Source: Philippine Mission of the Russian
Orthodox Church (ROCOR)
October 24, 2015
Orthodox Christians in Belarus visiting the cemetery as priests bless the graves.
In about one week, western Christians will commemorate all
the dead on November 2, the Feast of All Souls. This
commemoration is important to Filipinos, and I am often
asked the question: Can we still keep All Souls Day?
Filipinos visiting a cemetery
The short answer: All Souls
Day is not a feast on our calendar. However it
is always appropriate
for Christian people to pray for our departed loved
ones! Many families, not only in the Philippines but
in many places, have the custom of observing All
Souls Day or the anniversary of a loved one’s
death by visiting or even having a picnic meal there
at the grave. This is a healthy and pious custom,
reminding us that “God is the God of the
living, not of the dead, for all live to Him”
(Luke 20:38). None of those who have fallen asleep in
Christ are separated from Him, and death does not
divide the Church.
Additionally, we have an Orthodox service called the
Trisagion for the Departed or
General Panihida which your priest offers
at least seven times every year, on the Saturdays of
Souls. Every Saturday is a traditional day to pray for the
dead, because Christ rested in the tomb on Saturday. But
these Saturdays are especially chosen for commemoration of
the dead:
- The Saturday of Meatfare Week (the second Saturday
before Great Lent)
- The second Saturday during Great Lent
- The third Saturday during Great Lent
- The fourth Saturday during Great Lent
-
Radonitsa
(Monday or Tuesday after Thomas Sunday)
- The Saturday before Pentecost
- Demetrius Saturday (the Saturday before the feast of
Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki — Oct. 26/Nov. 8).
This year it is on Saturday, November 7.
In the Orthodox Church we have not just one All
Souls Day but seven of them, in addition to your
family’s pious commemoration at the grave of your
loved ones.
Blessing graves in Serbia
Finally, besides the
liturgical services of the Church which commemorate
all those who have died in the Faith, the Church has
provided us a prayer we can all pray at home, alone
or together, for our loved ones who have fallen
asleep in Christ: This is the Akathist for the
Departed. I encourage all Christian
people, but especially those who are now grieving for
the loss of a loved one: Print this prayer, and add it
to your own morning or evening prayers. It will help
you to pour out your heart to the Lord. And as you ask
mercy for your loved one the Lord will bless both them
and you.
24 октября 2015 г.