain days of the year, the church honors all the dead (with the exception of suicides):
- 8 days before Lent - on Meat Saturday.
- Parental Saturdays – 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Lent.
- Saturday before the day of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Radonitsa - second week after Easter, on Tuesday.
- November 8 is the day of Dmitry Solunsky.
- May 9 is the day of remembrance of deceased soldiers.
Prayer for the newly deceased
Immediately after death, the Sequence for the separation of the soul from the body is read over the person, and then the psalter. Before the burial, you can also order memorial services in the temple. It is very important to pray for the newly deceased in the first 40 days, since it is at this time that the fate of the soul is decided. Prayers support us on the path to the Last Judgment.
There is a known case when a monk was buried in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery without absolution. All the residents saw his face blackened from hellish torment one night. And then they began to pray together for the servant of God, in new visions his face became more and more peaceful, God forgave him his earthly sins and gave him the Kingdom of Heaven.
Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your newly departed servant (Your servant), (name), and as he is good and a lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming iniquities, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, exonerating him at Thy holy second coming into the communion of Thy eternal blessings, for the sake of the One who has faith in Thee, 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 day 3
The soul of the physical body is preparing to depart to another world. It is on the 3rd day that the body is buried, and the spirit loses all connection with the physical world. The task of the relatives of the newly deceased is to ease the transition through prayer.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Thy departed servant (Thy departed servant, the soul of Thy departed servant) (name) (bow), and as much as man has sinned in this life (humans have sinned), Thou, as the Lover of Mankind, forgive him (u, them) and have mercy (bow), deliver eternal torment (bow), give to the heavenly Kingdom a partaker (participant, partakers) (bow), and do good for our souls (bow)
Prayer for day 9
Then the “tour” of Paradise ends, after which the torments of hell are shown, so the newly deceased must be remembered with special food and be sure to read a prayer.
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
Prayer for 40 days
This is the day of the Last Judgment. On this day, prayer should be especially passionate and sincere - eternity is at stake, which the soul can spend in Paradise or in Fiery Gehenna. They read it exactly 40 times - for every earthly day lived without the deceased.
Rest, O Lord, the souls of Your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven
Prayer for a funeral candle
For greater support for the tormenting soul, the relatives and friends of the deceased go to the temple - light a memorial candle and read a prayer.
Remember, Lord, the souls of your departed servants, my parents (names) and all relatives in the flesh. And forgive all sins, voluntary and involuntary, grant them the Kingdom and the communion of your eternal good things and your endless and blissful life of pleasure (bow).
Remember, Lord, the souls of the departed and all in the hope of resurrection to eternal life, our departed fathers and brothers and sisters, and Orthodox Christians lying here and everywhere, and with Thy Saints, where the light of Thy face is present, have mercy on us all, for He is good and a lover of mankind, Amen (bow).
Grant, Lord, remission of sins to all our fathers, brothers and sisters who have previously departed in faith and hope on Sunday, and create for them eternal memory, eternal memory, eternal memory. (bow) Amen.
Prayer for suicides
Suicide is a mortal sin; the church does not perform funeral services for such dead people and does not allow them to be buried within the walls of a cemetery. Mentally ill people, those who were in a state of passion and those who killed themselves through negligence can receive relief. Funeral services in special cases are possible with the permission of the ruling bishop and a full set of medical evidence of the person’s condition. In any case, you can pray for those who committed suicide at home yourself.
A suicide needs the prayers of family and friends - only they can save a lost soul.
Master, Lord, Merciful and Lover of Mankind, we cry to You: we have sinned and committed lawlessness before You, we have transgressed Your saving commandments and the love of the Gospel has not been revealed to our despairing brother (our despairing sister). But do not reprove us with Your wrath, punish us with Your wrath, O Master who loves mankind, weaken, heal our heartfelt sorrow, may the multitude of Your bounties overcome the abyss of our sins, and may Your countless goodness cover the abyss of our bitter tears.
To her, Sweetest Jesus, we still pray, grant to Your servant, your relative who died without permission, consolation in their sorrow and firm hope in Your mercy.
For You are a Merciful and Lover of Mankind, and we send glory to You with Your Beginning Father and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
How to pray for the deceased at home
In addition to special days of remembrance, it is customary to pray for the departed daily at home: for this you will need a psalter. Read in the first half of the day.
The main rule is to say it sincerely and without tears, in a state of peace, remembering pleasant moments from the life of the newly deceased.
Father Arkady will tell you how to pray correctly:
What prayers should be read at home for the deceased?
In addition to standard prayers, special divine texts are read.
About deceased priests:
Lord Jesus Christ our God, who has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers for the perfection of the Saints, for the work of service, for the building up of Your Body! We pray to Thee, O Most Merciful Master, hear our prayerful voice and remember in Thy Kingdom those Thy servants who have passed from this earthly world to the heavenly world: Orthodox Patriarchs, metropolitans (names), archbishops and bishops (names), archimandrites, abbots, hieromonks, priests (names) ), hierodeacons and deacons (names); place them, Lord, in the heavenly shelters of eternal rest. For those who have served for the glory of Thy Most Holy Name and for the glory of Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, for the edification and salvation of Her children; Remember everyone in the monastic rank and church clergy who served You. We pray to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ our God, we pray as the Chief Shepherd, accept by Thy mercy the souls of Thy departed servants, as chosen servants and builders of Thy Mysteries, who stood before Thy terrible throne, performed bloodless sacred rites and gave us Thy Holy and Life-giving Gifts - Thy Honest Body and Your honorable Blood, for the remission of sins and eternal life; For this reason, we pray to Thee, our God, to make them also partakers of the gracious gifts of Thy Holy Spirit in Thy Kingdom. God! Thou hast given them the power in Thy name to forgive and forgive us our sins, to bind and resolve, we diligently pray to Thee: forgive, forgive them their sins and do not remember their sins; save and have mercy on them according to Your great mercy; look upon them with Thy mercy and accept them, O Christ, under Thy compassion, as Thou hast taught us to guard all that Thou hast commanded us; rest with the saints in Thy house, as stewards who humbly labored in planting and strengthening the Orthodox Faith and piety in our hearts; make them worthy to appear before You at Your judgment without condemnation, as before the Chief Shepherd, and place them in Your heavenly heliport, like an olive planting. Bring them, Light-Giver Lord, to the unevening light of Your Kingdom, as if you enlightened us with the light of the Gospel, instill them in Your Holy City, as if you instilled in us the spirit of wisdom and reason, the spirit of advice and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety, the spirit of Your fear, - and grant them to enjoy the fatness of Thy house, as they nourished and enjoyed our souls from Thy divine Table. We pray to Thee, the King, with the prayers of the apostles and prophets, saints and teachers and all the saints, glorify them as servants of the word in Thy Holy Church, militant on earth, glorify them in the Church triumphant in Heaven, and number them with the face of Thy holy apostles, saints and teachers of the Church who served and pleased You in word and deed. Amen.
Prayer of parents for deceased children:
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death. Comforter of the Sorrowful! With a contrite and tender heart I run to You and pray to You: remember, Lord, in Your Kingdom your departed servant (Thy servant), my child ( Name ) , and create eternal memory for him (her). You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. It was your good and wise will to take it away from me. Blessed be Thy Name, O Lord. I pray to You, Judge of heaven and earth, with Your endless love for us sinners, forgive my deceased child all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance. Forgive, O Merciful One, our parental sins, so that they may not remain on our children: we know that we have sinned many times before You, many of whom we have not observed, and have not done, as You commanded us. If our deceased child, ours or his own, for the sake of guilt, lived in this life, working for the world and his flesh and not more than You, the Lord and his God: if you loved the delights of this world, and not more than Your Word and Your Commandments, if you indulged in sweets worldly, and not more so in contrition for one’s sins, and in intemperance having given up vigil, fasting and prayer to oblivion, I earnestly pray to Thee, forgive the most good Father, my child, all such sins of him, forgive and weaken, even if he has done other evil in this life, Christ Jesus! You raised up the daughter of Jairus through the faith and prayer of her father. You healed the daughter of the Canaanite wife through faith and the request of her mother: hear my prayer, and do not despise my prayer for my child. Forgive, Lord, forgive, all his sins and, having forgiven and cleansed his soul, remove eternal torment and dwell with all Your saints, who have pleased You from all eternity, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: like there is no man who will live and not sin. You are One except for sin: so that when you judge the world, my child will hear Your most beloved voice: come, blessing of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For You are the Father of mercies and generosity, You are our life and resurrection, and to You we send glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
About 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, an orphan, come running to You, 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 my parent (matter) (name), and his soul (her), as if she has gone to You with true faith in You and firm hope in Yours accept philanthropy 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 from him (her or them) Your mercy and mercy. 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 Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the deceased, unforgettable for me, Your servant (s), my parent (mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his (her) sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him (her) in his (her) 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 saints, have mercy on him (you) 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 (mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him (s) in a place of light, in a place cool and in a calm place, with all the saints, from where all illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as having taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, pray to You in reverence, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your Commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual progress, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) 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 ages of ages. Amen.
About those who died without repentance:
Passion winner, helper for souls, prayer book for all, intercessor and mentor for everyone’s salvation, sighing from the depths of our hearts, we earnestly and fervently pray to you, Reverend Paisius! Hear and help us, do not reject or despise us, but rather hear in humility the hearts of those who flow to you. You, reverend, diligently strived for the salvation of your neighbors and led many sinners to the light of salvation. He considered excessive feats to be a tranquility in itself, extremely wonderful, and, always burning with love for the Lord, you were vouchsafed the appearance of Christ the Savior, and you imitated Him for the people who died, imitating love, and for those who renounced Christ. Hear us, O most praiseworthy Pais, for we are unworthy to pray for the granting of the great mercy of the Lord to us, since we are sinners, and we have defiled lips and burdened hearts, and we suffer under the burden of sins, and our prayer does not reach the Lord. For this sake, pray for us with your strong and God-pleasing prayer, Saint Paisios, so that our relatives, our neighbors and those we know, who have died without repentance, will be delivered from eternal torment, and our Savior will accept your prayer in good will and give them His mercy instead of good deeds, free them , we believe, from suffering and will dwell in the villages of the righteous, and will merit us to die in repentance, so that together we may glorify the All-Holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for those who died unbaptized
If the soul of the newly deceased did not have time to receive baptism, you can still pray for it, but only at home on your own. At the Divine Liturgy, you cannot mention the name of an unbaptized person - this will anger the Lord.
Have mercy, O Lord, on the soul of Your servant (name), who passed into eternal life without Holy Baptism. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin for me. But Thy holy will be done.
And in conclusion
No matter who the deceased was during life, the prayer of loved ones can make his existence in the afterlife easier. It will free the soul from the burden of earthly sins and allow it to settle near God in Paradise. It doesn’t matter whether a person knows how to pray or not, what matters is the feeling with which he does it. Everyone is equal before the face of God, so you shouldn’t be afraid if something doesn’t work out.
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Losing someone close to your heart is probably the worst thing that can happen in life. They say that there is nothing worse than for parents to bury their children. But this is only partly true. After all, isn’t it painful to say goodbye to grandparents and other relatives? And the pain of losing your dad or mom can’t be relieved by anything either.
Many people think that time heals, but this is a wrong statement. The feeling of loneliness and emptiness without this person simply becomes dull, our life is filled with other thoughts, everyday affairs, but nothing can fill the lack of a loved one.
Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased
Of course, when someone dies, you don’t want to accept or understand it. But remember that our feelings do not allow the deceased to calmly pass into another world. After all, his soul cannot find its place; for the first days it simply hovers in space. Therefore, no matter how much it hurts us, we need to help the deceased.
What can we do for the deceased:
- Order liturgies and memorial services at the church.
- Remember it on the 9th and 40th day. It is on these days that the soul of the deceased appears before the Lord.
- Pray at home for the repose of the soul of the deceased until the 40th day. Because this day is the day of the Last Judgment of the soul, after which the afterlife fate will be determined - whether the deceased will go to heaven or hell.
Remember that prayer for the repose of the newly deceased is very important, especially in the first 40 days after his death. But do not forget to pray for your loved one even after this time. Order services for the soul of the deceased in church and pray at home, this will help you cope with grief.
Also come to our Orthodox group on telegram https://t.me/molitvaikona
“Lord Jesus, accept the soul of your servant (name of the deceased), forgive him all his sins, small and large, and accept him into heaven. How he suffered in his life, how tired he was of suffering and sorrow on this earth, so now let him rest in peace and sleep eternal sleep. Protect him from the fire of hell, do not allow him to fall to the demons and to the devil to be torn to pieces. In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen."
Prayer God rest the soul of the deceased
The mental wound from the loss of a loved one will not disappear anywhere, even 5-10 years after death. But for the first few days it “bleeds.” Indeed, during this period we cannot accept the fact that we will no longer see the deceased, we will not talk or hug. Therefore, every morning when you turn to God, do not forget to pray for a relative who is no longer with you.
But, if you are unable to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased, then at least in your own words ask God for the repose of the newly deceased. The main thing is that it is sincere, from the heart.
Of course, people can survive anything, but the worst thing will be life without the closest people - parents, children. When parents bury their children, the pain is unbearable. But they are strong and will be able to withstand it, no matter how difficult it may be.
But when children are left orphans, it’s terrible. After all, they are left completely alone in this cruel world. No one will praise them or kiss them anymore, no one will shout at them or help them. At least somehow a prayer for the repose of the souls of their parents will help them survive this grief.
After all, when we turn to the Almighty with prayers for someone or something, we help not only these people, but also ourselves. Prayer services are “conversations” with the Lord. They give strength to survive sorrows and calm down. When you pray, you ask for peace for the soul of the deceased and you yourself find peace of mind.
“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, an orphan, 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 fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on 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 Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a place of peace, with all the saints, from where all illness will escape , sadness and sighing.
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 pray to You, in You alone I place my trust troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of the prayer he brings 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."
Live happily ever after, and let sorrows and sorrows pass your home.
May God bless you!
Watch also the video about the funeral prayer:
Prayer for a deceased Christian
P Remember, O Lord our God, in faith and hope the eternal life of Your departed servant, our brother (name), and as you are Good and Lover of mankind, you forgive sins and consume untruths, weaken, forgive and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment 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, Your glorified God in the Trinity, Faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and faith, even in You instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as You give generous rest: for 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. Amen.
Widower's Prayer
X Hail Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart, I pray to You: rest, O Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Lord Almighty! You blessed the marital union of husband and wife, when you said: it is not good for man to be alone, let us create for him a helper for him. You have sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, Lord, and confess that You have blessed me to unite me in this holy union with one of Your handmaids. By your good and wise will you deigned to take away from me this servant of yours, whom you have given to me as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before Your will, and I pray to You with all my heart, accept my prayer for Your servant (name), and forgive her if you sin in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; Love earthly things more than heavenly things; Even if you care more about the clothing and decoration of your body than about the enlightenment of the clothing of your soul; or even careless about your children; if you upset anyone by word or deed; If there is a grudge in your heart against your neighbor or condemn someone or anything else you have done from such evil people. Forgive her all this, for she is good and philanthropic; for there is no man who will live and not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, as Thy creation, do not condemn her to eternal torment for her sin, but have mercy and mercy according to Thy great mercy. I pray and ask You, Lord, to grant me strength throughout the days of my life, without ceasing to pray for Your departed servant, and even until the end of my life to ask her from You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive her sins. Yes, as if You, God, placed a crown of stone on her head, crowning her here on earth; Thus crown me with Thy eternal glory in Thy Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints who rejoice there, so that together with them He may forever sing Thy all-holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Widow's Prayer
X Hail Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are the consolation of the weeping, the intercession of the orphans and widows. You said: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow, I run to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Master of all, have deigned to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was Your good and wise will that you would take this servant of Yours away from me and leave me alone. I bow before Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend. Even if you took him away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites from widows, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not consign him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, weaken and forgive all his sins and commit them with Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and place him in the Heavenly abodes, which You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even to your last breath of confession; impute to him the same faith, even in You, instead of works: for there is no man who will live and not sin, You are the only one besides sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever. I believe, Lord, and confess that You will hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; How did You open to Your servant Theophilus, who went to You, the doors of Your mercy and forgave him for his sins through the prayers of Your Holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to You, accept my prayer for Your servant and bring him into eternal life. For You are our hope. You are God, the hedgehog to have mercy and save, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Parents' prayer for deceased children
G Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death, Comforter of the sorrowful! With a contrite and tender heart I run to You and pray to You: remember. Lord, in Your Kingdom your deceased servant (your servant), my child (name), and create for him (her) eternal memory. You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. It was your good and wise will to take it away from me. Blessed be Thy name, O Lord. I pray to You, Judge of heaven and earth, with Your endless love for us sinners, forgive my deceased child all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance. Forgive, O Merciful One, our parental sins as well, so that they may not remain on our children: we know that we have sinned many times before You, many of whom we have not observed, and have not done, as You commanded us. If our deceased child, ours or his own, for the sake of guilt, lived in this life, working for the world and his flesh, and not more than You, the Lord and his God: if you loved the delights of this world, and not more than Your Word and Your commandments, if you surrendered with the pleasures of life, and not more than with contrition for one’s sins, and in intemperance, vigil, fasting and prayer have been consigned to oblivion - I earnestly pray to Thee, forgive, most good Father, all such sins of my child, forgive and weaken, even if you have done other evil in this life . Christ Jesus! You raised up the daughter of Jairus through the faith and prayer of her father. You healed the daughter of the Canaanite wife through faith and the request of her mother: hear my prayer, and do not despise my prayer for my child. Forgive, Lord, forgive all his sins and, having forgiven and cleansed his soul, remove eternal torment and dwell with all Your saints, who have pleased You from the ages, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: like there is no man like He will live and will not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin: so that when you judge the world, my child will hear Your most beloved voice: come, blessed of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For You are the Father of mercies and generosity. You are our life and resurrection, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Children's prayer for deceased parents
G 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, an orphan, 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 my parent (my mother), (name) (or: with my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) - , and his soul (or: her, or: them), as having gone (or: gone) to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, accept into Your Kingdom of Heaven. I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away (or: taken away, or: taken away) from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you 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 Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the unforgettable deceased (unforgettable deceased) for me Thy servant (Thy servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his sins ( her) voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) 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 (her) and eternal save me from 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 (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a place of coolness and in a place of peace, with all the saints, from nowhere all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled. Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught (taught) me first of all to lead You, my Lord, in reverently pray to You, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual progress, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) 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.
The rite of litia performed by a layman at home and in the cemetery
M Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, 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 fulfills everything. Treasure of good things and life to the Giver, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed One, our souls. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist.) Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
G Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)
WITH Lava to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
ABOUT Our dear, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
G Lord, have mercy. (12 times.)
P Come, let us worship our God the King. (Bow.) Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ, our King God. (Bow.) Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow.)
Psalm 90
AND He who lives in the help of the Most High will dwell in the shelter of God in Heaven. Says the Lord: Thou art my Protector and my Refuge. My God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from rebellious words, His splash will overshadow you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak, and from the demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will fall at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, otherwise you will look at your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not approach your body, as His Angel commanded you to keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot on a stone, step on an asp and a basilisk, and cross a lion and a serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will overcome him, and I will glorify him, I will fill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
A Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God (three times).
WITH O spirits of the righteous who have passed away, give rest to the soul of Your servant, O Savior, preserving it in the blessed life that belongs to You, O Lover of Mankind. In Thy resting place, O Lord, where Thy holiness rests, rest also the soul of Thy servant, for Thou art the only Lover of mankind. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit: You are God, who descended into hell and loosed the bonds of those who were bound. May you and your servant rest in peace. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen: One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray for his soul to be saved. Kontakion, tone 8: With the saints, rest the soul of Your servant, O Christ, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. Ikos: Thou art the One Immortal One, who created and created man: on earth we were created from the earth, and to that earth we will go, as Thou Who Created me commanded, and who gave unto me: as Thou art the earth, and thou hast gone to the earth, and even as all men we will go, creating funeral lamentations song: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
G Lord, have mercy (three times), bless.
M Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
IN O blessed dormition, grant eternal peace. Lord, Thy departed servant (name) and create for him eternal memory.
IN eternal memory (three times).
D His ear will be established among good people, and his memory will endure forever.
Photo: “Sacred and Valuable in Russia” sreda.org
All people who have lost their loved ones are familiar with grief for them and anxiety about their posthumous fate.
The need to pray for departed loved ones
After death, a person’s soul awaits aerial ordeals and the judgment of Christ. During the air ordeals, demons will attack the soul: they will remind the person of his past sins and will try to take him with them to hell. The fervent prayer of loved ones immediately after his death can help a person during these terrible trials.
The judgment of Christ, which awaits the soul after death, is the so-called private judgment. And a common one awaits all people - the so-called one, which will take place after the second coming of Christ. Anyone who is justified and taken into heaven by Christ after a private trial is no longer subject to a general trial. However, the fate of someone who was condemned by a private court can change before the Last Judgment through the prayers of his relatives and the entire Church.
Therefore, the departed need our prayers, and remembering them in the very first days is the most important duty of a Christian.
Days of commemoration after death
Immediately after the death of a person over his body after the separation of the soul from the body, and then the psalter. In the temple, loved ones must order memorial services (funeral services), which will be performed before the funeral.
On the third day, the coffin is taken to the temple, followed by burial. After the burial, family and friends gather for a funeral meal.
Suicides are not remembered in the church, and a memorial service is not celebrated for them.
In special cases (suicide in a state of passion, an attack of mental illness, or due to negligence), funeral services can be performed for suicides, but only with the blessing of the ruling bishop and in the presence of appropriate medical reports on the condition of the deceased before death.
What do 9 and 40 days mean?
In the first two days after death, the soul remains on earth, accompanied by angels - a guardian angel and a guide angel. She can remain invisibly in her home, next to loved ones, and can visit places where a person lived before, or those that he did not have time to see during his lifetime.
On the third day, angels lead the soul to heaven to God for the first time. Along the way, aerial ordeals occur: demons tempt a person for the last time, remind him of old sins, trying to take him with them to hell, while angels help him overcome these temptations.
Then for six days, until the 9th day after death, the soul remains in paradise and contemplates the heavenly abodes.
On the ninth day the soul again appears before God. After the 9th day a person is shown hell, and on the 40th day he is judged.
Therefore, it is customary to commemorate the deceased on the 9th and 40th days.
Funeral service for 9 days after death - how is it remembered?
The commemoration of the deceased is performed at the Divine Liturgy on the 9th day after death, and after the Liturgy a memorial service is served.
After the funeral service, it is customary to visit the cemetery and remember the deceased. Then you can again have a memorial meal with your family.
Exactly the same commemoration is performed on the 40th day, only, according to folk custom, on this day strangers are invited to the memorial meal.
To order a memorial in the church, you need the day before or on the same day in advance, before the start of the Liturgy, submit a registered note in the church about the repose of the deceased.
Is it possible to remember before 40 days?
A situation often arises when it is impossible to arrange a memorial meal exactly on the 40th day. It can be arranged on another day, later or even earlier.
However, commemoration at the Liturgy, at a memorial service and at a cemetery cannot be transferred.
The 40th day is decisive for a person’s posthumous fate, therefore, church commemoration must be performed exactly on this day.
How to pray for the deceased during the first 40 days after death?
In the first 40 days after death, except for special commemoration on the 9th and 40th days, the fortieth day must be celebrated in the temple, that is, commemoration during 40 liturgies. It must be ordered immediately after the death of the deceased. At home the psalter is read for the deceased.
Sorokoust can be ordered in several churches at once, and the psalter can be read by agreement - so that several relatives and friends of the deceased can read it at the same time.
How to remember correctly after death?
After 40 days deceased loved ones are remembered several times a year:
- on the anniversary of death
- on (Tuesday of the second week after Easter)
- on parental Saturdays (the Saturday before Maslenitsa (meat day); the second, third and fourth Saturdays of Great Lent; the Saturday before the Feast of Pentecost)
The Saturday before November 8 - the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki) and May 9 are designated for the commemoration of fallen soldiers.
These days you need to order a commemoration at the Liturgy, a memorial service, visit the grave of a loved one and read the litiya.
How to properly remember the deceased on the anniversary of death?
On the anniversary of death it is necessary
- write a custom note for commemoration at the Liturgy,
- order a memorial service and
- read the litiya at the cemetery.
It is also customary to host a memorial meal for family and close friends.
How to pray for the deceased at home?
In addition to days of special remembrance, people pray at home. Prayers for repose are included in