Now is the time to remember the Slavic holiday Radonitsa, one of the most important days of the year - the time of remembrance of the Ancestors. Nowadays everything is so mixed up that it’s impossible to make out – when is Radonitsa among the Slavs? Is it called Radonitsa, since we also see other names for the holiday? What's true and what's not? Let's talk about that today.
Radonitsa among the Slavs is the day of remembrance of the Ancestors
Simple and complex Slavic calendar
People in the North remember the times when people lived according to a simple, natural calendar. We followed the sun, it told us when to celebrate Slavic holidays, when to sow, when to reap, when to remember our Ancestors. Our calendar has had to go through a lot: Slavic holidays mixed with Christian ones, then mysterious holidays “old” and “new” style were added. It turned out that Radonitsa, which is also called Rodonitsa, is remembered by many, but the dates of the holiday vary everywhere.
Nowadays, many people associate the Radonitsa holiday with Christian Easter. In this form, as “parents’ day”, Radonitsa is best known. What do we know about when the Slavs celebrate Radonitsa?
Irina Ivanova, the owner of “Northern Fairy Tale”, tells her opinion about the Easter holiday:
When the date of the Radonitsa holiday is tied to Easter, it happens that it coincides with our native holiday of remembrance of the Ancestors, and it also happens otherwise. The dates of Christian holidays are not constant. What to do if Radonitsa falls on the Spring Day of Yarilo? Or to Krasnaya Gorka? It is impossible for the holiday of remembrance of the Ancestors to coincide with the fun festivities that young people organize these days. And you can’t stay without the festivities themselves! That’s why the Slavs have a special day for Radonitsa.
Radonitsa holiday and the return of the souls of the Ancestors in May
They say “get married in May and suffer all your life.” May is not the time for merry weddings; right now the Slavs are celebrating Radonitsa, commemorating the Ancestors, the “grandfathers” who now fly in on the wings of birds.
The first week of May is called Spring Grandfathers. From May 2 to May 8, otherwise Travenya, as they said in the old days, the Slavs remember their Ancestors. The second day of the Navya week is especially important - the holiday of Radonitsa falls on it. The holiday has many names, all of them sound joy and connection with the Family: Radonitsa, Rodonitsa, Radovnitsa, Radoshnitsa, Radunets.
Why do the Slavs rejoice when remembering death, which for modern people is associated only with sadness?
Rodonitsa - a joyful meeting with ancestors!
What happened - the grandfathers saw, what will happen - the grandchildren will see. So they used to say in the old days, remembering that in a single Family everyone is connected, the strength of the family is in the grandfathers who left the world of Reveal, and in the grandchildren who are left with the family heritage.
The Radonitsa holiday is a time to remember that the Ancestors care about the living
The invisible help of grandfathers, as the ancestors who went to Nav were called in the North, is always nearby! On other days, for example, on Rodonitsa, it is especially noticeable and palpable. Therefore, on Radonitsa, the Slavs rejoice at the endless circle of life, they rejoice at meeting their grandfathers, who became the guardians of the Family, and they rejoice that our Family is one.
Housewives prepare food for the Radonitsa holiday in the morning. In other villages, the whole family goes to Radonitsa to a special burial place of their grandfathers, located outside the village. In the North, they often acted differently; the dead were buried near their homes, recalling that the Ancestors were protecting their Family. On Radonitsa people came to our votive cross, installed not far from the house.
There is one thing - in every area on Rodonitsa they feed the soil with eggs and honey, commemorating their grandfathers. Afterwards they return home, sit down at the table, and certainly serve food for the grandfathers, saying:
How to celebrate Radonitsa in the city?
Not everyone will be able to visit the resting places of their grandfathers on the Radonitsa holiday. Life has scattered us over the last century; many grandfathers are buried not where their grandchildren live. Big cities are not like northern villages lost in the forests; people here are far from each other.
The Orthodox holiday of Radonitsa is a spring celebration celebrated every Tuesday in the second week after Easter. This is the week of Thomas because it is believed that it was during this time that Jesus revealed himself to the unbelieving apostle Thomas. This Tuesday is considered a day of remembrance and remembrance of the dead, as well as parent's day.
It is on this day that it is considered obligatory to visit the resting place of relatives, sometimes it is called the Easter of the departed. This celebration gives all Christians the opportunity not to grieve over the death of their loved ones, but to rejoice in the fact that they are already with the Lord.
History of Radonitsa
Initially, the Orthodox holiday of Radonitsa was not listed among official church events, but was part of the pagan life of the Slavs and was called Radunitsa. The meaning of the celebration lies deeply in the pagan beliefs of the Slavs of that time.
The tribes that lived on the territory of modern CIS countries not only worshiped pagan deities, but also believed in the existence of an afterlife. According to the beliefs of that time, the soul of a deceased person ascended to the gods and lived in the world of the dead. In the ancient East and Mediterranean they also believed in the existence of the afterlife, but, unlike the Slavs, they endowed it with moral traits, i.e. places for good and bad, heaven and hell.
But the Slavs believed that the deceased soul rose up and, like a bird, flew to the distant land of Iriy, where it lived a life similar to its previous life. They did not believe in punishment or reward after death, just in another life.
According to Slavic beliefs, communication with Iriy could be established only several times a year - on the days of the solar equinox. It was on such days that souls returned to their former habitat and were able to visit loved ones and relatives.
This is interesting! The Slavs had a whole memorial cycle by which these days could be tracked. Usually it was associated with the agricultural cycle and the days of communication with those who had passed on to another world occurred at the beginning or end of any field work.
Faith endowed the already dead with special abilities that could help souls influence the forces of nature, thereby plunging the earth into horror or blessing them with abundant harvests. Since this was directly related to the quality of life of the Slavs, they deliberately appeased the deceased in order to have a calm and rich life. On such days, special rituals were held, during which songs were sung, round dances were performed, and rich dinners with large quantities of alcoholic beverages were held.
As a rule, this all took place in cemeteries, where food was left and alcoholic drinks were poured out. It was precisely such meals and days that began to be called Radunitsa, although initially this was the name for a whole cycle of similar events.
Important! The Church has excellent views on the afterlife, so they tried to completely destroy the beliefs of the ancient Slavs several times. However, this never happened, so theologians tried to put a different meaning into these actions and help a person not perform pagan rituals, but simply remember his loved ones on this day.
Notes about the dead on Radunitsa
The essence of remembrance and tradition
Radonitsa is the day of remembrance of the dead. Its name is derived from the word “joy,” because it is on these days that the church celebrates the resurrection of Christ and His victory over death and hell.
Saint Athanasius Sakharov in his work writes that the event is celebrated precisely on these days, since the commemoration of the dead should take place on certain dates, but not on Bright Week. Services for the dead begin on the first weekdays after Bright Week, i.e. second Tuesday after Easter.
Read about Christian remembrance:
John Chrysostom recalled that already in the third century it was possible to trace the commemoration of the dead and services in cemeteries, so with the advent of Christianity in Rus' this movement acquired a new meaning. The Church did not eradicate pagan traditions, but tried to give them a new meaning and filled them with Christian content.
Christian theology cannot give clear answers about the afterlife and this topic is full of speculation and conjecture.
The only thing that is known for certain is the presence in a person of an immortal soul, which does not die with the body, but passes into a new, eternal life, which is influenced by the actions that a person performed on earth. Also, Christian theologians do not doubt that everyone will be resurrected at the second coming of Christ and will receive a new body and will finally know the place where they will have to spend eternity.
Important! Coming to the grave is not something pagan today, but an act of memory and respect for the deceased.
Traditions of remembrance
Coming to the churchyard, making an offering - all this is done for the sake of the departed soul. But it is much more important during these times to pray for the deceased, to ask the Lord for mercy for every soul that is no longer able to come to church and do it on its own. What the deceased really needs is prayer for his soul.
Orthodoxy on death:
All believers try to observe traditions these days:
- they bring bread, cereals, fruits and sweets to the temple to donate to those in need;
- visiting the graveyard and reading akathists at the graves of relatives;
- It is obligatory to visit the temple and order a memorial service for the dead;
- donating Easter cakes, eggs and sweets to the poor at the cemetery.
What is undesirable to do in churchyards
Despite widespread beliefs that these days it is necessary to have dinner in the churchyard, the Orthodox Church clearly calls this a sin and paganism. On this day the church prohibits:
- leave lunches on the hills;
- leave a glass and cigarettes or pour out vodka;
- arrange feasts;
- getting drunk in memory of relatives.
The commemoration of those who have passed on to another world is a mixture of pagan and Christian. Unfortunately, pagan traditions are still extremely popular among people who do not question the true meaning of this tradition. After all, having lunch at the churchyard and leaving a glass of vodka there is much easier than coming to church, donating to the poor and wasting your time on fervent prayers for your relatives.
Advice! However, only through prayer and doing good deeds in honor of relatives and friends can one beg the Lord for their mercy.
Lighted candles at the cemetery in Radunitsa
Commemoration
It is very important to know not only the true meaning of this process, but also to know how to properly remember the dead.
A cemetery is a sacred place where souls await resurrection. The Church marks the resting places with the Holy Life-Giving Cross, which shows that Jesus Christ conquered death. And the person under this cross is only waiting for his resurrection, which was promised by the Lord. That's why the dead are called deceased - those who sleep.
Graves are a place of temporary residence for a person, so special attention should be paid to its cleanliness. The cross there should stand straight, be painted and well-groomed. Therefore, on such a day it is worth taking care of the cleanliness of this place.
On Holy Tuesday, you should light a candle at the location of a relative and perform an intense prayer - litiya. If desired, you can invite a priest to read certain prayers for remembrance, or you can read an akathist about repose yourself. After cleaning and praying, one should remember the deceased in silence.
Advice! You should not eat or drink in the cemetery, or leave food there - all this can be given to the beggars at the gate.
John Chrysostom suggests that instead of weeping, we help the deceased with petitions for them and alms, because they themselves can no longer do this. This is exactly how, according to Scripture, one can receive the promised benefits both to the deceased and to the one still living. Remembering your deceased relatives while turning to the Lord is the duty of every Orthodox Christian.
Before visiting the cemetery, you should definitely visit the temple before the start of the service and submit a note with the names of deceased relatives so that they will be remembered at the altar. If the commemoration takes place at a proskomedia, then part of the prosphora will be broken off for the deceased and, as a sign of the cleansing of his sins, it will be lowered into the Chalice with the Holy Gifts. After this, you should order a memorial service and give communion to the person asking.
Thus, the correct remembrance of the deceased on this day is as follows:
- Visit the temple and submit a note with your name before the service.
- Communion.
- Funeral service.
- Visit to the cemetery.
- Cleaning.
- Reading the akathist.
- Giving alms.
At the cemetery, it is best to take sweets or lunches for the poor, as well as a candle to light during prayer at the grave.
For remembrance both at home and in the churchyard, clergy recommend reading the litia:
- Easter Troparion;
- Psalm 90;
- Kontakion, tone 8;
- Sedalen, voice 5;
- Troparion, tone 4;
- Ikos.
Prayer for a deceased Christian
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 consuming untruths, weaken, forsake 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
Christ 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
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 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
Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death, Comforter of the afflicted! 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
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
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 bow from the waist.)
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.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, 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.
Lord have mercy. (12 times.)
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow.)
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. (Bow.)
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow.)
Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God. 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.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God (three times).
From the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, rest the soul of Your servant, O Savior, preserving it in the blessed life that belongs to You, O Lover of Mankind.
In Thy chamber, O Lord, where all Thy saints rest, give rest also to 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, O Christ, the soul of Your servant, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.
Thou art the One Immortal One, who created and created man: we were created on earth from the earth, and let us go to the same earth, as Thou Who Created me commanded, and He who spoke unto me: as Thou art the earth, and unto the earth thou hast gone, and even all men may go, creating a song of mourning at the grave: 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.
Lord, have mercy (three times), bless.
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
In blessed dormition, grant eternal peace. Lord, Thy departed servant (name) and create for him eternal memory.
Eternal memory (three times).
His soul will dwell in the good, and his memory throughout generation and generation.
Dates of commemoration
On certain days, the Church remembers all those who have died by faith. On these days, called ecumenical parental Saturdays, ecumenical memorial services are held. There is no specific date for Radonitsa, since they are calculated manually each time in connection with the moving Easter cycle. On these days, all-night vigils, liturgies and ecumenical memorial services are held in churches.
Radonitsa is celebrated in the second week after Easter, on Tuesday. Since Easter does not have a specific date, this day also has “floating” dates. It is easy to calculate: it is celebrated on the 9th day after Easter Sunday.
In 2018, Radonitsa fell on April 17, since Easter Sunday was on April 8. But in 2019, Easter is celebrated on April 28, which means Radonitsa will fall on May 7.
Important! It is worth remembering that screaming and crying for the deceased will bring relief only to the crying person, but a sincere, fervent request for the salvation of the deceased will benefit both the living and the dead.
All pagan rituals (vodka to the grave, dinners) are meaningless, because the soul no longer needs anything worldly, but prayer for it can change the Lord’s decision and influence its eternal life.
Moreover, this does not have to be done only on the second Tuesday after Easter; there is a whole year for this.
Watch a video about Radonitsa
RADONITSA.
History and meaning of the holiday Radonitsa
Most of you probably remember how in many large cities on Easter days, local authorities dedicated entire bus routes so that people could come to the cemetery. And those who are older will confirm that even during the years of militant atheism, the tradition of visiting the graves of relatives on Easter was sacredly performed by both ordinary workers and representatives of the then elite.
By and large, in the Soviet era, when the Church itself was in a semi-legal position, Radonitsa was the only “legalized” memorial day of church origin. Radonitsa is still alive. Traditionally, it is celebrated on Tuesday, which follows immediately after St. Fomin Sunday. It is on this day (and the two preceding days) that the annual “peak attendance” of cemeteries and mass funerals occurs.
What is the secret of the “survivability” of this holiday? What is its main idea? How did it appear in Rus', what stages of development did it go through throughout the history of its existence? And most importantly, what does the Church say about it, and what elements of the folk version of its celebration have nothing to do with church tradition? Let's try to answer these and many other questions.
Radonitsa: a vestige of pagan culture
Contrary to popular belief, Radonitsa does not have a purely ecclesiastical origin. It was celebrated by our ancestors long before Rus' became Christian. Its former name is Radunitsa, and its meaning can only be understood if you have an idea about the archaic beliefs of the Slavs.
Like most peoples of antiquity, the tribes that inhabited the territories of what is now Ukraine, Belarus and the European part of Russia did not doubt the existence of the afterlife. Our ancestors believed that after a person’s death, his soul ascends to the gods and moves to the kingdom of the dead. However, unlike the developed religions of the Middle East and the Mediterranean, East Slavic paganism did not endow the afterlife with any moral traits and did not know such concepts as “hell” and “paradise.” Everyone who died a non-violent death went to another world, flew to Iriy, to the south, to a distant land, which only birds among the living could visit. Life there was certainly different, but fundamentally almost no different from what the deceased did before his death.
There was no way back from the kingdom of the dead, but there were certain days a year when a living connection was established between the two worlds, and the souls of previously deceased people could come to their native places, visit their loved ones, and participate in their affairs. Usually such special periods occurred on the days of the solstices and equinoxes. In addition, the funeral cycle was also associated with the agricultural calendar, so the dead were often especially revered either on the eve or after the completion of certain field work.
In honor of the ancestors, funeral feasts were supposed to be held - ritual dinners with copious libations, games, songs, round dances and other elements, which in our time are called “mass cultural events”. Their goal was simple - to appease the souls of the dead, to gain their favor. The fact is that the ancient Slav saw in his deceased grandfathers and great-grandfathers no longer ordinary people, but spirits who possessed some divine abilities. If desired, they could influence the forces of nature - either cause disasters (droughts, pestilence, earthquakes), or send down various gifts of grace (bountiful harvest, warm weather, livestock offspring). The existence of the living depended on the whims of the dead, and therefore the living sought in every possible way to “respect” the souls of their ancestors. It was believed that a rich funeral feast, fun, a good word about the deceased, and praise in his honor guaranteed the protection of heaven and the well-being of the people.
Radunitsa was one of these memorial days. More precisely, it was not even a day, but a whole cycle, which lasted about a week and coincided with the arrival of spring. The whole village went out into the fields, groves, meadows, and called out to the spirits. At the same time, they tried to bring joy to the dead - with a warm word and respectful address. At the graves, toasts were made in honor of the dead, and some of the wine was poured onto the ground. The same thing was done with food - the Slavs believed that food brought to the graves ends up in the next world, and the ancestors can feast on it.
In general, all the described rituals have successfully survived to this day - and today in cemeteries, homeless people and cleaners pick up pieces of bread, cookies, sweets, glasses of vodka left by caring relatives on the graves of relatives and friends. The essence and meaning of these traditions have long been forgotten, but they themselves remain, and, probably, will always live as long as the peoples that arose on the basis of the Proto-Slavic culture exist.
Radonitsa: Christian understanding of funerals
With the beginning of the Christianization of Rus', the Church for some time struggled with pagan funeral rites and with the cult of ancestors itself. But people, accustomed from century to century to the traditional system of worldview, still continued to celebrate ancient holidays in the spring. And then the hierarchy decided to churchize Radunitsa and introduce it into the church calendar, devoting the second Tuesday after Easter to this holiday. Thus, the Russian Church adopted the tradition of visiting graves, filling it with Christian content.
In fact, theology (unlike the “all-knowing” grandmothers-folklorists) has little to say affirmatively about the afterlife of a person. This topic has always been more a matter of pious conjecture than of cathedral discussions or desk research. Christians believe in the immortality of the soul. They believe that a person’s earthly life has a fundamental influence on his future life in eternity. Believers also know that all of us, according to the word of Christ Himself, will be resurrected at the appointed time, will receive a new body, and our eternal fate will then be finally determined. These are, perhaps, all the dogmatic postulates that directly relate to the “otherworldly” topic. Next comes the sphere of the living experience of the Church, in which there is very different evidence of posthumous realities. Among them, however, the most important points can and should be highlighted.
Orthodoxy says that after his death a person loses a very important feature - he can no longer independently make qualitative changes in himself. Simply put, he is unable to repent. Of course, having crossed the threshold of death, a Christian does not lose the ability to regret and lament the mistakes he has made. But this cannot be called repentance - it is inherent only to the living and presupposes not only contrition in sins, but also work on oneself, internal change and liberation from the negative burden that has accumulated during the earthly journey. After death, a person no longer has a body, which means his nature becomes inferior, which makes any changes impossible.
But what is impossible for man is possible for God. The Church has always believed that there is a very close connection between the living and the dead, and that good deeds have a beneficial effect not only on people living today, but also on people who have already died. Through our prayers, as evidenced by numerous examples from the lives of saints, the afterlife fate of the dead can really change. Moreover, the cleaner we ourselves become, the greater the improvement in their condition that those for whom we pray can receive. Our purity and our goodness are, as it were, transmitted to others, because all of us - living and dead - are united, like the cells of one organism, in the One Body of Christ - His Holy Church.
The Church allows commemoration of the dead with food, but sees a completely different meaning in this, different from the pagan funeral feast. Food is just a form of almsgiving that we do for the sake of the deceased. And here it is very important how we create it. Almsgiving, first of all, should make us kinder, more merciful, more compassionate. And if this happens, then it will be much easier for our dead on the other side of life. Therefore, if the funeral dinner was done, as they say, for show or “for one’s own”, without prayer for the deceased person, then it is unlikely that the deceased will receive much benefit from such a dinner. What he needs now is not glasses of vodka (alcohol, by the way, is generally prohibited by the Church at funerals), but our prayer - sincere, pure, living. The best place for prayer is the temple of God.
When bringing food to the temple, it is also important to remember a few points. In the temple, first of all, they pray. And without prayer, the offering left (candles, food, money) has no value for the deceased. You can bring mountains, but if this is done without faith and prayer, then it will be of little use. Both for us and for the deceased. Unless those in need will be grateful for it. And, conversely, if a person has nothing to donate, but he fervently prays for his relative or friend, then this prayer will be more valuable than any rich offerings. It is important to ultimately understand that the Kingdom of Heaven is not bought or sold for any money. The Kingdom of Heaven is achieved only through diligent spiritual work, and our alms (including food) is just one of the elements of such work.
As we see, Radonitsa has two layers - pagan and Christian. Unfortunately, the first of them turned out to be more understandable to the common man due to its external effectiveness and ease of execution. After all, it’s not at all difficult to come to the cemetery, say a few warm phrases about the deceased, have a drink and a snack, and then leave part of the lunch on the “coffins.” It is much more difficult to constantly pray for the deceased and do good deeds in his memory - sincerely, naturally, unselfishly. But this is the only way, and no other way, to help our relatives who have crossed the palace of eternity - with love, prayer, kindness. Otherwise, there’s no point in going to the cemetery - it won’t be of any use anyway. Neither in this world nor in the next.
Radonitsa (Radunitsa; - May 6) - pagan spring holiday for the dead; was performed, according to the testimony of John Chrysostom, in Christian cemeteries already in ancient times, usually on Tuesday in St. Thomas week.
Initially, the concept “Radonitsa” had multiple meanings and denoted the names of pagan tribal deities, guardians of the souls of deceased people, and personified the veneration of the departed; Sacrifices were made to the rainbows and the dead on burial mounds so that the soul of the deceased could enjoy the spectacle of the respect that the living showed it.
Some researchers, not without reason, related the word “Radonitsa” to the words “clan”, “ancestor”, others saw in it the same root as in the word “joy”, since in Radonitsa the dead are called from their graves to the joy of the Holy Resurrection.
All of Rus', without exception, hurried to Radonitsa to the cemeteries to celebrate Christ with their deceased relatives, to treat those who had passed on to eternity with a red egg and other dishes. Three or four eggs were placed on the grave, and sometimes they were buried in it, broken on the grave cross, then immediately crumbled or given to the poor brethren for a memorial service. It was not possible, of course, without the living remembering the dead with snacks and drinks, celebrated right there in the cemetery - an Old Slavonic funeral feast, a distinctive feature of the Russian people. Although honoring the memory of the dead, as if still maintaining some kind of mysterious connection with the living, is carried out everywhere in Rus' and in all suitable cases that cannot even be listed, nevertheless, Radonitsa as a memorial day stood out most from among the others, distinguished by the joyful mood of the commemorators . It may seem strange how sadness for those who passed into eternity was combined with joy, but this was explained, firstly, by the deep belief of the Russian people that the time would come when all the dead would rise from their graves, a belief supported at the same time by the fact of the Resurrection of Christ, and secondly, Krasnaya Gorka - a cheerful spring holiday, the revival of nature, which had been frozen for a long time of the year, put a person in a cheerful mood, encouraged him to forget this time about the harsh, merciless death, to think about life, which promises both joy and good. That is why most of the cheerful and noisy weddings were timed for this time, with their characteristic folk songs, accompanied by the singing of “freckles”. And this spring holiday was followed by Semik, and Mermaids, and Ivan Kupala, etc.
After the adoption of Christianity, the holiday of Radonitsa received a completely new content. The Orthodox Church confesses that not only Orthodox saints of God, but all believers do not die, but live in the Lord. The Savior, by his rise from the dead, defeated death and now resettles his slaves only to another life - eternal. Therefore, deceased Christians do not cease to be members of the Church and maintain real, living communication with it and with the rest of their children.
This is what happens on the day of Radonitsa. After the liturgy, the Ecumenical Requiem Service is celebrated.
Researcher of Belarusian history Vadim Deruzhinsky in his book “Secrets of Belarusian History” explains the uniqueness of Radunitsa by the fact that in ancient times only our ancestors buried the bodies of deceased relatives in earthen pits. Hence the tradition of visiting the dead.
Slavs, Scandinavians and residents of modern Central Russia cremated their dead. Cremation stopped only with the advent of Christianity, because it contradicted the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. And our neighbors began to come to the graves and commemorate their deceased relatives in the 17th century after the war between the Principality of Moscow and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1654-67, when the troops of the Russian Tsar took 300 thousand enslaved Belarusian Litvinians captive.
The most amazing funeral holiday of the Belarusians, Radunitsa, is unusual not only for its uniqueness, but also for the tradition of bringing food to the cemetery and feeding dead relatives.
The famous Russian folklorist-ethnographer Ivan Sakharov in “Tales of the Russian People” described Radunitsa as follows: “Lithuanians go to the graves of their parents on Tuesday, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, to have lunch and remember them for their repose. First, they start rolling red eggs on the graves, then dousing the graves with honey and wine. Eggs are distributed to the poor. The graves are covered with white table top and food is placed. According to old traditions, the meal should consist of odd dishes and dry ones. The rich provide the poor with food for their parents' meals. After this, the parents are greeted: “Holy Rodzitseli, give us bread and salt!” - And they sit on the graves to remember them. At the end of the wake they say: “My rodzitseli, get out of it, don’t be dzivitsya, the rich the house is, that’s what you’re happy about.” The remains of the food are distributed to the poor, and the day ends in taverns with songs and dances.”
In 1836, by Lithuanians, Sakharov understood precisely the Belarusians, and not the Zhemoits, whom tsarism gradually began to call “Lithuanians” only in the 1870s, clarifies Deruzhinsky.
Researchers believe that the origins of Radunitsa go back to pagan times. The most interesting thing in Radunitsa is the custom of feeding deceased relatives.
Vadim Deruzhinsky draws attention to the distinctive features of the Belarusian tradition. Our neighbors, who much later adopted the custom of commemoration, attach symbolic meaning to feeding the dead, placing food and drink near the grave, as if as a sign that “we are giving.”
In our case, as Deruzhinsky writes, this is not a symbol at all, but really feeding. The drink is not placed near the grave, but is poured on it so that it reaches the deceased relative through the ground. Food (eggs, bread) is rolled over the grave, crushed and rubbed so that the grave soil absorbs it and mixes with the crumbs.
Belarusians on Radunitsa not only feed the deceased, but also eat with them, thereby showing the preservation of family love.
In the old days, it was believed that if you did not invite your ancestors to a festive meal in Radunitsa, then there would be no luck for the whole family, there would be no harvest, the cattle would get sick, or even die. But if you ask your ancestors for protection, invite them to the table, you only have time to reap the harvest.
It is believed that on the day of Radunitsa, ancestors celebrate with their descendants, share a common meal, and participate in the fun.
As the Belarusian saying goes, “They plow on Radunitsa before lunch, cry after lunch, and jump in the evening.”
In Belarus, the tradition of Radunitsa has been preserved to this day. By the way, unlike our neighbors, this day is declared a public holiday and is necessarily a day off.
MEANWHILE,
From the point of view of the church, there is no need to eat at the grave
According to Archimandrite Alexey, according to tradition, on the Monday evening before Radunitsa or on Tuesday morning, it is customary to come to the Easter funeral service and write notes with the names of deceased loved ones.
According to tradition, a meal is brought to the funeral table in the temple - the same one that many mistakenly take to the cemetery. It could be Easter cakes, eggs, cookies, candies - any food. It is not customary to bring only meat products and alcohol (with the exception of wine for liturgical purposes). Then this entire meal is distributed to the needy and poor. After the service they go to the cemetery. There is no need to eat at the grave - you should light a candle, lay flowers, pray, remember your deceased relatives, friends and acquaintances. After this they return home. This is where you can set the table and also remember the souls of your relatives.
However, the prevailing customs among the people are such that many still bring treats and vodka to the cemetery, Archimandrite Alexey laments. As a result, such celebrations that do not comply with church traditions sometimes end tragically - drunkenness, fights, and even death.
How are the dead remembered?
The holiday has been celebrated in Christian cemeteries since ancient times, so one of the evidence of this comes from the pen of St. John Chrysostom and dates back to the 4th century.
Until the ninth day after Easter, the Church does not perform the traditional commemoration of the dead (a person who died on Easter is buried according to a special Easter rite).
And on Radonitsa, churches usually hold a full memorial service (which includes Easter chants). And believers traditionally visit the graves of the dead.
Here it is necessary to clarify the most important point. During Soviet times, a tradition arose of having a kind of memorial meal at graves. In fact, this tradition is purely pagan, pre-Christian. It was resurrected during the Soviet era in order to replace the funeral church prayer with something.
The priests remind: in fact, the souls of deceased loved ones do not need such a meal, but prayer.
Therefore, the Church calls on believers to adhere to the following behavior.
Arriving at the cemetery, light a candle, say a prayer, and, if desired, read an akathist about the repose of the deceased. After this, you can put things in order, tidy up the grave, and silently remember the deceased.
In general, before going to the cemetery, relatives are advised to attend a service in the church and submit a note with the name of the deceased for commemoration.
What should you avoid?
The Church reminds that the custom of accompanying visits to graves with drunkenness, as well as leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread at the grave “for the deceased” is unacceptable blasphemy and a custom that has nothing in common with Orthodoxy.
Radunitsa is a special day of remembrance of the dead, a spring pagan holiday of the Eastern Slavs, associated with the cult of ancestors. After baptism, it began to be celebrated on St. Thomas Week - on the 1st Sunday after Easter, or on the following Monday or Tuesday (the latter is especially common). Radunitsa is one of the oldest holidays, when wine and food are brought to the graves of great-grandfathers, lamentations and games (games, songs and dances) are held.
Initially, Radunitsa is the name of deities who personify the veneration of the dead, guardians of the souls of dead people.
Sacrifices were offered to the Radunites and their wards from abundant feasts and libations on funeral mounds, so that the soul of the deceased, who had not yet flown away, could enjoy the spectacle of the respect that the living showed it.
Gradually, the word “trizna” began to mean simply a wake, and “radinitsa” - the spring commemoration of the dead. It was spring, because the living especially tried to appease the Ancestors at the time of the heyday of nature, the final retreat of winter, the time of the dead sleep of the whole earth.
The origins of this are in the ancient beliefs of farmers that deceased ancestors buried in the ground are associated with its wealth and capabilities and can influence the future harvest.
On this day, in a festively decorated house, the hostess was preparing food for commemoration in the cemetery. Moreover, the number of dishes had to be odd. Everything was folded into a large linen scarf. Holy eggs or cheese were added.
This is a pan-Slavic tradition, adopted and supported by the Christian Church in Rus' (among the ancient Slavs this holiday of remembrance of the dead was called Radovnitsa, Radoshnitsa, Radunitsa, Rodonitsa, Naviy Den, Mogilki, Grobki, Trizny). It is absent in the Orthodox Churches of the Middle East and Greece. Etymologically, the word “radonitsa” goes back to the root “rad-” (joy, joy).
Radunitsa seems to oblige people not to delve into worries about the death of loved ones, but, on the contrary, to rejoice and share this joy with them. Coming to the graves of your ancestors, it is stupid and absurd to give them your sadness, showing eternal sorrow and grief. On this day, people showed their good wealth and ability to live to their Ancestors, thereby affirming that everything that was created by those who passed away was not in vain and bore good fruit. On this day, the Ancestors are informed of their intentions and thoughts, asking for help and support in their endeavors. On this day, the Ancestors look at their descendants and judge their life path, done without them, trying to guide them on the right path and protect them from leaving it.
In Belarus, as well as in a number of regions of Russia, this day is declared a day off.
In Belarus, on the rainbow in the afternoon, the whole family went to the cemetery to the graves of loved ones, where they rolled eggs painted in husks over the graves, and watered the graves with vodka. The eggs were given to the poor, and they themselves covered the graves with towels, on which they placed various foods. There should be an odd number of dishes, and all dry. At first they said: “Holy parents, come to us to eat bread and salt.” Then they sat down, had a drink and a snack. Getting up, they said: “My parents, forgive me, don’t be angry, the rich the house is, that’s what we’re happy about.” As the Belarusian saying goes, “they plow for the rainbow before lunch, cry after lunch, and jump in the evening.”
Belarusian traditions of commemorating ancestors on this day have largely been preserved from pagan times. Modern Radonitsa, which Christians celebrate, has largely adopted the features of pagan holidays commemorating ancestors - Grandfathers.
The same day in the Slavic tradition was the day the larks arrived at their usual places - a sign of the final return to the world of warmth and light.
The Church dedicated the second Tuesday after Easter to a special commemoration of the departed and paradoxically called this day - Radonitsa, or Radunitsa. In both versions, the root “rad” is clearly heard, and you involuntarily stumble over this contradiction. How so? It turns out that when remembering our deceased loved ones, we should not grieve, but rejoice? Let's figure it out. Let's start with the most popular question.
1. Why can’t you go to the cemetery on Easter?
Easter, the Bright Resurrection of Christ, is a holiday of victory over death, a holiday of the joyful news that by His Resurrection from the dead, Christ not only defeated death, but also gave life to “those in the tombs” - that is, to the dead. The Church tactfully gives us all the opportunity to be filled with Easter joy, to establish ourselves in it, and only then sets aside a special day so that we can remember our departed ones, and the day of commemoration itself has such a life-affirming name - Radonitsa.
2. How to properly perform Radonitsa?
People always try to come to the cemetery in Radonitsa. But since our prayer is more important for the soul of the deceased than any ritual around the graves, it is worth starting the day with a visit to the Divine Liturgy. Arriving at the beginning of the service in the church, believers submit a note with the name of the deceased for his prayerful commemoration in the altar during the liturgy. It is believed that there is no more effective prayer than the one pronounced in a low voice by the priest during the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Therefore, the so-called forty-mouths are often ordered for the deceased - prayerful remembrances during the Sacrament of the Eucharist, performed for forty days.
After the Divine Liturgy, churches serve an ecumenical or parental memorial service on Radonitsa. During the funeral service, we, trusting in God’s mercy, ask the deceased for forgiveness of his sins and blessed eternal life. Memorial services are special funeral services performed both before the burial of the deceased and after - on the 3rd, 9th, 40th days after death, on his birthday and death anniversary. It is important not only to defend the memorial service, but also to prayerfully participate in it.
Our ancestors came to Radonitsa to the cemetery only after church and prayer in it.
3. What does it mean to remember the dead?
First, let us pay attention to the fact that in the Church they speak about the departed, and not about the dead - this is because with God there are no dead, with God everyone is alive. Then we will fix another important point: the commemoration of the dead in the Church differs from days of remembrance, from memories of a person. Commemoration in the Church is, first of all, prayer.
4. What is the point of praying for the dead, because they no longer hear us?
Prayer is an appeal to God, the Mother of God, Angels, and saints. Prayer is our conversation with them, and first of all with God - as with the Creator of everything, including man. When we pray, our spiritual beginning, namely our soul and spirit, comes into incomprehensible, but nevertheless direct contact with God and the entire otherworldly mysterious world.
Prayer for another person is based on the fact that the other is also a spiritual being, also created in the image and likeness of God, also a son of the Heavenly Father, regardless of how much he currently realizes and appreciates this connection with His Father. That is why prayer is possible not only for ourselves, but also for those who are dear to us, including lost souls. That is, prayer is a relationship in the spiritual sphere, but - and this is extremely important! - relationships built through our intercession, our petitions to God. You can directly turn to the disobedient child: “What are you doing! Why did you decide that you can pour everything that burns into yourself? You want to become an alcoholic!”, or you can pray to God and the Mother of God to admonish the youth N and turn him away from the sin of drunkenness. The last method is more effective. Although it is carried out on a spiritual level, that is, invisible to the eye, but inaudible to the ear.
Everything that has been said concerns not only the souls of those who are still here and, in principle, have everything that allows a person to pray - the brain, will, heart, sense organs. Souls already deprived of a body need our prayer even more. Here is what the great Russian saint Theophan the Recluse writes about this: “Those who have departed are alive, and our communication with them is not interrupted. As we pray for the living, without distinguishing whether someone follows the righteous path or another; so we pray for those who have departed, without searching, whether they are numbered among the righteous or among the sinners. This is a duty of brotherly love. Until the last judgment separates the believers, all of them, both living and dead, constitute one Church. And we must all relate to each other as members of one body. spirit of good will and loving communication, both living and dead, without being divided in half by dying.”
The human soul is created immortal; it does not die along with its body and after separation from it, that is, after physical death, it appears before God for private judgment. Having gone through this private trial, until the general resurrection and the Last Judgment, the soul remains awaiting its eternal fate. Where exactly is it located? We are not allowed to know. “In My Father’s house are many mansions,” Jesus Christ says to His disciples. But since the soul is immortal, since it “abides,” even if it is unknown where, it means that it is not only within the reach of our prayers, but also needs them.
The coming of Jesus Christ into our world, His atoning sacrifice for our sins, His Death on the Cross, and then His Resurrection from the dead made our prayer for those who are already outside the framework of our earthly world, not just words of petition and hope, but a reality connecting our the earthly world with the heavenly world.
5. Why is it important to pray for deceased loved ones?
This is how one of the most revered elders of the Russian Orthodox Church, the spiritual father of three Russian patriarchs, Archimandrite Kirill (Pavlov) answers this question.
“Most people go into eternity with sins, without having time to cleanse themselves of them due to unexpected death or illness and infirmity, so that they find themselves guilty before the Justice of God,” says the famous elder. “And at the same time we know that in the future There will be only two places for people to stay: hell and heaven. The deceased, who have not been cleansed of their sins, can no longer offer prayers; they cannot help their situation. They place all their hope only on those who remain alive on earth. They can help them and change them. their fate in the future life. If the gates of eternity suddenly opened before our eyes, we would see millions of souls stretching out their hands to those living on earth, silently asking for their help in easing their fate in the other world.”
The two-thousand-year experience of the Church testifies: the afterlife of a person before the Last Judgment is not completely predetermined, and the prayer of the living, prayer filled with ardent and sincere love, is capable of changing this fate.
On the other hand, precisely because a spiritual connection between the living and the dead is possible, we also receive prayer help from there, from the saints. Our deceased are also spiritually capable of giving us signals and saving us.
6. How else, besides prayer, can you change the posthumous fate of the deceased?
In addition to magpies, memorial services, and home prayers for the departed, another means of commemorating them is almsgiving. Alms should be understood not only as giving to the poor in memory of the deceased, but also more broadly - any good deed, good deed. Saint John Chrysostom taught: “Luxurious burial is not love for the deceased, but vanity. If you want to sympathize with the deceased, I will show you another way of burial... worthy of him and glorifying him: this is alms.”
The saints testify: good deeds done in memory of our relatives also make their posthumous fate easier. If, for example, a loved one died from alcoholism, help the patient, tormented by this destructive passion, do everything so that he does not repeat the path of your loved one. If you couldn’t save someone close to you, save someone far away, and your act, done in memory of the deceased, will ease his posthumous torment.
7. Why do we rejoice on Radonitsa?
Easter, the Holy Resurrection of Christ, is such an important holiday that it lasts not one day, but forty (from April 8 to May 17). On the day of Radonitsa, the celebration of Easter is not yet over, and a separate day, set aside by the Church for the remembrance of the departed, seems to encourage us all not to plunge into sorrowful experiences over the death of loved ones, but, on the contrary, to rejoice at their birth into another life - eternal life. The victory over death won by the resurrection of Christ displaces the sadness of temporary separation from relatives, and therefore we, in the words of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, “stand with faith, hope and Easter confidence at the tombs of the departed.”
That is, the meaning of Radonitsa is that we not only remember the dead, pray for them, but also share with them the joy of the Resurrection of Christ. It is no coincidence that during the full memorial service, which takes place on this day after the service, Easter hymns are also sung.
This holiday has two full names that can be used equally. The celebration falls on the ninth day after Easter - it also varies in dates. A Christian holiday, very significant for all believers. It exists to honor the memory of the deceased, to remember all those who are no longer with us. This is both a joyful and sad day, which expresses the hope of eternal life after the resurrection.
history of the holiday
According to the testimony of St. John Chrysostom (IV century), this holiday was celebrated in Christian cemeteries already in ancient times. Its very name was adopted from the pan-Slavic pagan spring holiday in commemoration of the dead, called Navy Day, Graves, Radavanitsy or Triznami. Like many other Christian holidays, this one has its origins in paganism.
Even before the spread of the new religion, there was a Navy day. All people gathered, remembered their relatives, addressed their souls, sang songs and read various conspiracies. In the Christian tradition, the holiday has been slightly transformed taking into account the characteristics of religion. Why was this particular time chosen for the celebration?
Everything is simple here: on Maundy Thursday before Easter, the singing of the lithium for the departed in churches is stopped. But after St. Thomas Sunday (which follows Easter), singing resumes again. That is why in the first days it makes sense to celebrate such a celebration. The name of the holiday comes from the word “joy”. On this day, it is customary to remember people who left the earthly world with a good mood and good thoughts.
On this day you cannot cry bitterly, be very sad and suffer. Loud conversations, shouting, and quarrels are prohibited. Fun doesn't have to be wild. Under no circumstances should you speak ill of the dead. Christian tradition does not allow commemorating the dead with alcoholic beverages. If a woman is pregnant, she should not go to the cemetery. You should also put aside hard physical labor, because it is recommended to spend this day in prayer and communicating with loved ones.
