Church rituals for the deceased. Funeral ritual - Russian Orthodox traditions

Are commemorations of the dead beneficial? We turn to God with prayers for the departed during the Divine Liturgy and memorial services, because we hope and believe in His philanthropy and compassion, in His mercy and goodness. And the Apostle of love encourages us to this with the words: “And this is what

The death of a person, burial rites and church prayer for the deceased. Days of special remembrance of the dead Both the birth of a person and his death have always been understood in the Orthodox consciousness as a sacrament that depends entirely on the will of the Lord. However, in the minds of humanity

On special days of remembrance of the dead, the Holy Church offers unceasing prayers for our departed fathers and brothers at every divine service and especially at the Liturgy. At the same time, on certain days of the year, the Church commemorates all fathers and brothers in faith who have passed away from time to time,

The importance of commemorating the dead The Holy Orthodox Church, as a caring mother, takes care of her children, asking God for their health and remission of sins. Especially at the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Church cries out to God for the dead, firmly believing that the Holy Blood

If the body of the deceased will be at home before the funeral

Attention! Preparations for the funeral can begin only after completion of all official procedures (examination by a local police officer, doctor, etc. (You can read more about this in the article)

• The body is washed with warm water, while reading the “Trisagion” * or “Lord, have mercy.”
• After washing, the Christian’s body is dressed in clean and, if possible, new clothes.
• Then the body of the deceased is placed on the table and covered with a white blanket - a shroud.
• Before placing the deceased in the coffin, the body and coffin (outside and inside) are sprinkled with holy water.
• The deceased is placed face up in the coffin, with a pillow stuffed with straw or sawdust placed under the head.
• The deceased's eyes should be closed, lips closed, hands folded crosswise, the right hand on top of the left. The hands and feet of the deceased are tied (untied just before the body is brought into the temple).
• The deceased must wear a pectoral cross.
• Then the deceased is covered with a special consecrated veil (funeral veil) with an image of a cross, images of saints and prayer inscriptions (sold in a church shop).
• When the body of the deceased is washed and dressed, they immediately begin to read the canon called “The Sequence of the Exodus of the Soul from the Body”**. If it is not possible to invite a priest to the house, then the Sedition can be read by close relatives and acquaintances.***
• When the body is washed and dressed, a lamp or candle is also lit, which should burn as long as the deceased is in the house.
• A funeral cross is placed in the hands of the deceased, a holy icon is placed on the chest: for men - the image of the Savior, for women - the image of the Mother of God (it is better to buy in a church shop, where everything is already consecrated).
• A crown is placed on the forehead of the deceased, which is a symbol of the deceased Christian’s observance of faith and his accomplishment of a Christian feat in life. The chaplet is laid in the hope that the one who has died in faith will receive a heavenly reward and an incorruptible crown from God upon resurrection.
• The coffin is usually placed in the middle of the room in front of household icons, with its head facing the images.
• It is advisable immediately after the death of a person to order a commemoration at the Sorokoust **** church or monastery during the Divine Liturgy within 40 days. (In churches where divine services are not performed daily, the deceased is remembered during 40 Divine Liturgies (see link 5). If desired and possible, you can submit notes with the name of the deceased in several churches. It is advisable to do this before the funeral service and burial.

If a person died not at home, and his body is not in the house

• After all the formalities have been completed and the body has been taken to the morgue, you must begin to read the canon in the red corner in front of the icons, called “The Sequence of the Exodus of the Soul from the Body”**, and then read the Psalter for the deceased. If it is not possible to invite a priest to the house, then the Sedition can be read by close relatives and acquaintances.***
• The next day you need to take clean and, if possible, new clothes and other necessary things to the morgue (you can read more here “What to do when a person dies”), as well as a pectoral cross (if the deceased was not wearing one), a funeral cross in the hands and an icon: for men - the image of the Savior, for women - the image of the Mother of God (it is better to buy in a church shop where everything is already consecrated).
• It is necessary to ask the morgue workers to prepare the body for the funeral, taking into account Orthodox traditions (usually morgue workers know them very well).
• On the very first day after death, it is imperative to take care of the church commemoration of the deceased. It is advisable to immediately order at the Sorokoust temple or monastery **** If desired and possible, you can submit notes with the name of the deceased in several churches. It is advisable to do this before the funeral service and burial. But you should not forget to order Sorokoust**** even after 40 days.

FUNERAL

• If the funeral starts from home , then an hour and a half before the coffin is taken out of the house, “Sequence on the Exodus of the Soul”*** is read again over the body of the deceased. If the ritual starts from the morgue , then you can read “Sequence on the Exodus of the Soul”*** before the start of the ritual in any place (in the temple, at the morgue).
• The coffin is carried out, turning the face of the deceased towards the exit, i.e. feet forward. The mourners sing the Trisagion*.
• According to church rules, contrary to existing superstition, the coffin with the body should be carried, if possible, by close relatives and friends. An exception exists only for priests, who should not carry the coffin of a layman, no matter who he is. If a priest is present at the funeral, he walks in front of the coffin as a spiritual shepherd.
• The deceased is placed in the grave with his face facing east. As the coffin is lowered, the Trisagion* is sung again. All mourners throw a handful of earth into the grave. If possible, cremation should be avoided (Read more about this in the article “On the attitude of Orthodoxy to cremation and the possibility of the resurrection of bodies”).
• The gravestone cross is placed at the feet of the deceased, facing west so that the face of the deceased is directed towards the holy cross.
• You cannot invite an orchestra for the funeral of an Orthodox Christian.
• The burial should not take place on the day of Holy Easter and on the day of the Nativity of Christ.

FUNERAL SERVICE

• On the third day after death (in practice, due to various circumstances, it can be any other day), the deceased Orthodox Christian is awarded a church funeral service and burial. This rite is not performed only on the day of Holy Easter and on the day of the Nativity of Christ.
• The funeral service is performed for the deceased only once, unlike funeral services (see link 6) and lithium (see link 7), which can be done multiple times.
• The funeral service is not performed at the burial of the unbaptized (i.e., those who do not belong to the Church), heterodox (people of non-Orthodox faith).
• The Church also does not perform funeral services for those who are baptized but have renounced the faith. In this case, relatives and friends themselves should pray for them in home prayers, give alms for them, (More about this in the article “How to make a “bank transfer” to the next world to help the soul of a loved one”) repent in confession that they did not contribute to their conversion to faith.
• The Church does not perform funeral services for suicides, except in special cases (for example, when the person who committed suicide is insane), but even then only with the blessing of the ruling bishop (see link 8).
• For the funeral service, the coffin with the body of the deceased is brought into the temple feet first and placed facing the altar, i.e. feet to the east, head to the west.
• When performing the funeral service, relatives and friends should stand at the coffin with lighted candles and pray intensely with the priest for the soul of the deceased.
• After the proclamation of “Eternal Memory,” the priest reads a prayer of permission over the deceased. This prayer forgives the deceased’s oaths and sins, which he repented of in confession (or forgot to repent due to forgetfulness or ignorance). But those sins for which he did not intentionally repent (or did not repent at all in confession) are not forgiven by the prayer of permission. The text of the prayer of permission is placed by the priest in the hands of the deceased.
• After this, the mourners, having extinguished the candles, walk around the coffin with the body, ask the deceased for forgiveness, kiss the aureole on the forehead and the icon on the chest. The body is completely covered with a veil, the priest sprinkles it with earth in a cross shape. After this, the coffin is covered with a lid and cannot be opened again.
• With the singing of the Trisagion* the coffin is carried out of the temple facing the exit (feet first).
• If it is not possible to bring the body of the deceased to the church, and it is also not possible to invite a priest to the house, then an absentee funeral service can be held in the church. After it, the relatives are given earth (sand) from the funeral table. This earth is sprinkled crosswise over the body of the deceased. If by this time the deceased has already been buried, then earth from the funeral table is sprinkled crosswise over his grave. (If the urn is buried in a columbarium, then in this case the consecrated earth is poured onto any grave of an Orthodox Christian, but it is not placed (scattered) in a cell of the columbarium).

More information about issues related to the funeral service can be found in the article “Is the funeral service a “pass to heaven?”

WAKE

• After the funeral service in the church and the burial of the body in the cemetery, the relatives of the deceased arrange a memorial meal - this is a kind of Christian alms for those gathered.
• Such a meal can be held on the third day after death (the day of the funeral), the ninth, fortieth days, six months and a year after death, on the birthday and day of the angel of the deceased (name day, name day).
• There should absolutely be no alcohol at the funeral table. Drinking alcohol at funerals harms the souls of deceased people. This is an echo of pagan funeral feasts.
• If the funeral takes place on fast days (see link 9), then the food should be lean.
• On weekdays during Lent, funeral services are not held, but are postponed to the next (forward) Saturday and Sunday. This is done because only on Saturday and Sunday are the Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great performed, and during the proskomedia, particles are taken out for the deceased, and memorial services are also performed.
• Memorial days falling on Bright Week (see link 10) and on Monday of the second Easter week they are transferred to Radonitsa. (see link 11)
• It is important on the days of remembrance of the dead and for 40 days to intensively distribute alms to the poor and needy in the name of the soul of the deceased. It is also good to distribute the deceased's belongings to those in need. But even after 40 days have passed, you should not stop this godly work, which greatly helps the soul of the deceased.

1. Full text of this prayer: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

2. “Following the departure of the soul from the body”. A special prayer, which is usually read immediately after death, is intended for such an exceptional case. The service has an exceptional structure, different from a memorial service.

If death occurred within eight days from Easter to Tuesday of St. Thomas Week (Radonitsa), then in addition to “Following the Exodus of the Soul,” the Easter Canon is read. In the Orthodox Church there is a pious custom of continuous reading of the Psalter for the deceased until his burial. The Psalter is read in the future on days of remembrance, and especially intensively in the first 40 days after death. During Easter week (eight days from Easter to Radonitsa) reading in the Church Psalms replaced by reading Easter Canon. At home over the deceased, the reading of the Psalter can also be replaced by the Easter Canon. But if this is not possible, then you can read the Psalter.

3. Following the departure of the soul from the body Not only priests, but also laity can read. It exists for reading by the laity.

4. Sorokoust- daily prayerful commemoration during the Divine Liturgy for 40 days. In churches where divine services are not held daily, the deceased is remembered during 40 Divine Liturgies.

5. Liturgy(Greek λειτουργία, “service”, “common cause”)- the most important Christian service among Orthodox, Catholics and some other churches, in which the sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated. Liturgy is a prototype of the Last Supper.

It is performed in large churches every day, in most others - every Sunday. The Liturgy usually begins at 7-10 am; in churches where there is more than one altar, an early liturgy can also be celebrated.

6. Memorial service- a funeral service established by the Church, which consists of prayers in which those praying trust in God’s mercy, asking for forgiveness of the sins of the deceased and the granting of blissful eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. During the service of memorial services, the gathered relatives and acquaintances of the deceased stand with lit candles as a sign that they also believe in a bright future life; at the end of the requiem service (during the reading of the Lord's Prayer), these candles are extinguished as a sign that our earthly life, burning like a candle, must go out, most often before it burns out to the end we envision. It is customary to perform memorial services both before the burial of the deceased and after - on the 3rd, 9th, 40th day after death, on his birthday, namesake (name day), on the anniversary of death. But it is very good to pray at a memorial service, and also to submit notes for remembrance on other days. This greatly helps the souls of the departed and comforts those praying. In churches, memorial services are usually served on Saturday after the Liturgy.

7. Lithium(from the Greek “zealous prayer”) - in Orthodox worship, part of the all-night vigil. Nowadays, the lithium, in addition to the pre-holiday all-night vigils, is celebrated in cases of public disasters or when remembering them, usually outside the church, combined with a prayer service, and sometimes with a procession of the cross.

A special kind of litiya is established for prayer for the deceased, performed when he is taken out of the house, and also, at the request of his relatives, during church commemoration of him at any other time in another place. Litiya can be read not only by priests, but also by laity. It is very good to read the lithium and pray when visiting a cemetery.

8. Funeral service for suicides is carried out only with the blessing (permission) of the ruling bishop (bishop). In order to receive this blessing, after suicide it is necessary to urgently contact the diocesan administration (in the regional center) with a request to allow the funeral service (and church commemoration). To do this, you need to provide the diocesan administration with the necessary documents (certificates from a psychoneurological dispensary, drug dispensary, hospital, clinic, etc.) and certificates (psychologist, psychiatrist, neighbors, teachers, etc.) that could explain what happened suicide by insanity, mental illness of the suicide, affect during suicide, and other mitigating factors. You should also contact the bishop if there are doubts that the deceased committed suicide himself (for example, it could have been an accident, death due to negligence, etc. But relatives know that if the suicide committed suicide in the absence of factors that the Church recognizes as mitigating, then You shouldn't try to get the bishop's blessing through deception and manipulation. After all, even if a bishop, misled, gives permission, then God cannot be deceived. He knows exactly what was in the hearts of the suicide and those people who misled the hierarchy. It is much better in In this case, do not deceive, but pray intensely, perform acts of mercy for the suicide, give alms for him, fast, and also do everything that can bring comfort to his soul.

9. Fast days are the days of fasting, as well as Wednesdays and Fridays. Fasting is the abstinence of the body from food of animal origin, as well as from oversaturation and indulgence in lean food (it must be borne in mind that fasting days vary in the severity of fasting. Information about the severity of fasting can be obtained from the Church calendar. Fasting is a time for the soul to abstain from evil thoughts , deeds and words; a time of deep repentance and sobriety. Fasting is a means of combating passions and acquiring virtues.

10. Bright Week The 7 days of celebration of Holy Easter are called - from Easter proper to St. Thomas Week. During Bright Week, fasting on Wednesday and Friday, as well as prostrations to the ground, are canceled. Morning and evening prayers are replaced by the singing of the Easter hours.

11. Radonitsa- a day specially established by the Church to commemorate the dead, which takes place on the 9th day after Easter, on Tuesday of St. Thomas Week, which follows Bright Week. The day was established so that believers could share the joy of Easter with the souls of relatives and friends who died in the hope of the Resurrection and Eternal Life. On Radonitsa, in contrast to the days of Bright Week, it is customary to visit cemeteries where loved ones are buried, clean the graves (but do not have a meal in the cemetery) and pray.

The following publications were used in the preparation of this material:

1. “On the path of all the earth. Funeral service, burial and commemoration of the dead”, publication of the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.
2. “The last journey of the whole earth. Questions and answers about the burial rite”, publication of the Danilov Monastery in Moscow.
3. “Orthodox Commemoration of the Dead” edited by Melnikov V.G.
4. “How can we help the dead? The doctrine of posthumous fate. Orthodox burial rite. Prayers for repose”, society publication

The main feature of the funeral rite in Orthodoxy is the Church’s perception of the body of a deceased person as the temple of his soul; at the same time, a person’s earthly life is considered to precede the future – eternal; Death in Orthodox philosophy is seen as the moment of awakening from the sleep of a sinful life, after which the time of renewal begins. Death is an inevitable act of existence, followed by the separation of the soul from the body and its presentation to the Supreme Court.

A Christian tries to build his entire life in such a way that there are no unrepentant sins left behind him, so as not to suffer from them in the afterlife. Therefore, one of the most difficult philosophical questions is how to properly prepare a person for death. If a person is seriously ill, it is necessary to call a clergyman, before whom you can confess, as well as receive communion and unction. When a person feels the approach of death, he is overcome by fear and a painful expectation of the unknown. To ease the suffering soul, loved ones of a dying person can themselves read the prayer for the death.

In the Orthodox prayer book it is called “The Canon of Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Most Pure Mother of God at the separation of the soul from the body of every faithful believer.” At the end of the Canon there is a prayer from the priest about the exodus of the soul, its liberation, forgiveness of sins and eternal rest in the Kingdom of Heaven. This prayer can only be read by a priest, therefore relatives and other loved ones who are not ministers of the church can only read the Canon.

The funeral rites that are performed by the Orthodox Church are not colorful and pompous celebrations that are needed only to satisfy ambition. These are deeply spiritual sacraments based on sacred revelations that predate the first companions of Jesus Christ.

The essence of the Orthodox burial tradition- a consoling action expressing faith in the Resurrection and eternal life. Throughout the history of mankind, not a single people has left the body of the deceased unburied. This has always been a sacred sacrament. The Orthodox burial rite contains a deep meaning - consolation and faith in the beginning of a new life after death.

First day after death

Immediately after a person's death, his body must be washed. This rite marks the purification of the body and soul, which will have to appear before God at the Supreme Court. After washing, clean clothes are put on the deceased person, symbolizing new life.

If an Orthodox person did not wear a cross during his lifetime, then he should wear one for a funeral. After this, the deceased is placed in a coffin, which is a symbolic ark to await the beginning of a new life. The coffin is sprinkled on all sides with holy water. The head and shoulders should lie on the pillow. The hands are folded in such a way that the right one is always on top. There should be a candle in the left hand of the deceased, and an icon on the chest; if a woman is buried, then it is an icon of the Mother of God, if a man is buried, it is an image of the Savior.

All this testifies to the commitment of the deceased to Christianity and also to the fact that after death this person betrays his soul to Christ, in whose Salvation he believes and goes to meet the Creator. A paper crown is placed on the forehead of the deceased, which in turn symbolizes victory in the field of sin. This suggests that the struggle with earthly passions and sin is over, and reward awaits in the Kingdom of Heaven ahead. On the crown, together with the image of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God and John the Baptist, a prayer is written - the Three Holy Hymn: “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.” Every Orthodox person is entitled to his own crown after death.

The body of the deceased is covered with a white shroud - this indicates that the deceased belongs to the Orthodox faith and that the Church from now on will care for the soul of a Christian. According to Orthodox tradition, the coffin is placed in the center of the room in front of household icons. A candle or lamp is lit in the room, which does not need to be extinguished until the body of the deceased is removed. Also, lighted candles are placed around the coffin in the form of a kind of cross - at the head, at the feet and on the sides of the deceased, which marks the transition to eternal life.

Second day

It is important to organize the burial in such a way that the concern for the soul of the deceased is in the foreground. However, you should not resort to superstitions: putting personal belongings of the deceased person or money in the coffin. According to Christian rules, it is customary to put only flowers in the coffin - their fragrance brings glory to God. Flowers also carry the symbolism of the Garden of Eden and are considered an adornment of the throne of the Lord.

After laying flowers, the priest begins reading the Psalter. Psalms about the departed are a consolation for those who grieve and turn to prayers for pardon of the soul. The Psalter is divided into twenty parts, which are called kathismas.

Each kathisma begins with the words “Come, let us worship our King God...”. Kathisma, in turn, consists of three “Glories”. At the end of each “Glory” “Alleluia...” is read three times. The reading ends with a prayer dedicated to the deceased, indicating his name: “Remember, Lord our God...”.

Before the actual burial takes place, the Psalter must be read without interruption. It is believed that it is precisely at the time when a person’s body is in the coffin that his soul goes through terrible tests on the way to a new life. Memorial services are intended to alleviate this torment. Funeral litias are also served - they are shorter than memorial services; their other name is folk prayers. During services, all those present light candles, which express the memory of the deceased and prayer for his soul. The priest performs the service with a censer.

When holding a memorial service, the Orthodox Church cares first of all about the soul of the deceased, which, appearing at the Judgment of God, needs support and prayer.

Day three

On the third day after death, the funeral service and immediate burial of the deceased. The countdown begins from the very first day - that is, from the moment when death occurred. For example, if a person died on Monday, the funeral takes place on Wednesday. You can perform the funeral service at home, but it is best in church. Before transferring the body to the temple, a funeral litany is served at home, walking with a censer around the deceased for fragrance and purification of the spirit. The funeral service itself takes place not so much in a mournful, but in a solemn form. Although the relatives of the deceased are usually dressed in mourning, the priest wears light-colored clothing.

Those present at the service hold lit candles in their hands. According to the rules, the funeral service can only take place once, even in cases of reburial. Kutia with a candle is placed on the table near the coffin (a traditional Lenten or mourning dish made from wheat and rice, seasoned with sugar or honey). Kutya grains symbolize the birth of a new life after death. So, just like grains that are placed in the ground in order to bloom later, a person’s body must be buried in order to then be resurrected in spirit. Sugar and honey signify the sweetness of heaven. Kutya itself is for Orthodox Christians the embodiment of the body of the Lord - Jesus Christ, who died in the flesh, but was resurrected in spirit. Likewise, according to the Gospel, we will not die, but will be alive in the resurrection.

According to Christian rules, the coffin must remain open until the end of the funeral service.

The exceptions for holding funeral services for the deceased are the holidays of Easter and the Nativity of Christ. In such cases, the deceased can be buried earlier or later than the third day, but this rarely happens. This happened during the Great Patriotic War, when relatives who received death notices after the fact held funeral services for the dead on unspecified days.

According to Christian canons, funeral services are prohibited only for suicides who consciously committed the act. In rare cases, it is possible to perform a funeral service for a person who committed suicide in an unconscious state, but for this it is necessary to contact the chief bishop in writing, and also attach to the petition a document about the cause of death - for example, mental illness. The funeral service consists of several parts. The name “funeral service” speaks of the singing nature of the sacrament. The content of the funeral service is a story about the fate of man, starting with the first fall of Adam and Eve, after which each person became mortal, but, after the coming of Christ, he had the opportunity to find eternal life, but not on earth, but in Heaven.

The Church in its prayer asks God for the mercy of forgiveness of the sins of the deceased and for him to be accepted into the Kingdom of God. At the end of the funeral service, the priest reads a prayer for the liberation of the soul from previous earthly sins and their remission. The text with this prayer is placed in the right hand of the deceased, and is also given to his family and friends. The custom of enclosing notes came to us from the 11th century after the story of the Varangian prince Simon, who voluntarily accepted the Orthodox faith and asked to give him a posthumous note with a permit note. There is also a known case when the deceased Alexander Nevsky, during the funeral service, himself extended his hand to accept a note.

At the end of the prayer of permission, the stichera is read: “Come, we will give you the last kiss...”. Next, there is a farewell to the deceased and kissing him. This action is a confirmation of the unity of all Christians. The relatives of the deceased walk around the coffin, ask to let go of past grievances and press their lips first to the icon on the chest of the deceased, then to the aureole on the forehead. If the coffin is closed for some reason, then they kiss the image of the cross on the lid of the coffin or the hand of the clergyman. After the funeral service, the body is transferred to the cemetery while the Trisagion hymn is sung. As a rule, the priest accompanies the coffin with the body to the grave, but if this does not happen, the body is buried not far from the funeral service. The priest sprinkles the covered body of the deceased with earth in a cross shape, saying “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulfillment of it is the universe and everyone who lives on it.” When performing unction (anointing with oil), oil is also sprinkled on the body in the shape of a cross. Sprinkling of earth by relatives is possible if the priest, at the request of relatives, had previously sprinkled earth on paper, after which the earth in a paper parcel was delivered to the cemetery. The same can be done when performing a funeral service in absentia. After covering with earth, the coffin is closed and nailed shut.

If the deceased is a baptized baby, then he is buried as if he were immaculate. There is no talk here about the remission of sins; the Church only prays for the ascension of the soul into the Kingdom of Heaven. Baptized infants are considered cleansed from original sin, but unbaptized ones are not, so a funeral service is not performed for us.

It is believed that such children are not sinful, but not pure either. Children under seven years of age are considered infants; after seven years of age, the funeral service takes place according to the rules of adults. Nowadays, cremation of the dead is quite common. It was formalized by law back in 1909 in Russia. A special bill was issued, according to which both the burial of the deceased in cemeteries and the burning of bodies in crematoriums specially built for this were allowed, if there was the written will of the deceased. However, the attitude of the Orthodox Church towards cremation remains detached, since the Holy Scriptures speak of burying the body in the ground, while there is no talk of burning it. According to Christian traditions, during burial the body of the deceased is turned towards the East - that is, in the direction where dawn occurs, as a sign of the victory of darkness over light, the transition from earthly life to eternal life.

When the coffin is lowered into the grave, the Trisagion hymn is performed, as if accompanying the person’s transition to a new life. An eight-pointed cross is installed above the grave - a symbol of salvation in Orthodoxy. The cross “accompanied” Christine throughout his earthly life, and will also keep him in peace. Usually a temporary wooden cross is placed before the monument is erected. Although it can be made from any other material, the main thing is that it has the correct eight-pointed shape. The cross is placed at the feet of the deceased, with the crucifix facing the face.

As a rule, a cross is also carved on the monument. This is an eternal sign of immortality and the resurrection of the soul, which awaits every righteous Christian after death.

Death is a natural process that every person must go through. In all cultures, there are certain ritual actions aimed at seeing off the deceased. How do Russian funeral ceremonies work? Let's look at the procedure carefully.

What it is

All nations had certain traditions of saying goodbye to a person. Differences in burial are associated with religious and national customs. The body was given to one of the elements:

• earth (burial in a crypt, grave);
• fire (cremation);
• air (hanging remains);
• water.

Nowadays you can find combined rituals that combine several rituals. The deceased was buried in a natural state or the limbs were bent. Modern traditions favor earthly burial.

In many cultures, death is a transition from one world to another. In order not to disturb the deceased, certain ritual actions must be observed. Some peoples were forbidden to cry and grieve when saying goodbye. Others, on the contrary, needed to show their grief as much as possible.

Christianity has had a huge influence on many cultures. The peculiarity of religion is that it did not completely destroy old customs, but quietly adjusted. Funeral rites in Orthodoxy retain echoes of ancient pagan beliefs.

How burial evolved

The traditional ritual is much longer than what happens now. It began from the moment the first signs of death appeared. Knowledge about the sacrament was lost, and modern burial was reduced.

Back in the 19th century, Russian peasants prepared for leaving in advance. It was considered good form if a person made the coffin himself. It is placed in the attic and filled with grain. On the day of the funeral, cereals were poured out to the birds.

The clothes for the last outfit were also sewn ahead of time. There was a special technique that made it possible to create decoration without a single knot or buttons. Women prepared a “dowry” for both themselves and their spouses. All the necessary attributes for death were tied into a bundle.

In the 20th century, an active struggle against Orthodoxy began, so the ritual became as mundane and simplified as possible. The destruction of faith in the afterlife made the ritual boring and lean. The sacred meaning of all actions has disappeared, and what remains is the banal burial of a dead body.

Seeing off

A funeral is an event that will happen to every person. If you carry out all the actions according to the rules, it will be easier for the deceased to leave the house. Let's look at the main aspects.

At this stage it is necessary to prepare the body for the sacrament. People who were not related by blood were invited to wash the remains. The deceased is washed with warm water, reading the prayers “Lord, have mercy” or “Trisagion”. Remember that only representatives of the deceased’s gender are suitable for the procedure.

For funerals, Russians usually wear clean, new clothes. You can’t take other people’s clothes, especially relatives. In this case, the deceased will “take” the person with him. Our ancestors were dressed in the best attire. It was customary for single people to dress up as if for a wedding.

The body was laid on the table and covered with a shroud - a white blanket. Before placing the deceased in a coffin, the remains and the “wooden house” were sprinkled with blessed water. A pillow was placed under the head, and a “crown” was placed on the forehead. Remember that your eyes must be closed and your lips closed.

The arms are folded crosswise - the right one is on top of the left one. To secure the limbs, they were tied with special shackles, which were released before burial. They always wore a cross and placed an icon on their chest: for men the Savior, and for women the Mother of God. While the deceased is in the room, a lamp or candle at the head of the house is lit.

Superstitions while the dead man is at home

Russian funeral rites are densely overgrown with signs. What are the rules of conduct before the coffin is removed from the premises? There are many points that should not be forgotten.

There is a superstition that you should not leave a dead person alone in a room. All items associated with death are a desirable artifact for sorcerers. Those nearby make sure that nothing is missing or put in the coffin.

The open eyes of a dead man were a bad omen. It is believed that the person on whom the gaze falls will soon die. They carefully examine the body, not allowing even the slightest gap between the eyelids.

Old people say that if a deceased person accidentally looks into a mirror, he will be captivated and will no longer be able to leave without the help of a knowledgeable person.

While the coffin is in the room, you cannot sweep it, otherwise you can “sweep out” everyone living in the house. After the remains have been taken to the cemetery, there remains a person who cleans up. To drive out death, they thoroughly wash the floor and throw away the broom, bucket and rag.

The pieces of furniture on which the sarcophagus with the deceased stood are then turned upside down. It can be installed in normal condition only after forty days. To prevent the spirit from disturbing the residents, stools were broken in the villages and burned at the stake.

Takeaway

Traditions at Russian funerals required that the coffin be placed in the center of the room. The funeral service is scheduled between noon and sunset. Any funeral events in the evening are prohibited among Orthodox Christians. The mirrors in the home were covered and the clocks were stopped. Often, towels were hung on the windows, on which the soul rested.

To prevent the deceased from taking any of his relatives, they must be carried out feet first. Our ancestors believed that such manipulation would make the deceased forget the way home. When moving the coffin, you must try not to hit the door or walls with it. In northern Russia, after the deceased left the house, a stone was placed under the corner of the building. Such a talisman protected all loved ones from imminent death.

Removal of the deceased is an important procedure, accompanied by the emotional state of the relatives. Society condemned those who did not cry at funerals or did not grieve enough. At the same time, mothers were forbidden to shed tears for their dead children. It was believed that after death they turned into angels, so it was impossible to be sad.

Among the Slavic peoples, traditions forbade leaving the dead alone. There was always one of our friends, neighbors or acquaintances sitting nearby. It is believed that the soul is very vulnerable in the first three days, so they provided maximum support - they said prayers from the Psalter or invited special readers.

Procession

Funerals in Orthodoxy were treated with great reverence, so the procession was accompanied by the sobs of relatives. At the head was a man who carried a crucifix or icon on a funeral towel. According to church rules, blood relatives and friends are required to carry the coffin with the remains. But superstitions became stronger that the action was trusted exclusively to strangers.

Fears of death remained from pagan times, so they tried not to touch funeral attributes with their hands. The lid and sarcophagus were carried with gloves or on special sheets. In winter they brought them to the cemetery on sleighs. Nowadays hearses perform this mission.

The first person the procession met along the way had to be given bread wrapped in a towel. This ancient ritual symbolized the meeting between the world of the living and the abode of the dead. The “traveler” was obliged to pray for the soul of the deceased.

The procession was forbidden to stop before a cemetery or church. The only exceptions could be places dear to the deceased. It was believed that the more respected the deceased was, the longer the coffin was carried.

Signs of a funeral procession

After the coffin was taken out of the house, there were certain superstitions. If the funeral procession went past the windows, then our ancestors tried to wake up all those sleeping. It was believed that the deceased took with him any person who was asleep.

Orthodox funeral rites prohibited viewing the procession through glass. According to signs, the soul was nearby and could be offended by such uncivilized behavior. The punishment for the impudent person was illness and quick death. The old people advised not to stare out the window and at the dead man, but to look away and make the sign of the cross.

You cannot cross the road before the funeral procession. If a person died from an accident or illness, then the trouble “jumped” to the taboo violator. It is better to wait out the procession on the side than to receive a negative blow to the aura.

When a dead person is taken out of the house, the old people did not advise looking into the windows. A careless movement of the head will attract death to these dwellings. To prevent the relatives of the deceased from dying, you cannot turn back during the procession.

Memorial service

A church service for the deceased was held before burial. It can be done both in the temple and at home. The priest reads prayers and psalms that help calm the soul and adapt it to the new world. The texts figuratively tell about a person’s earthly journey and his life’s ordeals. At the end they mention heavenly conduct and great love for people.

Why is a memorial service needed? When the spirit leaves the body, demons gather around it and try to drag it to hell. It is at this moment that the maximum help of the church is needed, and the action of the ritual facilitates the transition. For three days after death, the soul will be in places where they pray for it.

A secular memorial service is a farewell ceremony at the coffin that precedes burial. The civil ceremony does not carry any religious overtones, although it often takes place in the presence of the priest. There are no serious requirements for the ritual, so it is carried out according to established traditions or the will of the deceased.

Funeral signs - superstitions, traditions, rituals

Orthodox funeral. Funeral ceremony

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Burial

Christian funeral rites are performed until the sun begins to set below the horizon. The pagan belief remains that the luminary of the day takes with it the soul of the deceased. If relatives do not have time to bury the coffin before this period, then one of the relatives will follow the deceased.

When saying goodbye to the deceased, you must kiss the crown of his forehead. You are allowed to cry and lament. The priest says prayers. The lid is nailed down and the body is carefully lowered into the hole. The sacred action is a handful of soil thrown into the grave with the words: “Rest in peace.”

In the pit, the coffin is placed facing east. A cross is installed at the feet, facing west. According to beliefs, the “gaze” of the deceased should fall on a Christian symbol. Ancient traditions required that the grave have only a wooden monument, handmade by relatives. Modern stone slabs do not correspond to popular beliefs.

Sometimes a land redemption ritual was held at the cemetery. Those present took small coins and threw them into the pit. These are fragments of pagan rituals that have survived to our times. Orthodox traditions exclude any non-Christian customs.

When returning from the cemetery, it was important not to bring with you a piece of the world of the dead. The soil was carefully removed from the shoes, and those in contact with the deceased washed in a bathhouse. It is forbidden to invite an orchestra for funerals of Russian Christians. It is forbidden to perform burials on Christmas or Easter.

Signs at the cemetery

A grave dug out of size is a sure sign of the death of one of the family members. A lid forgotten at home or mourning wreaths have the same meaning. Remember that the coffin must be nailed up only at the burial site. Death will take not only the person who violated the ban, but also the family of the deceased.

Children and pregnant women were prohibited from attending the funeral. Babies do not have natural energy protection, so a negative attack from evil forces is possible. Women undergoing childbearing could receive severe damage, which would be inherited by the baby. The first person he met was entitled to food “for reference.”

They already enter the cemetery through the gate, and the deceased is taken through the main gate. On the way back you can choose any route. Remember that they don’t walk in front of the dead either. First they carry the coffin, and then the living come up.

When hammering nails into the lid, care must be taken to ensure that the person’s shadow does not fall on the sarcophagus or grave. Old people paid attention that the dead man had no rings, and that the buttons were undone. Before lowering into the pit, be sure to untie the knot holding the fetters together. If you forget to do this, then one of your loved ones will die.

If inner strength pushes a person away from the deceased, then you should not force yourself and kiss the deceased on the crown. The living are often afraid of the dead, so they cannot overcome their fears. By the way, in ancient times it was possible to get rid of fear by simply touching the leg of the deceased.

Wake

According to the rituals, after the burial, a modest table is organized for the hole diggers. Mandatory dishes are kutia, pancakes, and the rest is at the request of relatives. Alcohol was not a necessary product, so its availability was discussed in advance. Bread or cookies were left on the mound for birds, which were considered the souls of the dead.

Funeral services were held on the day of the funeral, 9 and 40 days after death. Our ancestors believed that angels brought the soul of the deceased to the house where they were waiting for it. During this period, it was necessary to go to the cemetery to eat food with the deceased. A little was left at the grave and also distributed to people.

The funeral ceremony brought together relatives, friends and the poor at one table. It was believed that while the spirit travels the earth, it experiences the same needs as the living. A special place was allocated for it under the images and a separate device was installed. A spoonful of kutya was placed on the plate, and the glass with the drink was covered with a piece of bread.

Christian traditions prohibited people from drinking alcohol. Drunk drinking is a relic of pagan funeral feasts. Excess alcohol leads a person to sinful thoughts, preventing the soul of the deceased from moving to another world.

The ceremony cannot be held on weekdays during Lent. The event has been rescheduled for the coming Saturday or Sunday. After the funeral, it was customary to give alms. Now this procedure has been transformed into the ritual of giving cookies and sweets.

Signs after the funeral

The rules state that after the cemetery it was forbidden to go to visit. It was believed that a person carries a particle of death within himself, so tragedy is possible in this house. When leaving the churchyard, the ancestors did not recommend looking back.

During the wake, they place an image of the deceased, and next to him - a glass of drink and bread. Anyone who drinks or eats the food of a dead person will soon die. The same applies to animals. To provide misfortune, the liquid was poured outside the house and the product was buried or burned.

After arriving from the cemetery, people always warmed their hands with a live (open) fire or washed them in hot water. It was customary to light candles and hold limbs over them. The flame burns all the negative energy that is located in places of death.

It is forbidden to grieve or cry heavily at a wake. Ancestors believed that a person goes to a better world, but can drown in the tears of loved ones. You can't get drunk at a funeral dinner. Such a rash act imposes the curse of alcoholism on the family. The first pancake, a spoonful of kutya and jelly are given to the deceased.

Already at home, they pour a glass of water, cover it with bread and sprinkle with salt. The item stands for forty days, after which everything is poured out and buried outside the house. Care should be taken to ensure that no one accidentally spills liquids or takes away food.

Meal on the ninth day

Orthodox traditions require relatives to gather at the same table 9 days after death. The ritual passed down from pagan ancestors and became firmly entrenched in Orthodoxy. Why is this ritual needed?

It is believed that from the ninth to the fortieth day the soul wanders through ordeals - obstacles in the form of sins. Good angels act as helpers with evil. Only after passing the “exam” can a person appear before God to receive the final verdict.

The relatives of the deceased create an appropriate atmosphere in the room where the memorial will take place. Allocate a separate place where you can put a glass of water, bread and light a candle. In the morning, a prayer service is ordered in the temple and alms are distributed for the repose.

Not only blood relatives and friends gather at the table, but also colleagues. The more people there are, the easier it is for the soul. According to tradition, no one is invited to the funeral. Only those who consider it important to remember the deceased come. But if they are afraid that someone will forget about the date, then it is allowed to remind them a few days before the event.

Mandatory dishes are compote, kutia or any porridge. They become the link that connects the lost loved one and those around them. Remember that you are not just here to eat. On this day, the best moments in the life of the deceased are remembered.

Features of forty days

An important ritual concludes the funeral rites. According to beliefs, the soul is still on earth for 40 days after death. During this time, she goes through ordeals and prepares for the transition to another world. The last line after which a person goes to heaven or hell.

Christian customs recommend that loved ones gather together at one table on this day. The funeral ritual is a farewell to the deceased, so it is important to properly prepare for the action. They order a prayer service for the repose in advance and give alms to the poor. In the morning they go to the cemetery with flowers: they light a blessed candle on the grave and leave sweets on the mound.

Remember that an event is not a way to meet relatives or friends. Songs, fun and consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited at meals. Kutia and pancakes are obligatory dishes on the table; vegetable salads and fish dishes are allowed. A place is allocated in the house for the deceased, with a glass of water and a piece of bread.

The feast begins with a minute of silence. Each of those gathered says a kind word about the deceased. It is important to restrain emotions and not cry: a loved one is on his last day on earth, so there is no need to overshadow his stay.

Important little things for relatives

Death is a grief for loved ones, which knocks them out of their usual life. This is often used by sorcerers to perform magical rituals. To avoid such mistakes, let's look at the most likely actions.

Nothing should be put in the coffin, especially for other people's things, photographs, money. An object buried in the ground will “call” its owner to follow it. This is a very terrible witchcraft that affects both the owner and the final performer.

A towel is often spread near the sarcophagus. Remember that it is forbidden to step on it: everything connected with the funeral ritual must be lowered into the grave or burned. The exception is consecrated icons. Orthodox traditions prohibit the destruction of shrines, but they cannot be stored at home either. We recommend taking the images to the temple.

Fetters, washing water and hygiene items are the most powerful magical artifacts. Every sorcerer hunts for such things and tries to get them by any means. The ropes are buried along with the coffin, and the liquid is poured far from the house. The comb and soap used to clean the body are left in the grave.

Features of life after a funeral

Orthodox rules required loved ones to adhere to mourning. During this period, any entertainment activities, including television and social networks, are undesirable. Most often, a nine-day period is observed, and only then you can move on to your normal life.

Black clothing is not a mandatory attribute. The Church does not recommend racking your brains over outfits. It is better to devote time to prayer and remembrance of the deceased. Our ancestors donated money for a bell, each sound of which atoned for the sins of the deceased.

Is it possible to have a wedding after the funeral? Often preparations for the event take several months. If the emotional state of the couple allows the ceremony to be performed, then the event is not cancelled. In Orthodoxy, weddings are allowed until the fortieth day after death.

There is a superstition that after a funeral you should not wash or cut your hair during the mourning period. The sign is an echo of pagan beliefs, and the church does not consider it necessary to follow such a requirement. During this period, candles are lit for the repose in the temple and alms are distributed to the poor.

For 40 days nothing can be done with the deceased's belongings. The exception is the bed on which the person died - it is thrown away or burned. At the end of mourning, clothes are distributed as souvenirs to loved ones or the poor. It is not advisable to sell or exchange for something else.

We figured out how Russian funerals take place. Ancient pagan traditions are so closely intertwined with Orthodoxy that it is difficult to determine what is correct and what is superstition. Our recommendations will help you observe the subtleties of the last ritual.