Radonitsa: what kind of holiday is this? The history of the Radonitsa holiday. Radonitsa holiday: customs

In 2018, Radonitsa is celebrated on April 17, what can and cannot be done on this holiday, traditions and signs, and much more - read in our material.

On Tuesday of the second week after Easter, the day after St. Thomas Sunday (or Antipascha), the Orthodox Church established the day of remembrance of the dead, the first after Easter.

Radonitsa in 2018: what date do Orthodox Christians have?

On the ninth day after Easter, on Tuesday of St. Thomas Week, Radonitsa or Radunitsa is celebrated. This year the holiday falls on April 17th.

On this folk Christian holiday, it is customary to remember the deceased in a special way. The day got its name - Radonitsa - from the word “joy” - thanks to faith and hope for resurrection and eternal life.

The basis for this commemoration is, on the one hand, the memory of the descent of Jesus Christ into hell, connected with the Resurrection of Thomas (the first resurrection after Easter, the memory of the miracle of the assurance of the Apostle Thomas), and on the other hand, the permission of the Church Charter to perform the usual commemoration of the dead, starting with Fomina Monday. According to this permission, believers come to the graves of their loved ones with the joyful news of the Resurrection of Christ, hence the day of remembrance itself is called Radonitsa.

Radonitsa: the history of the holiday

The celebration of Radonitsa began with the pagan holiday “Naviy Day”, when our ancestors commemorated the dead. The folk tradition of commemorating deceased relatives on Monday or Tuesday of St. Thomas Week is due to the fact that, according to the liturgical charter, after St. Thomas Sunday (the first Sunday after Easter), on weekdays in churches the singing of the lithium for the departed, which had ceased on Maundy Thursday, is resumed.

Etymologically, the word “radonitsa” goes back to the words “kind” and “joy”, and the special place of Radonitsa in the annual circle of church holidays - immediately after Bright Easter Week - seems to oblige Christians not to delve into worries about the death of loved ones, but, on the contrary, to rejoice their birth into another life - eternal life.

The Orthodox Church confesses that not only saints, but all believers do not die, but live in Christ, and He conquered death by His rising from the dead. Therefore, deceased Christians do not cease to be members of the Church and maintain real, living communication with her and with the rest of her children.

In the Triodion (the liturgical book of the Orthodox Church, containing the texts of the changing prayers of the mobile annual liturgical circle) there is no special sequence of services on this day. Radonitsa coincides with the post-festival, therefore, at Vespers, Matins, and Liturgy there should not be anything specifically funeral.

Usually on this day, after the evening service or after the liturgy, a full requiem service is celebrated, which includes Easter chants. According to established tradition, believers visit cemeteries on this day.

The currently widespread custom of visiting cemeteries on Easter day itself contradicts the most ancient institutions of the Church: until the ninth day after Easter, commemoration of the dead is never performed. If a person dies on Easter, then he is buried according to a special Easter rite. Easter is a time of special and exceptional joy, a celebration of victory over death and over all sorrow and sorrow.

Arriving at the cemetery, an Orthodox Christian should light a candle and perform a litia - this word literally means intense prayer. A priest can be invited to perform the rite of litia in remembrance of the dead. If you wish, you can read the Akathist about the repose of the dead. Then clean up the grave or simply remain silent and remember the deceased. There is no need to eat or drink in a cemetery; it is especially unacceptable to pour vodka on a grave mound - this insults the memory of the dead. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread at 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.

Prayer for the deceased is the biggest and most important thing that can be done for deceased relatives. According to Christian doctrine, the eternally living soul of the deceased experiences a great need for constant prayer, because it itself cannot do good deeds with which it would be able to appease God.

Before visiting the cemetery, one of the relatives should come to the temple at the beginning of the church service and submit a note with the name of the deceased for commemoration at the altar. After the liturgy, a memorial service can be celebrated. The prayer will be more effective if the person commemorating on the day of remembrance himself receives Holy Communion.

How to treat the grave of an Orthodox Christian?

Cemeteries are sacred places where the bodies of the dead are buried until a future resurrection.
Even according to the laws of pagan states, tombs were considered sacred and inviolable.
From deep pre-Christian antiquity there is a custom of marking burial places by building a hill above it.
Having adopted this custom, the Christian Church decorates the grave mound with the victorious sign of our salvation - the Holy Life-Giving Cross, inscribed on the tombstone or placed above the tombstone.

We call our dead departed, not deceased, because at a certain time they will rise from the grave.
The grave is the place of the future resurrection, and therefore it is necessary to keep it clean and orderly.
The cross on the grave of an Orthodox Christian is a silent preacher of blessed immortality and resurrection. Planted in the ground and rising towards the sky, it signifies the faith of Christians that the body of the deceased is here in the earth, and the soul is in heaven, that under the cross is hidden a seed that grows for eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

The cross on the grave is placed at the feet of the deceased so that the Crucifix is facing the face of the deceased.
We must especially ensure that the cross on the grave is not askew, that it is always painted, clean and well-groomed.
A simple, modest cross made of metal or wood is more appropriate for the grave of an Orthodox Christian than expensive monuments and tombstones made of granite and marble.

Is it possible to clean up the cemetery on Radonitsa?

You can clean up the cemetery on Radonitsa.

Radonitsa is a special day of remembrance of the dead, which falls on the second Tuesday after Easter. During the period from Palm Sunday to Radonitsa, Orthodox believers do not visit cemeteries (except for funerals), since the whole life of a Christian at this time is centered around the events that took place two thousand years ago - the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. On Radonitsa, it is customary to remember deceased loved ones in the temple, as well as with prayer in the cemetery, and, of course, having arrived at the grave, it is strange not to put things in order if necessary.

What kind of holiday is Radonitsa and what can you do?

Radonitsa is the day of remembrance of the dead, which falls during the Easter period. On this day, you can and should pray for your deceased loved ones in the temple, as well as in the cemetery and restore order at the graves. Easter is the holiday of Victory over death, the affirmation of eternal life. And therefore, Christians on this day want to share the Easter Joy with their relatives who have died for earthly life, but are alive for eternal life. And even the very name of this holiday - Radonitsa - emphasizes that this is not just a day of sadness for those who are not around, but also a day of joy.

Is it possible to work for Radonitsa?

You can work for Radonitsa. You can work even on twelve and great church holidays, if there is such a need, but it is important not to forget about the significance of the holiday. At the same time, you need to find time in your life not only for work, but also for prayer and going to church.

Radonitsa is an ordinary day on which it is customary to remember the dead. It falls on the second Tuesday after Easter. It’s good if a working person has the opportunity to visit a temple on this very day, pray at a memorial service for deceased loved ones, or go to a cemetery. If things don’t allow you to do this on Radonitsa, you can choose another day, and on that day you can pray for your deceased at home.

Is it possible for pregnant women to go to Radonitsa?

Of course, pregnant women can go to Radonitsa both to church and to the cemetery. Prayer for deceased loved ones can in no way harm either the mother or the child. Another thing is that the physical and psychological state of a pregnant woman can be different, and if it is difficult for her to go to the cemetery on Radonitsa, then she should not do it through force. You can pray for your deceased relatives in church or even at home.

What can you do on Radonitsa?

On Radonitsa you can and should pray for deceased relatives and friends. Radonitsa is a church-wide day of remembrance of the dead, which falls during the Easter period, and therefore this day is filled not only with sorrow, but also with hope for a future meeting with loved ones who have died physically, but are alive in soul.

On Radonitsa, it is customary to attend church services, as well as visit the cemetery, where you can independently perform a litia (short memorial service) in a secular manner. If this was not done earlier (before Palm Sunday, since during the period from Palm Sunday to Radonitsa it is not customary for believers to visit the cemetery), it is necessary to restore order at the grave. But there is no need to leave food, colored eggs, or a glass of vodka on the graves. The souls of dead people do not need such pagan offerings. The only thing they need is remembrance and prayer. Food for the remembrance of the dead can be distributed to the poor or taken to the temple on the eve.

Wedding on Radonitsa - is it possible?

You can have a wedding on Radonitsa, if it involves registration at the registry office and/or gatherings with friends. Radonitsa is an ordinary non-fast day of the church year, on which it is customary to remember the departed. But you can’t get married on Radonitsa. Radonitsa always falls on Tuesday, and on Tuesdays the Sacrament of Wedding is not performed, so that the first day of the newlyweds’ family life does not fall on Wednesday, the day of fasting.

Is it possible to celebrate a birthday on Radonitsa?

You can celebrate your birthday on Radonitsa. Radonitsa is the day of church-wide remembrance of the dead, which falls during the Easter period, and even the name of the holiday encourages us not to be sad, but to rejoice. But before celebrating your personal joy, on this day it is perhaps worth remembering and praying with love and gratitude for your departed ancestors.

When can you clean up the cemetery in front of Radonitsa?

You can clean up the cemetery in front of Radonitsa in advance. But then this must be done during the days of Lent. Believers do not visit the cemetery (except for funerals) during the period from Palm Sunday to Radonitsa, since during Holy Week all the attention of a Christian is focused on the suffering of Christ, and on Bright Week - on the joy of His Resurrection and the victory of Life over death.

Radonitsa is the day when funeral services, which did not take place on previous days, are resumed in churches. On this day, believers remember their deceased loved ones with prayer both in church and in the cemetery. And of course, when people come to the graves, they put things in order if there was no opportunity or weather conditions to clean the cemetery in front of Radonitsa during the days of fasting.

Is it possible to marry Radonitsa?

You can get married to Radonitsa if state registration of marriage or celebration with loved ones is scheduled for that day. You cannot get married on Radonitsa, since this holiday always falls on a Tuesday, and on Tuesdays weddings do not take place in churches.

Radonitsa is the day of remembrance of the dead, but it is celebrated during the period of Easter joy. At this time there are usually many weddings, since for a long time before this - from Maslenitsa until Antipascha (the next Sunday after Easter) - there were no weddings in churches. You can get married on the eve of Radonitsa (Sunday or Monday) or the next day (Wednesday), and you can arrange some other wedding events on Radonitsa.

Is it possible to clean a grave on Radonitsa?

Of course, on Radonitsa you can and should clean up the graves of deceased loved ones. On Radonitsa, it is customary to pray for the deceased in a church or cemetery, as well as to clean up their graves after winter. Cleaning of the cemetery can be carried out before Radonitsa, but in the pre-Easter period and the first week of Easter, believers do not visit the cemetery, since at this time the entire life of a Christian is focused on gospel events. And before Palm Sunday, after which it is not customary to visit cemeteries until Radonitsa itself, the weather does not always allow cleaning the graves.

What can you do on Radonitsa at the cemetery?

At the Radonitsa cemetery you can pray, clean up, and remember your deceased loved ones.

Prayer for the dead is the duty of a Christian. You can invite a priest to the Radonitsa cemetery to serve a requiem service at the grave, or you can perform a litia (short requiem) yourself in a secular rite.

Remembering those whose earthly journey has ended is important for a believer, because in the church’s understanding, the life of the soul is eternal. But, unfortunately, often the meaning of a wake comes down to drinking. There is no need to drink and leave a glass of vodka on the grave, just as there is no need to leave food at the cemetery. To remember means to pray, remember something good about a person, think and feel that his soul is alive and we all have hope of meeting our deceased relatives.

Is it possible to baptize on Radonitsa?

You can baptize on Radonitsa, just like on any other day of the year. But you need to negotiate the Sacrament in a specific church or with a specific priest. Radonitsa is a church-wide day of remembrance of the dead. The priests may be very busy, and then you will be asked to reschedule your baptism to another day.

Is it possible to have surgery in Radonitsa?

It is possible to have surgery in Radonitsa.

Radonitsa is an ordinary day on which a memorial service is served for the first time after Easter (there are no memorial services from Maundy Thursday until Radonitsa). That is why it is customary on Radonitsa to remember deceased loved ones in church and in the cemetery. If some important matters are scheduled for this day and there is no opportunity to pray at the memorial service, then this can be done on any other day, and not only on days of special church-wide commemoration of the departed.

Is it possible to remember those who committed suicide on Radonitsa?

Remembrance for a believer is, first of all, prayer, but the Church does not pray for suicides as for those who have arbitrarily rejected God. The names of suicides are not written in notes, a piece of the Liturgy is not taken out for them, and they are not prayed for at funeral services.

Of course, the loved ones of a person who has committed suicide still remain dear to them, and the impossibility of prayer only increases the pain. The Church has a special rite of prayer for consolation and support of grieving relatives, but it is performed by separate agreement with the priest and is not a commemoration. Suicides can be commemorated in personal prayer, reading, for example, the prayer of the Venerable Elder Leo of Optina: Seek, O Lord, the lost soul of Your servant (name): if it is possible, have mercy. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin, but Thy holy will be done.

Is it possible to get married on Radonitsa?

You cannot get married on Radonitsa. But not because this is a day of special remembrance of the dead, but because Radonitsa always falls on Tuesday, and on Tuesdays, on the eve of fasting day - Wednesday, the Sacrament of Wedding is not performed.

You can get married on Sunday or Monday before Radonitsa, as well as on Wednesday after.

Is it possible to bury on Radonitsa?

You can both bury and have a funeral service on Radonitsa. The Church does not have any special instructions about which days one cannot bury, because a person’s death cannot be predicted and adjusted to the church calendar. But there are several days on which funeral services are not usually held - Good Friday, Easter itself and Christmas. If the third day after a person’s death falls on these days, then the funeral service is most often postponed.

Folk signs on Radonitsa

As already written, in some regions of Rus' it was not customary to go to the cemetery. However, this is rare, and more and more often one could hear from old people that if one does not visit the graves of relatives on this day, then after death no one will remember about this person.

Sowing, digging or planting on this day was a bad sign, because then there would be a bad and meager harvest.

Our ancestors also believed that if it rains on Radonitsa in the morning before lunch, and a strong wind blows in the afternoon and evening, then the deceased are worried that they are not being visited at the cemetery. However, when it rains on this day, but the weather is not windy, it is lucky. Moreover, in this case there will definitely be a good harvest.

They used to say: “They plow on Radonitsa in the morning, cry during the day, and jump in the evening.” That is, everyone worked in the morning, went to the cemetery in the afternoon, and in the evening there was a party until the morning.

How to behave in a cemetery?

Then clean up the grave or simply remain silent and remember the deceased.

There is no need to eat or drink in a cemetery; it is especially unacceptable to pour vodka into a grave mound - this insults the memory of the deceased. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread at 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.

What date is Radonitsa in 2018?

Radonitsa in 2018 – what date? Radonitsa - 9 days after Easter - parent's day, a day of special remembrance of the dead. Read more about this in the article!

How to behave in a cemetery?

Arriving at the cemetery, you need to light a candle and perform a lithium (this word literally means intense prayer. To perform the rite of lithium when commemorating the dead, you must invite a priest. A shorter rite, which a layman can perform, is given below “The rite of lithium performed by a layman at home and to the cemetery").
If you wish, you can read an akathist about the repose of the departed.
Then clean up the grave or simply remain silent and remember the deceased.
There is no need to eat or drink in a cemetery; it is especially unacceptable to pour vodka into a grave mound - this insults the memory of the deceased. The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread at 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.

How to properly commemorate the deceased on Radonitsa in 2018?

“Let us try, as much as possible, to help the departed, instead of tears, instead of sobs, instead of magnificent tombs - with our prayers, alms and offerings for them, so that in this way both they and we will receive the promised benefits,” writes St. John Chrysostom.
Prayer for the departed is the greatest and most important thing we can do for those who have passed on to another world.
By and large, the deceased does not need either a coffin or a monument - all this is a tribute to traditions, albeit pious ones.
But the eternally living soul of the deceased experiences a great need for our constant prayer, because it itself cannot do good deeds with which it would be able to appease God.
That is why prayer at home for loved ones, prayer in the cemetery at the grave of the deceased is the duty of every Orthodox Christian.
Commemoration in the Church provides special assistance to the deceased.
Before visiting the cemetery, one of the relatives should come to the church at the beginning of the service, submit a note with the name of the deceased for commemoration at the altar (it is best if this is commemorated at a proskomedia, when a piece is taken out of a special prosphora for the deceased, and then in a sign of the washing away of his sins will be lowered into the Chalice with the Holy Gifts).
After the liturgy, a memorial service must be celebrated.
The prayer will be more effective if the one commemorating on this day himself partakes of the Body and Blood of Christ.
On certain days of the year, the Church commemorates all fathers and brothers in faith who have passed away from time to time, who have been worthy of Christian death, as well as those who were overtaken by sudden death and were not guided into the afterlife by the prayers of the Church.
The memorial services that take place on such days are called ecumenical, and the days themselves are called ecumenical parental Saturdays. All of them do not have a constant number, but are associated with the moving Lenten-Easter cycle.
These are the days:
1. Meat Saturday- eight days before the start of Lent, on the eve of the Week of the Last Judgment.
2. Parents' Saturdays- in the second, third and fourth weeks of Lent.
3. Trinity Parents' Saturday- on the eve of the Holy Trinity, on the ninth day after the Ascension.
On the eve of each of these days, special funeral all-night vigils are served in churches - parastases, and after the liturgy there are ecumenical memorial services.
In addition to these general church days, the Russian Orthodox Church has established some more, namely:
4. Radonitsa (Radunitsa)- Easter commemoration of the departed, occurs in the second week after Easter, on Tuesday.
5. Dimitrievskaya Parents' Saturday- a day of special commemoration of killed soldiers, originally established in memory of the Battle of Kulikovo, and later became a day of prayer for all Orthodox soldiers and military leaders. It happens on the Saturday preceding the eighth of November - the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica.
6. Commemoration of deceased warriors– April 26 (May 9 new style).
In addition to these days of general church remembrance, Every deceased Orthodox Christian should be commemorated annually on his birthday, death, and name day. It is very useful to donate to the church on memorable days, give alms to the poor with a request to pray for the departed.

Prayer for a deceased Christian

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your departed servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your glorified God in the Trinity, Faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and faith, even in You instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as You give generous rest: for there is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Widower's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart, I pray to You: rest, O Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Lord Almighty! You blessed the marital union of husband and wife, when you said: it is not good for man to be alone, let us create for him a helper for him. You have sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, Lord, and confess that You have blessed me to unite me in this holy union with one of Your handmaids. By your good and wise will you deigned to take away from me this servant of yours, whom you have given to me as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before Your will, and I pray to You with all my heart, accept my prayer for Your servant (name), and forgive her if you sin in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; Love earthly things more than heavenly things; Even if you care more about the clothing and decoration of your body than about the enlightenment of the clothing of your soul; or even careless about your children; if you upset anyone by word or deed; If there is a grudge in your heart against your neighbor or condemn someone or anything else you have done from such evil people. Forgive her all this, for she is good and philanthropic; for there is no man who will live and not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, as Thy creation, do not condemn her to eternal torment for her sin, but have mercy and mercy according to Thy great mercy. I pray and ask You, Lord, to grant me strength throughout the days of my life, without ceasing to pray for Your departed servant, and even until the end of my life to ask her from You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive her sins. Yes, as if You, God, placed a crown of stone on her head, crowning her here on earth; Thus crown me with Thy eternal glory in Thy Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints who rejoice there, so that together with them He may forever sing Thy all-holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Widow's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are the consolation of the weeping, the intercession of the orphans and widows. You said: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow, I run to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Master of all, have deigned to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was Your good and wise will that you would take this servant of Yours away from me and leave me alone. I bow before Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend. Even if you took him away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites from widows, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not consign him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, weaken and forgive all his sins and commit them with Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and place him in the Heavenly abodes, which You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even to your last breath of confession; impute to him the same faith, even in You, instead of works: for there is no man who will live and not sin, You are the only one besides sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever. I believe, Lord, and confess that You will hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; How did You open to Your servant Theophilus, who went to You, the doors of Your mercy and forgave him for his sins through the prayers of Your Holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to You, accept my prayer for Your servant and bring him into eternal life. For You are our hope. You are God, the hedgehog to have mercy and save, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Parents' prayer for deceased children

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death, Comforter of the afflicted! With a contrite and tender heart I run to You and pray to You: remember. Lord, in Your Kingdom your deceased servant (your servant), my child (name), and create for him (her) eternal memory. You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. It was your good and wise will to take it away from me. Blessed be Thy name, O Lord. I pray to You, Judge of heaven and earth, with Your endless love for us sinners, forgive my deceased child all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance. Forgive, O Merciful One, our parental sins as well, so that they may not remain on our children: we know that we have sinned many times before You, many of whom we have not observed, and have not done, as You commanded us. If our deceased child, ours or his own, for the sake of guilt, lived in this life, working for the world and his flesh, and not more than You, the Lord and his God: if you loved the delights of this world, and not more than Your Word and Your commandments, if you surrendered with the pleasures of life, and not more than with contrition for one’s sins, and in intemperance, vigil, fasting and prayer have been consigned to oblivion - I earnestly pray to Thee, forgive, most good Father, all such sins of my child, forgive and weaken, even if you have done other evil in this life . Christ Jesus! You raised up the daughter of Jairus through the faith and prayer of her father. You healed the daughter of the Canaanite wife through faith and the request of her mother: hear my prayer, and do not despise my prayer for my child. Forgive, Lord, forgive all his sins and, having forgiven and cleansed his soul, remove eternal torment and dwell with all Your saints, who have pleased You from the ages, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: like there is no man like He will live and will not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin: so that when you judge the world, my child will hear Your most beloved voice: come, blessed of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For You are the Father of mercies and generosity. You are our life and resurrection, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Children's prayer for deceased parents

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping. I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent (my mother), (name) (or: with my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) - , and his soul (or: her, or: them), as having gone (or: gone) to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, accept into Your Kingdom of Heaven. I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away (or: taken away, or: taken away) from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the unforgettable deceased (unforgettable deceased) for me Thy servant (Thy servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his sins ( her) voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him (her) and eternal save me from torment. You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a place of coolness and in a place of peace, with all the saints, from nowhere all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled. Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught (taught) me first of all to lead You, my Lord, in reverently pray to You, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual progress, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy. Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom. For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Radonitsa in the Valaam Monastery (video)

The rite of litia performed by a layman at home and in the cemetery

Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of Truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything. Treasure of good things and life to the Giver, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Blessed One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow from the waist.)

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord have mercy. (12 times.)
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow.)
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. (Bow.)
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow.)

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 Protector and my Refuge. My God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from rebellious words, His splash will overshadow you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak, and from the demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will fall at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, otherwise you will look at your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not approach your body, as His Angel commanded you to keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot on a stone, step on an asp and a basilisk, and cross a lion and a serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will overcome him, and I will glorify him, I will fill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to You, God (three times).
From the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, rest the soul of Your servant, O Savior, preserving it in the blessed life that belongs to You, O Lover of Mankind.
In Thy chamber, O Lord, where all Thy saints rest, 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: You are God, who descended into hell and loosed the bonds of those who were bound. May you and your servant rest in peace.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen: One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray for his soul to be saved.

Kontakion, tone 8:

With the saints, rest, O Christ, the soul of Your servant, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.

Ikos:

Thou art the One Immortal One, who created and created man: we were created on earth from the earth, and let us go to the same earth, as Thou Who Created me commanded, and He who spoke unto me: as Thou art the earth, and unto the earth thou hast gone, and even all men may go, creating a song of mourning at the grave: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy (three times) bless.
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
In blessed dormition, grant eternal peace. Lord, Thy departed servant (name) and create for him eternal memory.
Everlasting memory (three times).
His soul will dwell in the good, and his memory throughout generation and generation.

Using materials from zavet.ru

Radonitsa in 2018 - April 17, on this day it is recommended to remember the deceased, visit the cemetery and pray.

Hello, friends!

Probably, each of us is familiar with the name of this holiday - Radonitsa. But not everyone knows what kind of holiday this is and how to celebrate it correctly from the point of view of the Orthodox Church. There are a lot of questions related to this day:

When to celebrate?

What can you do and what can't you do?

Let's try to consider the most popular of them and give comprehensive answers. But we must immediately make a reservation: this article contains traditions that are adhered to by Orthodox believers.

What is Radonitsa?

First of all, it is worth noting that Radonitsa is a special day of remembrance of the dead. And at its core, the holiday is very old, which is why ancient pagan traditions and new church traditions coexist. And, as usually happens, one “conflicts” with the other. In this article we will consider exclusively Orthodox traditions.

Traditionally, Radonitsa is celebrated on Tuesday (the 9th day after Easter), which follows immediately after St. Thomas Sunday. Radonitsa in 2020 falls on April 28.

Do you remember that earlier on Easter the city authorities even allocated special buses and launched “City-Cemetery” routes? No, maybe they still do this now, but I haven’t seen anything like this for a long time. So, despite the fact that visiting a cemetery on Easter is already an established custom, it is wrong. In the sense that the Orthodox Church categorically does not support such trips on this holy day.

The fact is that Easter (and the week following it) is a time of joy, and it is completely inappropriate to be sad and grieve on this day. Even if someone dies and the funeral falls on the Easter holidays, the person is buried in a special manner.

And so that believers could share their joy of the Resurrection of the Lord with the departed, and, of course, remember them, a special day was established - Radonitsa.

* Let me remind you that visiting a cemetery on Easter is contrary to church regulations.

As I already said, Radonitsa 2020 will be on Tuesday - April 28. In Russia this is not a day off.

Our Slavic ancestors also had such a holiday - Radunitsa, Rodonitsa. But modern Radonitsa and the one celebrated by the Slavs are different. The essence is similar, but the customs are somewhat different. I'll tell you about this next time.

How to remember the dead on Radonitsa?

This is perhaps one of the most popular questions. They commemorate in different ways: mixing Slavic and Christian traditions, and as prescribed by the Church. Let's figure it out.

How to:

On Radonitsa one should pray for the deceased;

Attend church services;

Remember your deceased loved ones;

Go to the cemetery, where you can perform the liturgy yourself (in a secular rite) or invite a priest.

What not to do:

Food is just a form of almsgiving that we do for the sake of the deceased. And here it is very important how we create it. Almsgiving, first of all, should make us kinder, more merciful, more compassionate. And if this happens, then it will be much easier for our dead on the other side of life. Therefore, if the funeral dinner was done, as they say, for show or “for one’s own”, without prayer for the deceased person, then it is unlikely that the deceased will receive much benefit from such a dinner.

In other words, to remember means to remember something good about a person and to pray for him.

Let's continue. There are a number of other issues related to Radonitsa that concern believers.

Question answer

Is it possible to have a wedding on Radonitsa?

Yes, you can. But only if it is a simple wedding in the registry office. You can't get married on this day.

Is it possible to celebrate a birthday?

Yes, you can.

Is it possible to clean up the cemetery on Radonitsa?

Can. Just do it in such a way as not to disturb the people who came to remember their loved ones. If you want to clean the graves before this holiday, do it very early, even during Lent, since you cannot visit the cemetery (except for funerals) during the period from Palm Sunday to Radonitsa.

Is it possible to remember suicides on this day?

No you can not. Only in personal prayer can one remember their names.

Is it possible to baptize?

Yes, sure. Just don’t forget that Radonitsa is a church-wide day of remembrance of the dead and priests in churches can be very busy. Make an agreement in advance.

Is it possible to bury?

Yes, you can.

Is it possible to work for Radonitsa?

You can work, besides, Radonitsa is an ordinary working day, if you look at the secular calendar. But while working, you shouldn’t forget about the meaning of this church holiday. It's worth taking the time to visit the cemetery.

Is it possible for pregnant women to go to the cemetery and church on this day?

Yes, you can if your physical condition allows.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated or scary in Orthodox traditions. They are quite easy to follow, if desired, of course.

That’s basically it, I’ve listed the most important things. See you soon, friends.

P.S. The article was written based on materials from the Orthodox magazine “Thomas”. By the way, if you are interested in Orthodoxy, I highly recommend subscribing to it. They explain quite complex things in simple language.

Radonitsa is dedicated to Easter. According to popular legends, on this day the dead rise from their graves and break their fast after Lent. Their souls rejoice that their children and relatives remember them.

Radonitsa is a pagan holiday that the Eastern Slavs associated with the cult of ancestors and celebrated every spring. The holiday falls on Tuesday of the second week after Easter. This week is popularly called St. Thomas' week.

Today Radonitsa is a church holiday, which the Orthodox Church designated as a day of special remembrance of the dead. Radonitsa is an Orthodox holiday that occurs first after Easter.

Radonitsa: holiday names

The holiday has different names:

Radovnica;
Radunitsa;
Radoshnitsa;
Navi day;
Coffins;
Graves;
Trizny;
Parent Monday;
Happy Sunday.

Radonitsa or radunitsa: which is correct?

Radonitsa is a memorial day among the Eastern Slavs, falling on Tuesday of St. Thomas (Radonitsa) week. It is more correct to call the holiday Radonitsa, and Radunitsa is an outdated name.

Radonitsa: the history of the holiday

On this day, our ancestors brought wine and food (often pancakes, which are a symbol of the sun) to the graves of deceased relatives, organized lamentations (calls), games and dances.

The concept “Radonitsa” initially had many meanings, denoting the names of the guardians of the souls of the dead and pagan tribal deities. Radonitsa personified the veneration of the souls of the departed. On this day, sacrifices were made to the dead on burial mounds, which, according to our ancestors, allowed the soul of the deceased to enjoy the spectacle of respect that the living showed him.

Radonitsa: celebration traditions

In different regions the holiday is celebrated at different times:

mostly on Tuesday, the tenth day after Easter;
in some places in Siberia and southern Russia on Monday;
less often on Fomino Sunday.

Let's take a closer look at how our ancestors celebrated this spring holiday:

In the north and northeast of Russia, on Tuesday of St. Thomas Week, a memorial meal was held in houses.
In the Urals, kutya was blessed in churches in the morning. It was placed on the festive table along with other treats. Before starting the meal, the owners of the house lowered a towel from the windows, on which the souls of the dead were supposed to come to feast. After which the residents of the house went into the next room and locked the door behind them. After some time, they returned to the table and began to eat.
In many other places, in the morning, before going to church, a separate table was set for the deceased, on which there were eggs, pancakes, and pancakes. Returning from the temple, they waited until the “dead had eaten”, then everything was cleared from the table and it was set anew for themselves.
In some places, on the eve of Radonitsa, they not only set tables for their deceased ancestors, but also heated a bathhouse, where they brought soap, a broom, linen and a gang.

On Radonitsa it is customary to celebrate Easter at the graves of the departed. On this day, colored eggs, pancakes, and Easter eggs are brought to the cemetery. A funeral meal is served here, and part of the prepared food is distributed to the poor to commemorate the soul.

Our ancestors believed that if you don’t treat your deceased loved ones with honor on a holiday, then no one in the next world will treat you, remember you or make you happy. The peasants also believed that the souls of relatives, angry for disrespect for their memory, could send various misfortunes to a person: crop failure, cattle pestilence, fires, etc. For this reason, not only on Radunitsa, but throughout the entire St. Thomas Week, housewives left food on the table at night so that “the deceased, who had gone hungry during the winter,” could dine if they suddenly decided to visit the house of their relatives.

In some places it was customary for peasants to feast at graves. They hold chants there and sometimes dances until late in the evening. In ancient funeral customs, part of the commemoration is fun, the main purpose of which is to overcome death and affirm the afterlife. However, noisy fun was not accepted everywhere. The church had a negative attitude towards this, believing that a memorial in a cemetery with the use of alcoholic beverages is no longer a wake, but a real festivities

The Orthodox Church today is categorically against drinking alcohol at funerals.

From this article you will learn:

You live in Orthodox Russia, and no matter how you feel about religion and God in particular, Orthodox traditions are the customs of your Motherland, which you cannot ignore. Recently everyone celebrated Easter together, and now Radonitsa (or Radunitsa, as it is also called) is coming. Do you know how to celebrate this holiday, what Radonitsa is and what needs to be done on this day, according to Russian Orthodox traditions?

Radonitsa: through the pages of history

What is Radonitsa? In fact, this holiday dates back to pagan customs. Our ancestors, the Eastern Slavs, had a special day in the spring when they commemorated their deceased relatives. What does commemorate mean? We went to their burial places, had meals and remembered them with kind words. And they called this day Grandfathers, or Navy day, that is, when they remembered their grandfathers and great-grandfathers who had passed on to another world.

After Vladimir the Red Sun converted the Slavs to Christianity, many pagan traditions and customs remained, superimposed on the teachings of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Day of Remembrance of the Dead began to be celebrated in the second week after Easter. As a rule, it fell on a Tuesday if there were no major Orthodox holidays on that day. This is the ninth day after the Resurrection of Christ, so it is connected with the Christian custom of commemorating the dead on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death. This tradition has been consolidated over time, and we all now celebrate Radonitsa on Tuesday of St. Thomas (the week following Easter). But in Orthodox Greece and the Middle East (in Orthodox churches) there is no such holiday.

Here are the dates of the nearest Radonitsa:

in 2012 - April 24;
in 2013 - May 14 ;
in 2014 - April 29;
in 2015 - April 21;
in 2016 - May 10;
in 2017 - April 25;
in 2018 - April 17.

In 2013, Radonitsa, as a transitory Orthodox holiday, joined the May holidays, as did Easter.

What is Radonitsa: the meaning of the name

What is Radonitsa in the sense of its name? Where did such a sonorous and interesting name come from? Etymologically it goes back to several words:

"radonitsy" - these are pagan deities, guardians of departed souls: this is an earlier version of the origin of the name, also associated with the history of the celebration of Radonitsa among the Eastern Slavs;
derived from the word "genus", that is, Radonitsa is memories of one’s family, of those generations that have already passed away, and the awareness of one’s unity with them;
and another source of origin of this word, which appeared with the advent of Christianity, is from the word "rejoice".

In addition, in different parts of Russia Radonitsa is usually called by different local names:

Navy day;
Graves;
Parents day;
Radunitsa;
Radovnica.

In different territories the holiday is called differently. However, traditions and customs are the same almost everywhere. Find out what you can do on this day and what you cannot do, according to Orthodox traditions.

Traditions and customs of Radonitsa

Radonitsa is very interesting for its traditions and customs - just like any Orthodox holiday.

They go to the cemetery

On this day, it is customary to go to the cemetery with food: a colored egg, Easter cake and sweets. They left all this on the grave as a sign of their desire to share Christ with those who are waiting for us in heaven. Sometimes the Easter egg was broken and crumbled, sometimes it was buried next to the grave. There was a tradition of giving gifts to all the beggars who met along the way, so that they would remember the deceased in their prayers.

Remembered with vodka

On this day, they always remember the deceased with a glass of vodka, which they drink right there, in the cemetery, or at the festive table at home.

Folk evening festivities

Having grieved for the dead in the first half of the day, in the evening it was customary for all the people to go out for festivities. They danced in circles, sang songs, and had fist fights.

Paint eggs

On Radonitsa, eggs were painted in a special color, not Easter red, but yellow or green. These colors were considered plaintive and sad in Rus'.

Stoking the bathhouse

On Radonitsa they always heated a bathhouse, but not for themselves, but for... the dead. They warmed it up, left towels and a change of linen and left. They also scattered ashes on the floor. In the morning they came and looked for footprints in this ash, supposedly left by the deceased.

Folk signs

Popular superstitions say that not a single Radonitsa can do without rain. It’s as if someone in heaven is crying for all the dead. They said that it was useful to wash with rainwater on this day to preserve youth and beauty. Also on this day it was forbidden to do gardening.

This is what Radunitsa is, which comes shortly after Easter. And even if you consider yourself non-Orthodox (although in your heart you probably think about both God and your soul), it would not hurt to go to the cemetery, clean up the grave, and remember with your family those who are no longer with you.

This holiday has two full names that can be used equally. The celebration falls on the ninth day after Easter - it also varies in dates. A Christian holiday, very significant for all believers. It exists to honor the memory of the deceased, to remember all those who are no longer with us. This is both a joyful and sad day, which expresses the hope of eternal life after the resurrection.

history of the holiday

According to the testimony of St. John Chrysostom (IV century), this holiday was celebrated in Christian cemeteries already in ancient times. Its very name was adopted from the pan-Slavic pagan spring holiday in commemoration of the dead, called Navy Day, Graves, Radavanitsy or Triznami. Like many other Christian holidays, this one has its origins in paganism.

Even before the spread of the new religion, there was a Navii day. All people gathered, remembered their relatives, addressed their souls, sang songs and read various conspiracies. In the Christian tradition, the holiday has been slightly transformed taking into account the characteristics of religion. Why was this particular time chosen for the celebration?

Everything is simple here: on Maundy Thursday before Easter, the singing of the lithium for the departed in churches is stopped. But after St. Thomas Sunday (which follows Easter), singing resumes again. That is why it makes sense to celebrate such a celebration in the early days. The name of the holiday comes from the word “joy”. On this day, it is customary to remember people who left the earthly world with a good mood and good thoughts.

On this day you cannot cry bitterly, be very sad and suffer. Loud conversations, shouting, and quarrels are prohibited. Fun doesn't have to be wild. Under no circumstances should you speak ill of the dead. Christian tradition does not allow commemorating the dead with alcoholic beverages. If a woman is pregnant, she should not go to the cemetery. You should also put aside hard physical labor, because it is recommended to spend this day in prayer and communicating with loved ones.