Why it is forbidden to go to the cemetery on Easter? The answer of the priest to this important question causes amazement among many believers. Oddly enough, but many do not even know that on Easter, from the point of view of the Orthodox religion, going to the cemetery is completely wrong.

This is even considered a great sin, because, on a bright holiday, the first, in a series of the next forty holidays, you need to spend among your family and in the circle of close relatives who are still alive. Easter is, first of all, a holiday of the living. What not to do in

Where did the ban come from?

It must be said that the tradition of going to the cemetery on Easter appeared among believers in Soviet times. Then, as you know, religion was banned, traditions were not passed on from generation to generation, and there was simply no one to ask for advice on what and when to do the right thing. Consequently, during this period, people who believed in God tried to somehow preserve traditions: as best they could.

In order to somehow celebrate Easter, people strove to visit the cemetery on this day, so that they could calmly share their joy with their deceased relatives there. At least they will definitely not turn over to the KGB and will not write a complaint. But, now, when religion is again held in high esteem and every person who is drawn to God has the opportunity to learn about everything, ask, observe rituals correctly, one should remember that Easter is a bright holiday, it is a holiday of living people.

On the day of Easter, the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is celebrated and on this day it is necessary
think only about something good, rejoice. Rejoice that Jesus Christ was resurrected and thereby proved that there is no death, there is only a transition into eternal life, into the Kingdom of God. Easter is precisely the holiday of life, but not death. Over the next few weeks, there will be a dedicated day for this, when you need to go to the cemetery with the good news. But this is not done on Easter itself.

When to go to the Easter cemetery

Why it is forbidden to go to the cemetery on Easter, the priest has already received the answer. Now we will consider exactly what day is specially highlighted in the church calendar so that we can go to Easter with the bright news of the Resurrection of Christ. Here we are talking about Tuesday, the second Tuesday after the holiday. That is, not on Easter week, but immediately after it. This is a big memorial day during the Orthodox year; it even has its own special name - Radonitsa or Radunitsa. In some countries, this day is established as an official day off. Options,.

It is also necessary to understand that for us the people who lie in the cemetery are dead, but for Christ, every soul, regardless of whether the body lives or not, is alive. So, in principle, there is no big difference for the Lord what a person wants to cry out with: with a living relative or a dead one.

About church canons

It should be noted about why it is impossible to go to the cemetery on Easter, the priest's answer that there are, of course, no strict prohibitions according to church canons. If a person wants to think about the departed people and remember them on Easter, then no one will forbid this. But here it should be remembered that, if possible, it is better to postpone the commemoration until a specially allocated day for this.

In some sources today you can find information that the custom of going to the cemetery on Easter appeared long before the October Revolution. In tsarist Russia, many ancestors lived in the countryside, the roads there were bad. The temple, as a rule, was built next to the cemetery. So, in order not to go far to the same place twice, many immediately after the Easter service went to the graves of their ancestors to lay a painted egg there and congratulate their deceased relatives on the Easter of Christ. Many believe that the tradition of visiting the cemetery on Easter developed in this way.

All the same, if you read modern church literature or talk with a priest, it will be noted there that you should not go to the cemetery on Easter itself. This holiday is not a day of sorrow, you need to rejoice and have fun on Easter. Moreover, now, after a long Lent, this can finally be done. It is worth remembering that on the second Tuesday after Easter, there will be Radonitsa day. It is on this day that you need to go to the cemetery to inform the deceased relatives, friends and loved ones that Christ is Risen from the dead. Great way,.

Why it is impossible to go to the cemetery on Easter, the priest's answer suggests that it is best to postpone this trip until a special memorial day. I would like to remind you that, according to the Orthodox tradition, you do not need to carry food to the cemetery: dead people, in which only the soul is alive, human food is not needed. However, you can take a painted egg with you to the cemetery as a symbol of Easter and eternal life after death.

It is known that with God everyone is alive, but many believe that visiting a cemetery on Easter is equated with a sin. We will tell you whether it is possible to commemorate the dead on this day or whether it is worth refraining from it.

For a long time people have divided into two camps: some consider Easter as a reason to honor the dead, others argue that this is unacceptable, even sinful. It is worth understanding the essence of the holiday.

Servants of God explain that Easter is “the day of the dead”, since according to legend, Jesus descended into the underworld in order to tell about eternal life and the salvation of the human race. And after that he was resurrected.

So is it possible or not to go to the cemetery on Easter?

The tradition of visiting the cemetery appeared in Soviet times, when many churches were closed, and the mention of faith was punished by the authorities. People wanted to share the sacredness of this holiday with their loved ones, but it was difficult to get into the church. Therefore, the found alternative to meet at the graves turned into a kind of tradition. Many drank in the cemetery and left food on the tombstones: colored eggs and Easter cakes in order to honor the memory of their relatives. However, now this is equated with paganism, and any excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is generally unacceptable on this day, especially in the cemetery.

In our time, clergymen are calling for the restoration of church foundations. It is necessary to stay in the church on the day of Christ Easter, to sing and praise the Savior. To visit the cemetery, a special holiday is set aside - Radonitsa, on which you can go to the cemetery, honor the memory of those who left. Radonitsa happens on the ninth day after Easter, it is at this time that it is worth mourning and commemorating the departed.

What will happen if you still go to the cemetery?

The church does not forbid visiting the cemetery on days of jubilation, especially if the soul is eager to honor the memory of loved ones and relatives. However, given human psychology, it is worth refraining from such visits. Not everyone will be able to contain joy and sorrow at the same time, and you must first of all enjoy Easter day, giving up all worries.

Therefore, the priests strongly ask you to refuse to visit the graves and hold funeral services there. True Orthodox people do not violate this canon and spend Easter in joy, and on parental day they already share this with the dead.

It is also known that if a person dies on Easter, this is considered the grace of God. Even the funeral service on this day is held according to a special, Easter rite, which means great mercy in the “next world”.

Visiting a cemetery on the Holy Feast will not be considered a sin, but you will not receive permission from the church for this. It is especially worth noting that Easter is a day of joy, which is not so much in our world. Do not darken this day with grief: this can negatively affect your condition for the next year. It is better to visit the cemetery and pray for the dead on the holiday designated for this - Radonitsa. be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and

13.04.2017 07:25

Parental Saturdays widely known among the people. On these days, it is customary to go to cemeteries and commemorate ...

Seeing off, Coffins, and in a church way - Radonitsa - these are specially designated Orthodox calendar days to visit the place where relatives and friends who have already passed away rest, to share with them the joy of the Bright Sunday of Christ.

There are various names for this day - Seeing Off, Coffins, Gift Sunday, Dispatching, Memorial Sunday, Tomino Sunday, Homino Sunday, Krasnaya Gorka.

There are many memorial days in the year, but only Radonitsa bears in its essence a joyful event, it means the celebration of Easter with all the attributes (dyes and Easter cakes) brought to the cemetery - in this way, the unity of the heavenly and earthly church takes place, because God has no dead, for him all are alive.

The head of the Information Department of the Kiev Patriarchate, Evstratiy Zorya, told the "Observer" when it is necessary to go to the cemetery to commemorate the dead and how to do it correctly, as well as what not to do.

History and meaning

We, celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, celebrate the victory of life over death. And in the chant itself, which is called the "Troparion" of Easter, that is, a short chant that tells the essence of what we celebrate, it is said: "Christ rose from the dead, overcame death by death and by that which in the tombs gave life." That is, it is the joy of the resurrection not only of Jesus Christ, but the joy of the resurrection for all people.

The Apostle Paul says that as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be resurrected. And this does not depend on the state of the person, whether he believes or does not believe, whether he died a saint or a sinner. Just as through the fall of Adam death came to all people, and the righteous, the sinners, the old and the young also die. And so it will be until the second coming of Christ. So, remembering the Resurrection of Christ, we obviously remember both the dead and their resurrection. And we do what is most necessary for them, this is prayer. And in myself Great post we pay special attention to prayer for the dead.

And in connection with Great Lent there are special Saturdays, the so-called parental Saturdays, on which we remember everyone from the age of the dead. By church calendar commemoration of the dead after Easter ends on Tuesday of the second week.

When to go to the cemetery

On Tuesday of the second week, that is, a week after Easter, on Tuesday comes the so-called Radonitsa.

But according to a long-term tradition and in connection with practical necessity, commemoration in practice is performed starting from Saturday of the first week, especially if we talk about such large cities like Kiev, where there are many cemeteries and in different cemeteries the dead can be buried.

This can also be found in the media - it is indicated that at such and such cemeteries commemoration is performed on Saturday, on such and such on Sunday, on such and such on Monday, that is, it is distributed among the cemeteries.

Where there is one cemetery in small towns, in villages, it is usually done there on Sunday, because this is a non-working day and people can freely come to the graves of their relatives and friends and make a commemoration.

Therefore, in principle, you can go to the cemetery on any of these days, starting from Saturday, because Saturday is the common day of remembrance of all the dead throughout the year, from Saturday to Tuesday, inclusive, we come to see off the graves of our dead and we pray there. Either we ourselves pray for their repose, or, if possible, we invite the priests who are in the cemetery at that time, and thus we commemorate them.

It is also an opportunity to assess the state of the grave, get ready, remove it, and give alms, because traditional in connection with the commemoration of the dead is the distribution of alms to the needy - money, also food, in particular the same pasci and dyes. They either remain at the grave, and then those who are in need go and collect these things, or they are served to those who are sitting at the entrance to the cemetery asking.

And this is also a very ancient custom, and the church has always taught that charity in memory of the dead is as necessary as prayer for them.

To accept the homeless, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked is to draw closer to the Lord. Therefore, you cannot drive away people who collect food that has just been left in the cemetery.

What not to do

There is no need to turn the commemoration of the dead into an excuse for drunkenness or some kind of May Day.

This should not be just an excuse to drink alcohol and, in fact, already forget about what you are here for. And therefore, it is better to have a memorial meal not at the grave, but at home after visiting the graves of the dead.

If this is practically inconvenient and impossible, then it is possible to commemorate at the graves, but without drinking strong alcoholic beverages. And this should be more symbolic, that is, there is no need to prepare a lot of dishes for going out to nature in order to eat, drink, and so on.

In some villages, by the way, there is a very interesting tradition where commemoration is common, that is, people go to the graves, commemorate their dead, and then leave the cemetery and lay out who brought what at the cemetery, and consume it together, as they once did. in ancient times, the first Christians.

It all depends on regional traditions. Because, for example, in Russia there is a custom with which the church has been struggling for a long time, but cannot overcome it. Many on Easter do not go to church, but go to the graves. On Easter, they go to the graves, to the coffins, which actually does not need to be done, because even if a person dies on that day, on Easter, then the funeral is not performed. The funeral is already taking place on Monday, or on the following days, because this is a holiday over the holidays, and a triumph over the celebrations. This is a special day to be spent spiritually and physically in accordance with the joy of this celebration.

Beliefs in Radonitsa

Remembering in the "memorial" week of the deceased ancestors, it is not suitable to call them dead, because these days "they all hear what is being said about them." It is better to call them relatives, brother-in-law and acquaintances.

A week before the Seeing Off, people go to the cemetery to arrange graves, sow flowers, plant viburnum and other trees.

You cannot dig a garden on Memorial Sunday. Everything that is sown and planted in Easter week will not germinate and give birth.

Poor people who collect Easter eggs, Easter and sweets on the graves, must read a prayer for the deceased, otherwise he will come to them in dreams.

Near the grave one should read "Our Father", you can kiss a cross or a monument three times. When you leave the cemetery, turn to the dead in your mind: "Let us greet you, but it is easy for you to lie down," "The Kingdom of God is for you, but we do not rush to you."

On memorial Sunday, the energy of the living and the dead meets in the cemetery. On memorial Sunday, the dead meet their relatives at the entrance to the cemetery.

To protect yourself from trouble, you must enter the cemetery through the gate. Cross yourself three times at the entrance. When leaving, do the same, facing the graves. The sign of the cross is respect for the dead and at the same time a guardian against the unclean. At home, wash your hands and face three times with holy water.

In holy water, they also rinse a towel that was laid on the grave for Easter.

If you find on the doorstep or yard a wreath or flowers from the cemetery, scattered earth, salt or cereal, sweep it from the yard to the nearest intersection. Damage will return to the person who wanted to put them on you.

If there is an opportunity for pregnant women and children under one year old, it is better not to go to the cemetery, since they have a too tender and sensitive aura, besides, small children often see things that adults cannot see. Go to church if you want.

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Remembrance of the dead on Easter - how is it carried out? Is this approved by the Orthodox Church? Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko will answer these questions.

Commemoration of the dead on Easter

Archpriest Alexander Ilyashenko, rector of the Church of the All-Merciful Savior b. Sorrows Monastery, chairman of the editorial board of the site:

Is the most important holiday of the year. The church, taking into account the psychology of the people, separates the days of celebration and days of sorrow. The joyful exultation that the Church communicates to believers at Easter is separated from the mood of sadness that accompanies the commemoration of the departed.

Therefore, on the day of Easter, one is not supposed to go to the cemetery and perform memorial services. If someone dies, and death on Easter is traditionally considered a sign of God's mercy, then the funeral service is performed according to the Easter rite, which includes many Easter hymns.

To visit the cemetery, the Church appoints a special day - Radonitsa (from the word joy - after all, the Easter holiday continues) and this holiday takes place on Tuesday after Easter week. On this day, a funeral service is served and the believers visit the cemetery - to pray for the departed, so that the Easter joy will be passed on to them.

Cemeteries began to be visited on Easter only in Soviet times, when churches were closed. People who felt the need to gather, to share the joy, could not go to the temples that were closed and went to the cemetery on Easter instead of going a week later. The cemetery, as it were, replaced the visit to the temple. And now, when the churches are open, therefore this tradition of the Soviet era cannot be justified, it is necessary to restore the church tradition: to be in the church on Easter day and celebrate a joyful holiday, and to Radonitsa go to the cemetery.

It must be remembered that the tradition of leaving food, Easter eggs on the graves is paganism that revived in the Soviet Union, when the state persecuted the right-wing faith. When faith is persecuted, heavy superstitions arise.

The souls of our deceased loved ones need prayer. Unacceptable from the church point of view is the ceremony when vodka and black bread are placed on the grave, and next to it is a photograph of the deceased: this, in modern terms, is a remake, because, for example, a photograph appeared a little more than a hundred years ago: hence, this tradition new.

As for the commemoration of the dead with alcohol: any drunkenness is unacceptable. The Holy Scriptures allow the use of wine: “Wine gladdens the heart of a man” (Psalm 103: 15), but warns against excess: “Do not get drunk with wine, there is fornication in it” (Eph. 5:18). You can drink, but you can't get drunk. And I repeat again, the deceased need our fervent prayer, our pure heart and sober mind, alms given for them, but not vodka.

How are the departed commemorated on Easter?

On Easter, many visit the cemetery, where the graves of their loved ones are located. Unfortunately, in some families there is a blasphemous custom to accompany these visits to the graves of their relatives with a wild drunken revelry. But even those who do not celebrate pagan drunken feasts on the graves of their loved ones, so offensive to any Christian feeling, often do not know when on Easter days it is possible and necessary to commemorate the dead.
The first commemoration of the departed takes place on the second week, after Fomin's Sunday, on Tuesday.
The basis for this commemoration is, on the one hand, the memory of the descent of Jesus Christ into hell, combined with Fomin's resurrection, and on the other, the permission of the Church Rule to create the usual commemoration of the dead, starting with Fomin Monday. According to this permission, believers come to the graves of their neighbors with the joyful news of the Resurrection of Christ, hence the day of remembrance itself is called Radonitsa.

How to remember the dead correctly?

Prayer for the departed is the greatest and most important thing that we can do for those who have passed away.
By and large, the deceased does not need a coffin or a monument - all this is a tribute to traditions, albeit pious ones.
But the eternally living soul of the deceased feels a great need for our constant prayer, because it itself cannot do good deeds with which it would be able to propitiate God.
That is why home prayer for loved ones, prayer at the cemetery at the grave of the deceased is the duty of every Orthodox Christian.
But the commemoration in the Church provides special help to the deceased.
Before visiting the cemetery, you should come to the temple at the beginning of the service, submit a note with the names of the deceased relatives for commemoration in the altar (best of all, if it is a commemoration at a proskomedia, when a piece of the deceased is removed from a special prosphora, and then as a sign of washing away his sins lowered into the Chalice with the Holy Gifts).
After the Liturgy, a panikhida should be served.
Prayer will be more effective if the one who commemorates this day himself takes part in the Body and Blood of Christ.
It is very useful to donate to the church, to give alms to the poor with a request to pray for the departed.

How to behave in a cemetery?

Arriving at the cemetery, you need to light a candle, commit lithium(this word literally means increased prayer... To perform the rite of litiya at the commemoration of the dead, a priest must be invited. A shorter order, which a layman can also perform, is given in the “Complete Orthodox prayer book for laymen ”and in the brochure“ How to behave in a cemetery ”published by our publishing house).
Then clean up the grave or just be silent, remember the deceased.
There is no need to eat or drink in the cemetery, it is especially unacceptable to pour vodka into the grave mound - this insults the memory of the dead. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread on the grave “for the deceased” is a relic of paganism and should not be observed in Orthodox families.
There is no need to leave food on the grave, it is better to give it to the beggar or the hungry.

using materials from the site zavet.ru

Easter is the most important holiday of the year.

The church, taking into account the psychology of the people, separates the days of celebration and days of sorrow. The joyful exultation that the Church communicates to believers at Easter is separated from the mood of sadness that accompanies the commemoration of the departed. Therefore, on the day of Easter, one is not supposed to go to the cemetery and not perform a requiem.

If someone dies, and death on Easter is traditionally considered a sign of God's mercy, then the funeral service is performed according to the Easter rite, which includes many Easter hymns.

To visit the cemetery, the Church appoints a special day - Radonitsa (from the word joy - after all, the Easter holiday continues), and this holiday takes place on Tuesday after Easter week.

On this day, a funeral service is served and the believers visit the cemetery - to pray for the departed, so that the Easter joy will be passed on to them.

IT IS IMPORTANT! Cemeteries began to be visited on Easter only in Soviet times, when churches were closed. People who felt the need to gather, to share the joy, could not go to the temples that were closed and went to the cemetery on Easter instead of going a week later. The cemetery, as it were, replaced the visit to the temple. And now, when the churches are open, therefore this tradition of the Soviet era cannot be justified, it is necessary to restore the church tradition: to be in the church on Easter day and celebrate a joyful holiday, and to Radonitsa go to the cemetery.

It must be remembered that the tradition of leaving food, Easter eggs on the graves is paganism that revived in the Soviet Union, when the state persecuted the right-wing faith. When faith is persecuted, heavy superstitions arise. The souls of our deceased loved ones need prayer. Unacceptable from the church point of view is the ceremony when vodka and black bread are placed on the grave, and next to it is a photograph of the deceased: this, in modern terms, is a remake, because, for example, a photograph appeared a little more than a hundred years ago: this means that this tradition new.

As for the commemoration of the dead with alcohol: any drunkenness is unacceptable. The Holy Scriptures allow the use of wine: “Wine gladdens the heart of a man” (Psalm 103: 15), but warns against excess: “Do not get drunk with wine, there is fornication in it” (Eph. 5:18). You can drink, but you can't get drunk. The deceased need our fervent prayer, our pure heart and sober mind, alms given for them, but not vodka.

How the dead are commemorated on Easter

On Easter, many visit the cemetery, where the graves of their loved ones are located.

Unfortunately, in some families there is a blasphemous custom to accompany these visits to the graves of their relatives with a wild drunken revelry. But even those who do not celebrate pagan drunken feasts on the graves of their loved ones, so offensive to any Christian feeling, often do not know when on Easter days it is possible and necessary to commemorate the dead. The first commemoration of the departed takes place on the second week, after Fomin's Sunday, on Tuesday.

The basis for this commemoration is, on the one hand, the memory of the descent of Jesus Christ into hell, combined with Fomin's resurrection, and on the other, the permission of the Church Rule to create the usual commemoration of the dead, starting with Fomin Monday. With this permission, believers come to the graves of their neighbors with the joyful news of the Resurrection of Christ, hence the day of commemoration itself is called Radonitsa.

How to properly commemorate the departed

Prayer for the departed is the greatest and most important thing that we can do for those who have passed away.

By and large, the deceased does not need a coffin or a monument - all this is a tribute to traditions, albeit pious ones. But the eternally living soul of the deceased feels a great need for our constant prayer, because it itself cannot do good deeds with which it would be able to propitiate God. That is why home prayer for loved ones, prayer at the cemetery at the grave of the deceased is the duty of every Orthodox Christian. But the commemoration in the Church provides special help to the deceased.

Before visiting the cemetery, you should come to the temple at the beginning of the service, submit a note with the names of the deceased relatives for commemoration in the altar (best of all, if it is a commemoration at a proskomedia, when a piece of the deceased is removed from a special prosphora, and then as a sign of washing away his sins lowered into the Chalice with the Holy Gifts). After the Liturgy, a panikhida should be served. Prayer will be more effective if the one who commemorates this day himself takes part in the Body and Blood of Christ. It is very useful to donate to the church, to give alms to the poor with a request to pray for the departed.

How to behave in a cemetery

Arriving at the cemetery, you need to light a candle, perform a litiya (this word literally means intensified prayer. it is unacceptable to pour vodka into the grave mound - this insults the memory of the dead. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread on the grave “for the deceased” is a relic of paganism and should not be observed in Orthodox families. It is not necessary to leave food on the grave, it is better to give it to a beggar or hungry.

When can you go to the cemetery:

* on the day of the funeral;

* on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death;

* every year on the day of death of a person;

* on memorial days - Monday and Tuesday of the week following Easter;

* Meat Saturday preceding the week of Great Lent;

* 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of Great Lent;

* Trinity Saturday - the day before the feast of the Holy Trinity;

* Dmitrovskaya Saturday - the first Saturday in November.

When you can't go to the cemetery:

* Orthodoxy does not welcome to visit the graves of relatives on such Christian holidays as Easter, Annunciation and Christmas;

* Trinity is not celebrated in the cemetery either. On Trinity they go to church;

* it is considered that you do not need to go to the churchyard after sunset;

* Women are advised not to visit the place of the dead during pregnancy or menstruation. But this is a personal choice of each of the fair sex.

Some sources report that it would be wrong to go to the tomb on the birthday of the deceased. You can just remember him with a kind word, in the bosom of the family and loved ones of the deceased.

Upon arrival at the grave, a positive action will be to light a candle, to remember the deceased. Do not eat or drink near the tombstone. Have a memorial dinner at home.

Do not step on graves or jump over them. There is no need to touch other people's burial places, to put things in order there, if you were not asked by the relatives of the person buried there.

In the event that you dropped something on the dead ground, it is better not to pick it up anymore. If the dropped object is very important to you, picking it up, put something in return (sweets, cookies, flowers).

Leaving the cemetery, do not turn around, and even more so do not return. When you come home, wash your hands thoroughly (and it is better to do this even at the cemetery), be sure to wash off the cemetery soil from your shoes, wash the tool that was used to clean up at the grave.

Based on the materials of the IA "Orthodoxy and the World"

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