It is believed that for the first 9 days after death, the spiritual shell of the deceased is still tied to mortal life and can feel the grief of loved ones. This connection is finally broken only by forties, which determine for the subtle essence the place of its permanent residence in the afterlife. Understanding the difficulties that the soul goes through after leaving the body is very important for those remaining on earth, because all this time the spirit of the deceased needs proper support.
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- various sweets;
- meat;
- fish;
- milk;
- eggs;
- cheeses and sausages;
- bread and cereal products.
- cereals;
- flour;
- vegetables and fruits;
- mushrooms.
- borsch;
- cabbage rolls;
- peppers stuffed with vegetables or meat;
- cutlets;
- roast;
- stewed or fried mushrooms;
- pies made from unleavened dough (snacks) and sweet;
- mixed vegetable salads;
- potatoes or porridge;
- fried or stewed fish;
- simple sandwiches with sausage and cheese.
- any alcohol;
- coffee;
- store-bought juices;
- seafood delicacies (shrimp, squid, oysters);
- complex “holiday” salads;
- whole roasted poultry or piglets;
- expensive sweets in elegant boxes;
- pastries or cakes.
- eating and drinking alcohol in a cemetery contradicts the canons of Orthodoxy;
- You cannot pour vodka on a grave mound or leave alcohol in a shot glass;
- money, food, and alcohol are not given to the priest at the cemetery - you can invite the priest home or perform all the necessary actions in advance;
- when leaving the cemetery, you can light a lamp on the grave, leave a glass of water with a piece of bread or a saucer with kutya;
- on the way back, it is advisable to give as much as possible to the poor and distribute some sweets to the children you meet, while saying: “Remember the servant of God (name)”;
- both in the cemetery and at home, you need to speak more often about the deceased with kind words, remember his good deeds and positive personal qualities.
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What does the 9th day after death mean in Christianity?
The entire period of the inextricable posthumous connection of the soul of the deceased with the world of the living is divided into three segments: 3, 9 and 40 days from death. The spirit spends the first period of time almost all the time near the house where it left the body, or not far from the coffin. He hears all the words and thoughts addressed to him through people’s conversations about the deceased, and draws the first conclusions about the sinfulness of his earthly existence.
From the first minute of existence outside the body, his Guardian Angel is next to the deceased, accompanied by whom the soul visits memorable places of its life and says goodbye to loved ones. He sees all the preparations for the funeral and, according to esotericists, can even correct events by appearing in dreams to relatives.
From the third day to the fortieth day, the human soul moves in strict accordance with the algorithm of the posthumous program, the same for everyone. Symbolically, the beginning of the journey of the deceased is considered the moment the coffin is lowered into the grave. But even if on the third day the body has not yet been transferred to the earth, the soul still loses its attachment to it and passes into another dimension.
On the path to Eternity, the deceased faces 20 trials (ordeals), during which demonic forces question the soul about all its sins committed in human form. If for at least half of the mentioned bad deeds there are not as many good deeds, the journey ends with the sinner’s immediate descent into hell. If the trials are completed successfully, the spirit of the deceased is allowed to meet with God, and he is allowed to stay in the Gardens of Eden among the righteous for six days.
Passing the milestone of the ninth day is considered the most important thing that happens to the soul in its intermediate state. Having worshiped God for the second time, the human essence is conveyed by angels to the Valhallas of the opposite hypostasis - to hell. The prayers of relatives and the memorial service, which is served in the temple on this day for the deceased, help the soul in its difficult 39-day journey through the levels of the underworld and are an absentee request to the Lord to have mercy on the sinner.
The absence of a wake and memorial service on the 9th day after death means that the person neglected life as God’s gift and passed through it aimlessly, or did a lot of evil and turned people against himself. In Orthodoxy, both are considered grave sins that require justification before the throne of the Lord on the fortieth day from the date of repose.
Features of organizing the wake of the ninth day
The customs of Christianity take into account all the difficulties that the soul will have to face at the crossroads between heaven and hell. Each ritual action, from a church ceremony to eating food at the funeral table, is accompanied by special prayers and words that send a positive message to the energy space where the subtle essence is located.
The closest relatives of the deceased who are organizing the burial and commemoration must comply with certain rules conducting rituals and understanding the sacred meaning of the actions performed, otherwise they will not bring any benefit to the soul of the deceased.
Funeral service in the church
The morning of the 9th day after the death of a baptized person for the relatives of the deceased begins in the church, because with the onset of dawn the soul appears before the eyes of the Lord and it requires powerful energy recharge in order to cope with subsequent trials. Human and angelic prayers are heard in unison during the service. The more of these voices there are, the easier it will be for the soul of the deceased.
The prayer, read only on the occasion of the ninth day, should be learned by heart and read several times: when placing a candle in a tetrapod (a special candlestick in front of a table with funeral dishes), leaving the service and coming home.
A note is written in advance with the name of the deceased. It should be placed on the table next to the brought products. If the event does not overlap fast days, then put in the commemoration basket:
In the post the list of allowed Orthodox person fewer products:
Before placing the memorial you brought on the table and buying candles, you need to agree with the server about holding a memorial service. This is especially true for small chapels, where the priest is alone and needs time to prepare.
Funeral dinner and associated signs
In the old days, only those who were directly involved in preparing the deceased for burial were deliberately invited to commemorate the “nine”: they washed the corpse, made a “domina” (coffin), and installed a cross on the grave. The rest of the “guests” came uninvited, and it was impossible to refuse anyone - neither an enemy nor a stranger. IN modern world people themselves do not go to such events, for fear of being an unexpected burden, so it would not be a departure from tradition to call all your friends in advance and notify them of the place and time of the funeral.
Wherever a funeral dinner is served, enough food is prepared to accommodate maximum amount of people. Elderly guests and children are seated at the table first; the hosts eat last. Before the appearance of the main dish - the funeral kutia - a lithium is required. It can be carried out by any of those present, organizing a general reading of the Lord’s Prayer or the Ninetieth Psalm.
What, according to the canons of the church, is welcomed at the funeral table:
Compote or jelly, funeral kolev made from pearl barley or rice, and inexpensive sweets must be present.
Kutya, symbolizing the resurrection and the sweetness of being in paradise, should be consecrated in the church during a memorial service.
But here’s what you can’t submit for “nineties”:
Culinary delights, like drinking alcohol at a wake, are considered a sin of gluttony, falling on the shoulders of the soul of the deceased, which only worsens his situation. The food left over after the funeral is not thrown away, but taken to church or distributed to the poor. Candies, fruits and other sweets, in addition, are poured out to children to commemorate their souls.
Rules and traditions associated with the date
Most of the rules of conduct during a wake now apply only to the relatives of the deceased, although previously everyone who came followed them. This applies in particular to appearance women who are required to wear headscarves indoors with their hair completely hidden under them. Men should not be in the house with their heads covered.
Guests decide for themselves whether to go to the cemetery on this day or not. It is not customary to bring flowers to the house of the deceased after others have arrived from the burial site - and wreaths and flowers should be left at the grave.
A few more Christian signs regarding visiting a grave on the 9th day after a person’s death:
When guests arrive, the house is cleaned in strict accordance with the occasion. You can bet on small table portrait of the deceased with a lamp lit in front of him, cover extra items black crepe furniture. Hanging mirrors in the house after a funeral is considered controversial. The need for such an action is not commented on by the church and refers to the ancestral traditions of the ancient Slavs, who believe mirror surface entrance to another world.
The custom of “seating the deceased” at the funeral table, accepted by some families, is also not condemned by Christianity. To do this, diners vacate a place of honor at the head of the table and place a full cutlery with food.
How to calculate the day of a funeral?
When calculating the date on which the day of remembrance of the deceased will fall, one should also take into account the day of death itself, which lasts until midnight. Example: if a person died on March 10 at 23:00, then the “nine” falls on March 18, and not 19, as would happen if 9 were added to 10. But if death occurred a few minutes after midnight, then the count would have been carried out from the newly arrived date.
If a Christian believer dies on a weekday during Lent, the ninth day of commemoration is moved to the next Saturday or Sunday. However, if a person did not fast during his lifetime, this rule can be neglected.
It is impossible to celebrate nine days before. The soul of the deceased, being in heaven, does not yet need the support that it will need later.
Many people paying tribute modern traditions and fearing to cause condemnation from others, after the death of a loved one, they are immersed in worries about maintaining the external surroundings and do not think at all about the spiritual component of the rituals. It should be remembered that for the deceased it is not the richly laid table that is important, but the prayer read together over the food. And the danger for a soul who has set out on a difficult journey lies not in the small number of guests at the funeral, but in the absence of kind words from those who came to honor his memory.
No matter how much people want it, everything has its beginning and its end, and human life is no exception. The great creation and gift of the Lord are given as an earthly path, the end of which, unfortunately, we await. When a person dies and his body is interred, certain days his relatives must perform special commemoration ceremonies, namely on the third, ninth and fortieth days.
During this period, according to church laws, the soul of the deceased completes its journey on Earth, and in order for it to be able to do this easily and naturally, it is necessary to adhere to the traditions established over time, among which the most important is the ninth day.
Since little attention is paid to rituals and rules in the modern world, the question of “how to conduct a funeral for 9 days” becomes very relevant, because most people wonder whether their actions are correct in relation to their loved ones who have left this world.
In this article you can familiarize yourself with the basic rules for holding a wake, what you can prepare, what prayer is and much more.
So what does 9 days after death mean? And why are they so important?
Soul after death: 3, 9, 40 days:
After death, a person’s soul finds its “ new house”, but this does not mean that she forgets the former, as well as the people living in it. This invisible force becomes your faith and hope for life path in gratitude for the peace received and the acquisition of eternal life.
Day three:
Funerals for the deceased on this day are performed in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For the first two days, the soul, together with the Angel who accompanies it, walks through its favorite places, remembering its joys and sorrows, sits near its home, like a bird that, having built a nest, is forced to leave it forever.
On the third day, the Lord allows her to ascend to heaven to worship him and appear before the face of the Just One.
Ninth day:
This is a time of remembrance in honor of the nine angelic ranks, who are the servants of the King of Heaven and our defenders at the court of God and can ask for mercy.
On the fourth day, the soul, together with the Angel, enters the gates of heaven and can see all the beauty there. She spends six days like this. During this time, she forgets all the sorrow that she felt while in the body, and if she was sinful, she begins to reproach herself.
On the 9th day, the Lord commands the Angels to bring the soul to him for worship. And already there, with fear and trembling, she will appear before the throne of the Almighty. And it is on this day that the church prays for God’s mercy towards the deceased.
Fortieth day:
After the second ascension of the soul to the Lord, the Angels take it to hell, where it can see the cruel torment of sinners who did not want to repent.
And on the 40th day, the soul ascends to God for the third time, and then its further fate is decided - according to its earthly affairs, it is assigned a place to stay until the Last Judgment.
It is at this hour that the prayers of family and friends will be very necessary, since with their help the sins of the deceased are atoned for, which gives him the right to go to heaven.
It is also worth remembering the anniversary of a person’s death. On this day he should also be commemorated in church. If this is not possible, then a heartfelt commemoration by family, friends and relatives will be enough. For a believer, this is a birthday for a new eternal life.
9 days after death in Orthodoxy:
Devyatiny after death is the very day of remembrance of the dead, because the body no earlier than this day turns to dust, and only the soul remains. The Church prays to God to number the deceased among the nine ranks of angels, who, in turn, will ask the Lord to accept the newly deceased, forgive him all his sins and grant new life next to them.
In Orthodoxy, this day is rightfully considered the main day among the rituals of repose. A person’s soul in heaven is the work of his family on earth, and it must be done honestly and faithfully.
After death, the soul spends 9 days looking for its way to new world, because physically the person no longer exists. During this period, it is important for the relatives of the deceased not only to be faithful to the traditions of the church, but to try through pain and suffering to let go of the soul of their loved one, otherwise it will not be able to find peace for a long time (or never).
After all, if she is kept in this world by something unfinished, not done, unsaid, and she can no longer put an end to it, then it is her relatives who need to take care of her peace of mind. And the ninth day - best time for this.
The ninth day is very important for the soul of a deceased person, but the third and fortieth days are no less important, as the beginning and end of the “heavenly path.” And it is on the correct actions of loved ones that the soul’s path to eternity depends.
9 days after death: traditions:
On this day, the relatives of the deceased attend church, where it is necessary to offer prayers for the repose of the soul.
At home they cook kutya:
Wheat seeds are boiled and mixed with something sweet, often sugar or honey.
The dish should be quite sweet and pleasant to the taste.
The meaning of this tradition is very old:
Seeds are life itself, because when planted in the ground, they give rise to a new plant. It is believed that this is how future resurrection occurs.
And sugar and honey symbolize the belief of the living that the soul will find a sweet life in the afterlife.
What happens to the soul 9 days after death:
The path of a person’s soul after death, what is it? The question is interesting and important for any believer. This path is laid out even during earthly life, since a person after death comes to God with all his “baggage,” which contains all his joys, troubles, fears, aspirations and hopes.
And when on the ninth day the soul appears before the Almighty, this “burden” no longer seems as unbearable to it as during life, but very important, because looking at it, the Lord decides the further path, at the end of which we await the long-awaited resurrection. Therefore, on the 9th day, remembering the deceased, relatives should behave calmly and humbly, quietly remembering only the best about the deceased.
Knowing what happens on the 9th day after death, now in the most terrible moments of life, when a loved one dies and close person, think about whether his soul will be able to find eternal peace after numerous earthly sufferings. And maybe you, with your prayers, and not your tears, will help her with this.
After all, the prayers of loved ones, like no other, are capable of great miracles. And then the answer to the question “Why are 9 days celebrated after death” will seem to you not just a beautiful legend, but will mean something more.
Funeral 40 days procedure:
40 days after death in Orthodoxy are a responsible and very significant date, since it is during this period, according to the established canons of religion, that the soul of the deceased will receive a final verdict on its future fate, i.e. where it will be located. However, if the soul is not able to somehow correct or change something, thereby receiving a better fate, then its relatives and close people will be able to help it with this.
Soul up to 40 days after death:
All our lives our body is in unity with the soul, but when the time comes and a person dies, the spirit leaves him. However, at the same time, good and bad deeds, passions and all existing habits, as well as attachments with special character traits that have been formed over many years, the spirit is not able to forget, and after death it must suffer appropriate punishment or receive a reward for the actions committed throughout life and actions.
What happens 40 days after death:
This time is the most difficult test, since the soul will have to not only overcome all the obstacles in its path, but also fully account for the life it lived.
It should be noted that until the 40th day, the spirit will not leave the place where it lived, as it will have a kind of shock, because not knowing how to live without a physical shell will be frightening.
After which, on day 3-4, the soul will gradually stop being afraid from ignorance and begin to return to a normal state, it can get rid of its body and even walk around the neighborhood near its home.
At the same time, remember that until 40 days after death, the relatives of the deceased should under no circumstances sob loudly and throw hysterics, because the spirit will hear all this, at the same time experiencing insurmountable torment. The best thing to do is to recite the scripture and explain what the soul should do next.
40 days after death: what happens to the soul
After forty days the spirit in last time will be able to come down to earth in order to visit those places that are especially significant to him. A large number of People who lost their loved ones said that in their dreams they saw how a deceased relative came to say goodbye that day, telling them that he was leaving forever.
There are also a considerable number of people who admitted that after forty days from death, the presence of the deceased was no longer felt, his smell was no longer felt, and sighs and steps were no longer heard.
After this, the soul again goes to the Almighty in order to stand trial, but it will not be the Lord who will reproach or condemn it, but the person himself will be responsible for his actions. That is why they believe that, having been in front of the Divine image, the spirit has only two ways: either to go into the abyss itself, or to reunite with this light.
Making such a decision does not depend on willpower, but on the state of spirituality, the result of which was the lived life of the deceased.
All these 40 days the spirit waits for a decision to be made about its future fate, but according to the church, this judgment will not be the last; the Last Judgment awaits the deceased ahead, which is final, at which the fates of many people can radically change.
On which day a person died according to the calendar should be considered the first day from his death, even if he died in the evening. That is, it turns out that the ninth or fortieth day of death will be the ninth and fortieth day, respectively, taking into account the day of death itself.
Funeral 40 days, procedure:
On the fortieth day, a person’s soul returns home and stays there for about a day, and after the remembrance, it leaves there forever. Therefore, believers believe that if a “seeing-off” is not organized, then the spirit of a deceased relative will suffer forever, which is why it is given Special attention on how to spend 40 days of commemoration.
Let's figure out what you need to know in order to hold a wake.
Funeral 40 days: rules:
It should be noted that the first thing you need to do is pray, but not only on the day of remembrance, but also on the previous ones, in this way you can ease the fate of your deceased relative, thereby persuading Higher power change your mind in better side showing mercy.
In the name of saving the spirit, you can also, along with the prayer service, renounce one of your sins, for example, if you drink alcohol or smoke, then for the benefit of your soul you can at least certain time give up harmful addictions. And even such a simple renunciation of watching television programs for the sake of prayer appeal will be a great joy and considerable consolation for the deceased.
Another important detail is the actual commemoration. Those who gather at the table on the day of the funeral must necessarily be Orthodox believers, because those who do not believe in the Lord will not be able to help the soul with their presence alone.
Also, there is no need to perceive a commemoration for forty days as a way to see your relatives and friends, since this is far from an ordinary feast or social reception;
The Church prohibits singing songs, having fun and drinking alcohol at a funeral dinner, and the person himself must understand that a wake does not at all combine with dancing and fun.
What is prepared for the 40 day funeral:
On the memorial day, you can prepare the following types of dishes:
Kutia and butter pancakes (are a mandatory treat at funerals);
Appetizer with eggplant, garlic and tomato;
Sandwiches with fish (sprats are best);
Beet salad with garlic;
Various vegetable salads;
Olivier or vinaigrette with herring;
Crab salad with cabbage;
Baked cutlets with cheese and mushrooms;
Stuffed pepper;
Fish jelly;
Lenten vegetable cabbage rolls with mushrooms;
Fish with vegetables and baked with mayonnaise;
Pies with cabbage, fish, rice and mushrooms, potatoes, apples;
Drinks that are perfect include: jelly (cranberry, apple, oatmeal, raspberry, currant, cherry, plum), fruit drink, kvass on bread, sbiten and lemonade.
40 days of commemoration: what they give out to people:
In the traditions of Orthodox Christians, on the fortieth day it is necessary to sort through and distribute the things of the deceased to those people who need them, and at the same time ask them to pray for the spirit of the deceased.
Carrying out such a ritual can be considered a good deed, which will later be counted when deciding on the fate of the soul.
Relatives can keep for themselves only those things that are most valuable as a memory of the deceased, some can be taken by friends and relatives if they wish, and what things are unnecessarily best taken to the temple, but under no circumstances throw them away.
40 days after death wake: what to say:
Often at the table they remember not only the recently deceased, but also all the deceased relatives, and the deceased himself is presented as if he were with everyone at the common table.
The funeral speech should be made standing and be sure to honor the person with a minute of silence. As a leader, you should choose a person close to this family who can keep his emotions under control, despite the mourning situation. His task will be to give the floor to relatives in turn, depending on how close they were to the deceased, for example, spouse, parents/children, close relatives or friends.
The presenter should prepare a couple of phrases in advance in order to defuse the situation and distract the guests present if the speaker’s speech is interrupted due to tears.
What prayer is read on the 40th day of death:
At home, you can say a prayer service for the repose of your soul in your own words, or read a prayer service to Saint War:
“Oh, venerable holy martyr Uare, we kindle with zeal for the Lord Christ, you confessed the Heavenly King before the tormentor, and you suffered earnestly for Him, and now the Church honors you, as you are glorified by the Lord Christ with the glory of Heaven, Who has given you the grace of great boldness towards Him , and now you stand before Him with the Angels, and rejoice in the Highest, and clearly see the Holy Trinity, and enjoy the light of the Beginning Radiance, remember also our relatives' yearning, who died in wickedness, accept our petition, and like Cleopatrine, the unfaithful race was freed from eternal torment by your prayers You, therefore, remember those who were buried against God, who died unbaptized, striving to ask for deliverance from eternal darkness, so that with one mouth and one heart we may all praise the Most Merciful Creator forever and ever. Amen".
Until the 40th day of Dormition Orthodox Christian, relatives or friends of the deceased can perform the following home prayer rules daily:
*Funeral lithium with secular rite . As a rule, it can be read once a day, preferably when visiting a cemetery in front of the grave of the deceased, but it can also be home prayer, usually in the afternoon after the morning church service. (The funeral lithium is not read in the cemetery if 40 days fall between Easter and the Ascension of Christ)
The rite of litia performed by a layman at home and in the cemetery:
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 Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
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 it your 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)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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)
Psalm 90.
Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my intercessor, 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 blanket 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 demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you: behold 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 come close to your body. As His angel commanded you, keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot against a stone. Tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver; 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 destroy him and glorify him; I will fill him with long days, and 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 You, O God. (Thrice)
Troparion, tone 4:
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, rest also the soul of Thy servant, for Thou art the only Lover of mankind.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Thou art God, who descended into hell, and loosed the bonds of the bound, and give rest to Thy servant Himself and the soul.
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.
Sedalen, voice 5th:
Rest, our Savior, with the righteous of Thy servant, and this one is lodged in Thy courts, as it is written, despising, as Good, his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and all those in knowledge and not in knowledge, Lover of mankind.
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.
Ikos:
Thou art the One Immortal One, who created and created man, on earth we were created from the earth, and to the other earth we will go, as you commanded, Who created me and gave me: as you are the earth, and you will go to the earth, and even all men will go, a funeral lament creating a song : alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. 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 (Thrice) , bless.
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
In the blessed dormition, grant eternal rest, O Lord, to Thy departed servant. (Name), and create eternal memory for him.
Everlasting memory. (Thrice)
His soul will dwell in the good, and his memory throughout generation and generation.
*At any free time - prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for the newly deceased. You can read several times a day, at any free time from work, and suit your spirit. You can also end the funeral litany with this prayer (clause 1.).
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos for the departed:
Most Holy Lady Theotokos! We appeal to You, our Intercessor, for You are our quick helper and unceasing intercessor before God! We especially pray to You at this hour: help the deceased servant of God (deceased servant of God) (name), who is tormented in hell; We pray to You, Lady of the world, by Your power drive away the terrible dark spirits from his (her) soul, driven by fear, so that they may be confused and put to shame before You; free him/her from torment in hell. We pray to You, Most Holy Theotokos, with Your honest robe protect him (her), pray for the sinful servant of God (sinful servant of God) (name), so that God will ease his (her) torment and remove him (her) from the abyss of hell, so that he (she) may pass from hell to heaven. We pray to You, our Intercessor, intercede for God’s servant (name) with Your maternal boldness in the Lord; We pray to You, our Helper, help him (her) to justify himself before God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and beg Your Only Begotten Son, the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, to rest the deceased in the bosom of Abraham with the righteous and all the saints. Amen."
*Daily reading of the Psalter . The reading of the Psalter for the repose of the newly deceased is performed in Orthodoxy according to a certain canon:
Prayer rule before reading, Reading the Psalter, Prayers of transition between kathismas, Prayer rule after reading the Psalter (kathisma).
Also, when reading, "liturgical Psalter "divided into 20 kathismas. Pious Christians read the Psalter twice during the 40 days of Dormition, reading the kathisma daily in the same way, preferably in the afternoon.
The main part of the prayerful remembrance of the newly deceased In Orthodoxy there is a church memorial service, which is ordered by relatives in the church on the 40th day of the Dormition. (agreement must be made in advance a couple of days before the nearest Sunday, which falls on the 40th day of Dormition).
A memorial service can also be ordered for earlier days, not necessarily on the 40th; it will be served as a memorial service on the fortieth. It is not prohibited to remember the deceased before.
At a memorial service (which is usually served after the liturgy), a Christian brings bread, a bottle of oil (sunflower oil), cereals, maybe fruit, sugar, candy. These consecrated offerings usually remain in the temple, symbolizing a good sacrifice to God.
In some regions, cooked kolivo - rice with honey, nuts and dried fruits - is brought to the ordered memorial service.
Kolivo symbolizes earthly grief over the loss of a loved one and the hope of granting him eternal life. After the memorial service, the kolivo is eaten by the spoonful by those whom you have requested to attend the memorial service.
If after the memorial service you still intend to visit the cemetery, then part of the koliva is taken with you and, after prayer, is consumed by everyone in front of the grave of the deceased.
As a rule, after the memorial service on the 40th day, the relatives arrange a memorial dinner. If relatives know the priest of the church and the choir (singers) well, then, as a rule, they invite the priest and singers to dinner (if the priest does not have additional requirements, he will not refuse, otherwise, he may refuse due to additional spiritual work).
Such a dinner is always decorated with church irmos (singing) and the blessing of the clergyman, which makes it more spiritually elevated.
Remember that funeral dinners do not include alcoholic drinks and heavy meat dishes, fish and seafood are allowed.
May the Lord protect you!
9 days after death is a period during which the soul experiences many events and changes. What happens after the burial?
First 3 days
In the first 3 days, the soul is where it is important for it to be. For example, if a person was very attached to his body during life, he will be nearby. In the case when some people meant a lot to the deceased, their Lately on Earth he will spend next to them. In fact, many documentaries talk about how some souls don't know what to do. Some start riding the subway and keeping an eye on relatives, others are trying to secure the future of their children. Everyone, if possible, tries to complete earthly affairs or look at something that is very significant for the last time.
Worship God
Worship is performed repeatedly: on the day of death, then on the third day, on the 9th day after the funeral, 40 days after repose, and also immediately before the Last Judgment. People who go to hell perform worship even after the judgment.
From 3 to 9 days
After 3 and up to 9 days after death, the soul explores the beauty of paradise. She sees the abode that is prepared for her. However, people who were vain, did mortal things and walked in evil ways will not enter heaven.
ordeals
9 days after death, the ordeal begins. They last up to 40 days. After death, we are surrounded by our sins. Each of our bad deeds has its own “guardian” - a demon. When the soul leaves the body, these demons surround it. There are so many lawlessnesses and troubles that they cannot be counted. These are all the sins a person committed during his lifetime. Some people think that after death the soul ascends upward and nothing can stop it. But this is not so, because it is the forces of evil that own the space between earth and sky. Mother of God she prayed not to see evil demons after death when she was preparing for Rapture. Therefore, the Lord personally came to guide Her soul. This is noted on the icon of Rapture. As is clear, demons come not only to “ordinary” people, but also to selected dying people.
9 days after death: before and after
Until the ninth the day goes by the period of feeding and shaping the “body of eternity”. Relatives and clergy begin to carry out memorial procedures. Until the 9th day, the soul sees the delights of heaven, and after that - the torment and horrors of hell. On day 40 a place is assigned. Over the course of nine days, the deceased gradually ceases to hear relatives and friends, and he can no longer see them. He can make all contacts only by using his senses of smell and touch.
Why are these days celebrated?
After death, the soul travels for 9 days and finds out possible places of its stay. Until the very end, she does not know what fate is in store for her. She is shown both the beauties and delights of heavenly life (for a much shorter period of time) and the terrible events that occur in hell. During this time, relatives can pray earnestly and ask for a better fate until the Last Judgment occurs on the soul of the deceased. The correct behavior of loved ones can help the soul get to heaven. Therefore, it is very important not to be lazy, but to go to church and order prayer services. You also need to devote time to this activity yourself. And it needs to be done correctly. You can get clarification from your clergyman.
After the funeral, the restless soul is between heaven and earth; Many relatives and close people of the deceased ask the main question of what happens to the soul on the 9th and 40th days of death. This is an important period for the deceased person, since it is decided where he will go next, where he will spend the rest of eternity in oblivion. The Holy Scripture says that 9 and 40 days after death are the beginning and end of the heavenly path; loved ones must help so that the soul goes to heaven and finds eternal peace.
Where does the soul reside after death?
According to believers, the souls of the deceased are immortal, and their afterlife fate is determined by the deeds done on earth during life - good or bad. In Orthodoxy, it is believed that the soul of the deceased does not immediately ascend to heaven, but at first remains in the places where the body previously lived. She will have to appear before God's Court, but in the meantime there is time to see her family and friends, say goodbye to them forever, and come to terms with the idea of her own death.
Where is the soul of the deceased until 9 days
The body is buried in a cemetery, but the soul of the deceased person is immortal. Christian Church It has been established that the first day after death the soul is in confusion, cannot understand what is happening, and is frightened by separation from the body. On the second day she wanders around her native place, remembers best moments of his life, observes the process of burying his own body. There are many places where the soul is after death, but all of them were once dear, close to the heart.
On the third day, she is ascended by angels to heaven, where the gates of paradise open. The soul is shown paradise, the opportunity to find eternal peace, a state of complete peace. On the fourth day, she is lowered underground and shown hell, where all the sins of the deceased and the payment for committing them during life are well known. The soul sees what is happening, waits for the Last Judgment, which begins on the ninth and ends on the fortieth day.
What happens to the soul on day 9
The question of why 9 days are celebrated after death has a well-reasoned answer. On this day, counted from the moment of death, the soul stands before God's court, where only the Almighty will decide where it will continue to spend eternity - in heaven or hell. Therefore, relatives and close people go to the cemetery, commemorate the deceased, and pray for his entry into heaven.
How to remember correctly
Knowing what happens on the 9th day after death, relatives must remember the deceased, and remember only the best and brightest things about his life and deeds. Church commemorations would not be out of place; for example, you can order a magpie for the repose, a memorial service or other Christian rituals in the church. This is only beneficial, plus the sincere faith of Orthodox Christians. God forgives the torment of sinners, and relatives and friends should not be too sad for the deceased. To remember correctly, you need:
- speak only good things about the deceased;
- set a modest table, exclude alcohol;
- remember only the good;
- do not laugh, do not have fun, do not rejoice;
- behave modestly, restrained.
What happens to the soul after 9 days
After the 9th day, the soul goes to hell, can clearly see all the torments of sinners, and sincerely repent. She must remember all her wrong actions, apologize, admit the wrongness of her own actions and thoughts. This is a difficult stage, so all relatives should only support the deceased in prayers, church rituals, thoughts, and memories. To reliably determine what is happening with departed soul on the 9th and 40th day of death, it is necessary to resort to sacred scripture.
Where is the soul of the deceased until 40 days
Many people do not understand why they commemorate on 9 and 40 days. The answer is simple - this is the beginning and end of God's path, which the soul completes before receiving its place - in hell or heaven. It turns out that until the 40th day from the moment of death of the deceased, she is between heaven and earth, experiencing all the pain and melancholy of her family and loved ones. Therefore, you should not grieve too much, otherwise it will be even more difficult for the deceased person to find eternal peace.
Why are 40 days celebrated after death?
This is a memorial day - farewell to a restless soul. On this day she acquires her place in eternity, finds peace, and experiences humility. The soul, up to 40 days after death, is fragile and vulnerable, susceptible to other people’s thoughts, insults, and slander. She is torn from the inside by pain, but by the 40th day a deep calm comes - an awareness of her place in eternity. Then nothing happens, only oblivion, Nice memories about the life lived.
How to remember correctly
Knowing what happens to the soul on the 9th and 40th days of death, loved ones should treat it with compassion and ease its torment. To do this, you shouldn’t feel too bad for the deceased, throw yourself on the deceased’s chest and jump into the grave at the funeral. Such actions will only make the soul worse, and it will experience acute mental anguish. It is better to grieve in thoughts, pray more and wish her “A land that will rest in peace.” All that is required from relatives is bright thoughts and complete humility that God ordered it this way, nothing can be changed.
It is necessary to correctly remember the deceased on the 9th, 40th day, every year on the day of his sudden death. This is an unpleasant event for the whole family, which must follow all the rules. So:
- Days of commemoration are counted from the moment of death of a person (until midnight). The 9th and 40th days of death are the beginning and end of God’s path, when the future fate of the deceased is determined.
- Relatives should remember the deceased, and the presence of consecrated kutya on a modest table is desirable. You need to eat at least a spoonful of it.
- It is not recommended to remember with alcohol (not allowed by God), and the table should be modest, the feast should be more silent, thoughtful.
- It is forbidden to remember the bad qualities of the deceased, swear and use foul language if not good words, it’s better to remain silent about everything that happens.
Where is the soul after 40 days?
After the specified period, the soul of a person who died 40 days ago finds peace and is forever removed to heaven for eternity. It is possible that she will go to hell to suffer eternal torment for her actions. In any case, everything that happens to her next is unknown to a living person, and all that remains is to believe in the best, hope for the will of God, the highest mercy.
Video
When a loved one has not yet crossed the threshold of eternity, his relatives try in every possible way to show signs of attention and offer all possible help. This reveals the duty of fulfilling love for one’s neighbor, which is a mandatory responsibility in the Christian faith. But man is not eternal. There comes a moment for everyone. However, this transition from one state of personality to another should not be marked by leaving behind the memory of. A person is alive as long as he is remembered. It is a religious duty to organize memorial dinners in memory of all who knew the latter during his lifetime.
The semantic meaning of 9 days after the death of a person
According to Orthodox doctrine, the human soul is immortal. This is confirmed by practice in Christian tradition. Church Tradition teaches that for the first three days after death, the soul remains on earth in those places that were especially loved by it. Then she ascends to God. The Lord shows the soul the heavenly abodes in which the righteous are blissful.
The personal self-consciousness of the soul is touched, it marvels at what it sees, and the bitterness from leaving the earth is no longer so strong. This happens over six days. Then the angels ascend the soul again to worship God. It turns out that this is the ninth day, on which the soul sees its Creator for the second time. In memory of this, the Church establishes a wake, at which it is customary to gather in a narrow family circle. Commemoration is ordered in churches, prayers are offered to God for the pardon of the deceased. There is a statement that there is no one who has lived and not. Also, the semantic meaning of the number nine is the memory of the Church about the corresponding number of angelic ranks. It is the angels who accompany the soul, showing it all the beauties of paradise.
The fortieth day is the time of private judgment of the soul
After nine days, the soul is shown the hellish abodes. She observes all the horror of incorrigible sinners, feels fear and awe of what she sees. Then for a day he again ascends to God for worship, only this time a private judgment of the soul also takes place. This date is always considered the most important in the afterlife of the deceased. There is no tradition of transfer, no matter what day they fall on.
The soul is judged for all the deeds a person has done during his lifetime. And after this, the place of her stay until the second coming of Christ is determined. It is especially important these days to pray and give alms in memory of a relative or friend who has left this world. A person asks God for mercy, the opportunity to grant a blessed fate to a deceased person.
The number 40 has its own meaning. Even in the Old Testament it was prescribed to preserve the memory of the deceased for 40 days. In New Testament times, semantic analogies can be drawn with the Ascension of Christ. So, it was on the 40th day after His resurrection that the Lord ascended to heaven. This date is also a memory of what human soul after death he goes again to his Heavenly Father.
In general, holding a wake is an act of mercy towards living people. Lunch is offered as alms in memory of, and other rituals are performed that testify to a person’s faith in the immortality of the soul. This is also the hope for the salvation of each individual person.