Parents' Saturday. Parents' Saturday - All days of remembrance in the Orthodox calendar Parents' Saturday year calendar

The date on which Parents' Day falls depends on the date of Easter. On this day, deceased relatives are remembered by bringing Easter food to their graves. The tradition of commemorating deceased relatives in blessed memory is taken from pagan customs, but has firmly entered the calendar of Orthodox holidays. Parents' Day 2016 is also called Radonitsa.

History of the church holiday

Among the Eastern Slavs, the holiday is called Radonitsa (anchor on Radonitsa) (Radunitsa). In different localities it can be celebrated during Radonitskaya (Fomina) week on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday. The roots of the tradition go back to pagan times, but the custom was supported by the church.

There are several versions of the origin of the name Radonitsa:

1. Means “crying with lamentation”, “prayer for the dead with crying and lamentation”;
2. Radonitsy (or Trizny) are deities who protect the souls of the dead. In ancient times they were revered and sacrifices were made to the burial mounds. It was believed that the soul of the deceased would see this as a sign of respect from the living and calmly fly away;
3. The root "rad-" means "joy", "pleasure". After the Resurrection of Christ, a general resurrection of the dead is coming.

When Christianity came to Rus', the meaning of the holiday changed. Pagan fears were replaced by a meaningful understanding of the world around us and life. Radonitsa became a bright spring holiday, a triumph of life over death. During the spring heyday of nature, the living tried to honor the memory of the dead and appease them.

What date is Parents' Day in 2016?

The date of Parent's Day changes every year. It is easy to understand what date to celebrate Radonitsa in 2016 if you count the 9th day after Easter. This year the largest Orthodox holiday falls on May 1, which means the date of Radonitsa will be May 10 (Tuesday). Parents' Day 2016, as in any other year, is always celebrated on St. Thomas' week (2nd after Easter).

On Parents' Day it is customary to go to the cemetery

Radonitsa is considered the Easter holiday of the departed; it is their Easter. Funerals are held in silence and noisy celebrations are avoided. There are several Parents' Days in total, but the same customs apply to them:

1. Visiting churches, funeral services;
2. Visit the cemetery with family;
3. They take Easter dishes to the cemetery - Easter cakes, colored eggs;
4. Funeral meal at the cemetery, then at home, in the family circle;
5. Help the needy, orphans.

Since the holiday takes place under the auspices of the church, some restrictions are imposed on the celebration:

• You shouldn’t leave food on graves, it’s better to distribute it to those in need;
• the church does not approve of moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages, alcohol abuse on this day;
• You should not arrange a feast in the cemetery, accompanied by fun;
• Even though there is no fasting on this day, the table should be set with lenten dishes.

On Parents' Day, there is a tradition of remembering the deceased not only from the family circle, but also from acquaintances and close friends. It is also allowed to leave funeral products on the graves of strangers.

What folk signs are associated with Radonitsa?

• In the old days, people believed that on this day the souls of the dead visit their home. A bathhouse was set up especially for them; they washed in it only after the holiday;
• For the souls who came, dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner were left in the house - extra plates, cups;
• Rain on this day is a sign of good luck. The children called out to the rain all day long so that they would produce a rich harvest each year;
• Parents' Saturday was a day when it was not allowed to work after lunch (planting, sowing, tinkering in the house, sewing) - this meant a bad harvest;

In ancient times, the holiday was considered bright, people were allowed to rejoice and have fun. In the evening, people, freed from work, went out to sing songs and dance in circles.

The Orthodox calendar has 6 memorial days, of which Radovica is the most basic. Small Parents' Days in 2016, when you are also allowed to visit the graves of loved ones, are celebrated:

• March 5 (Meat Saturday) and March 26;
• April 2 and 9;
• June 18 (Trinity Saturday);
• November 5 (Dmitrievskaya Saturday).

Now you know what date Radonitsa is celebrated. It is worth starting Parents' Day 2016 by visiting church and attending a funeral service. Only after this do they go to the cemetery, then in the family circle they honor the memory of loved ones at home over a meal.

Parents' Day 2016 is a bright date calling on everyone to pay tribute to their departed relatives, once again remember them with a kind word and visit their resting places. There are many such days in the Orthodox church calendar and each of them is associated with some important, significant and great religious events. In addition, every Saturday is called parental, because it is on this day that, according to tradition, dead Christians are remembered and fervently prayed for their immortal souls. Priests conduct funeral services in churches and, at the request of relatives, name people who have left this world. Believers bring various non-meat products to church and set the so-called eve - a funeral table. It is believed that in this way the living give alms for the dead. After the service, all food is given to the poor and disadvantaged or taken to nursing homes and orphanages.

Parents' Day in 2016: what date will it come?

Among all church memorial days, the most famous and revered is Radonitsa. True, this Parent's Day never falls on Saturday, but always falls only on Tuesday. To find out what date it occurs, you need to add 9 days to the date of Easter. In 2016, Radonitsa will come into the world on May 10.

On this Great Tuesday, the priests urge believers not to be sad because loved ones have passed on to another world, but to rejoice at their miraculous birth for a new, eternal life. Biblical texts say that on Parents' Day one must remember the victory of Jesus Christ over death, rest, indulge in pious thoughts, but not cry or be sad about the dead.

Why is it customary to go to a cemetery on Parents' Day, traditions and customs?

• On Parents' Day, it has long been customary to go to the cemetery, bring flowers with you and decorate the burial place of a loved one in every possible way. Immediately before this, it is necessary to visit God’s temple and before the start of the morning service, submit a note with the name of the deceased to the altar. This is done so that the priest publicly mentions the deceased person, and all parishioners offer God a prayer for his soul.
• The generally accepted custom of bringing and leaving all kinds of food at the grave (including a glass of vodka covered with a piece of bread) has nothing to do with Orthodoxy. These are ancient pagan rituals that are firmly entrenched in modern society.
• The canons of Orthodoxy call on believers on Parents' Day to put the grave of the deceased in order, remove accumulated garbage, carefully sweep away the dust and decorate the gravestone with an even number of fresh flowers. Then you can simply sit next to him, remember all the good things associated with the deceased, fervently pray for his soul and honor the memory with silence.
• The Orthodox Church claims that drinking alcohol on the territory of the cemetery and at the grave itself is a great sin and does not recommend parishioners to behave in this way either on a memorial day or at any other time.
• Bringing food to the cemetery is also completely optional. It is better to distribute it to the poor, poor and needy people, to a shelter or to a church. On Parents' Day 2016, you should leave only a lit candle at the grave, symbolizing the memory of the living about the deceased person.

The days of remembrance of the dead in the Orthodox church tradition are also called “parental Saturday,” although not all of them fall on Saturdays. These days, commemorations of deceased Orthodox Christians are held in churches. After the service, it is traditional to visit the cemetery.

Why these days got the name “parent”, historians have tried to establish. Most likely, of course, this comes from the word “parents”. But this is what the ancient Christians called those who had already gone to their fathers. The second version says that the days are like this because it has always been customary for Orthodox Christians to pray for their deceased parents on Saturdays.

Interesting! There are seven parental Saturdays a year, as well as several other days for remembrance. Each has its own set date. Every year, believers check the calendar, because the dates of many parental Saturdays are moving. For example, those that fall during Lent directly depend on the dates of fasting that year.

All Souls' Days in 2016: calendar

On March 5th we celebrate Meat Saturday. It is also called Ecumenical Parents' Saturday. This is the Saturday of the last week before Lent, when you can still eat meat. Then comes Maslenitsa week or Cheese week (you can no longer eat meat, but you can eat dairy products and fish). ends on Sunday (March 13, 2016), and then Lent begins.
March 26 is celebrated as Saturday of the second week. It is interesting that during the period of Lent, services for dead people are not held. But on three established Saturdays it is allowed to break this rule, pray for the dead, and visit the cemetery.
April 2 will be Parents' Saturday of the third week of Lent.
April 9 marks Mother's Saturday of the fourth week of Lent.
On May 10 there will be a big holiday called Radonitsa. On this day, believers go to the graves of their ancestors to tell them that Christ is Risen. This day always falls on the second Tuesday after Easter. Many people go to the cemetery on Easter itself, but, according to church traditions, this is wrong. To visit graves in honor of the great holiday, there is a day specially designated for this - Radonitsa. In Belarus, this day is an official day off.
May 9 is the Day of Remembrance of Dead Soldiers.
Trinity Saturday takes place on June 18th.
November 5th will be Dmitrievskaya Saturday.

What is Ecumenical Saturday and memorial service?

There are seven parental Saturdays in a year, but the Orthodox Church especially emphasizes Ecumenical Saturdays. On this day, the church commemorates with prayers all deceased baptized Christians. Ecumenical is Meat Saturday, which takes place a week before the start of Lent, as well as Trinity Saturday, which is celebrated on the eve of the great holiday of Pentecost. On these days, ecumenical funeral services are celebrated in churches.

An ecumenical or parental memorial service in churches takes place on every parental day established by the church calendar. The word “memorial service” refers to a funeral service for the dead. On it they pray for dead people and ask the Lord to give them mercy and forgive their sins. Translated from Greek, “panikhida” means “all-night vigil.”

Parental Saturdays of Lent and Radonitsa

So, the days of remembrance of the dead in 2016 will be held on March 5, 26, April 2 and 9, and May 9. And also after the end of Lent there will be Radonitsa, which this year falls on May 10th. According to the Church Charter, funeral commemorations are not performed during the period of fasting. But, three days are specially set aside when you can remember the departed through prayer. These are always Saturdays in the second, third and fourth weeks of Lent.

The Radonitsa holiday is also called Radunitsa. This is a day of special remembrance of dead people. It is associated with Easter and is considered a holiday. The holiday always falls on Tuesday of St. Thomas week after Easter (this is the second holiday week). On this day, you should go to the cemetery with colored eggs and Easter cakes to tell the deceased that Jesus Christ announced with his resurrection the victory of life over death.

Since the dates of some Orthodox holidays change from year to year, the date of Radonitsa also changes. Most likely, you are also thinking about what date is Parents' Day in 2016?

In order to understand this subtlety, you must first find out the date of Easter.

So, the Easter holiday in 2016 falls on May 1, so the deceased are remembered on the ninth day after it, therefore, Radonitsa in 2016 falls on May 10.

What should you do on such an important day?

Parents' Day, rituals and customs

In Radonitsa, you definitely need to go to the cemetery and visit the graves of deceased loved ones, but before that there are a number of rituals that should be observed.

First of all, one of the relatives of the deceased person must come to the church at the very beginning of the service and bring with him a note (indicate the name of the deceased in it). The note is handed over to the church - then the servants will say the appropriate prayers for the good of the soul of the deceased.

You should bring various treats with you to the temple (Easter cakes, candies and cookies), and after the memorial service is over, all the treats are distributed to the poor or children from the orphanage at the church.

Relatives themselves are also encouraged to receive communion on this day. In the courtyard of their home or to colleagues at work, they can also distribute treats so that people remember the deceased.

How to behave at a cemetery on Parents' Day

When the service in the temple is completed, the relatives all go to the cemetery together, where they remember the deceased and put his grave in order.

Many people, not only on Radonitsa, but also on other days, leave cookies, sweets, and other food at the cemetery, but the Orthodox Church does not approve of such actions.

By leaving food, you only attract stray dogs, birds and strays to the grave. They all trample the grave, spoil the flowers lying on it, and dogs can even lie down on the grave of your loved one.

Agree, during a person’s life you would not want a dirty dog ​​lying next to him, so even after his death you should not allow this to happen.

In addition to food, they leave a glass of alcohol and a piece of bread, or even pour alcohol on the mound, remembering that the deceased used to like to drink.

But all the listed rituals do not apply to Orthodoxy - they are pagan, therefore, it is better to abandon them and not insult the deceased.

The most important and important thing you can and should do is to pray for the soul.

Any food must be distributed to those in need, let them remember the deceased person.

Don’t drink at the grave (even a little), it’s better to put it in order, straighten the cross, pick the weeds, paint the fence, etc.

Take a church candle with you to the cemetery, light it and read a special prayer or akathist to calm the soul of the deceased.

If you are not confident in your abilities, or do not know how to do everything appropriately, you can invite a priest. He will read the necessary prayers, tell you how to remember correctly, in addition, you will be able to ask him questions that interest you, talk about your deceased relative and about your soul.

You can also talk to the deceased and tell good news.

After that, just be silent at his grave, think about this person, remember all the good things about him.

Relatives strive to decorate the graves of loved ones with flowers, but there are some nuances here.

If you are decorating the grave with artificial flowers, then you should refuse such decoration. Artificial flowers are not real, it is a fraudulent process.

Decorate graves exclusively with fresh flowers, preferably collected from your own gardens. If you decide to buy flowers, then it is better to distribute this money to the poor and needy. Remember, it is important for your deceased relative to be remembered and prayed for, but senseless spending is completely unnecessary - neither for you, nor especially for him.

Do not laugh or talk loudly in the cemetery, and under no circumstances shed tears for the deceased person. Orthodox believe that the dead go to a better world, so it is much easier for them than for the living.

Standing at the grave, remember the good deeds of the person, his positive qualities, the bright moments associated with him during his life. And always pray for his soul, ask God for him - not only on Parent’s Day, but on other days too.

What should you do after visiting a cemetery?

Another good Orthodox tradition on Radonitsa is preparing a funeral dinner for the whole family. However, even such a simple tradition requires compliance with certain rules.

Firstly, the church prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages during the funeral dinner, even in small quantities.

The fact is that by commemorating a deceased loved one with alcohol, by such actions you insult him, desecrate his memory, and do not honor it.

Do not forget: lost people most of all need prayers to help them in heaven, in the other world. After all, death very often comes unexpectedly, suddenly, and the deceased person simply does not have time to prepare for it, repent of all his earthly sins, and ask for forgiveness from God. The living are able to help in such a significant matter.

It often happens that relatives limit themselves to only preparing dinner (even a sumptuous, tasty one) and spend all their energy on preparing funeral dishes. At the same time, they forget or deliberately ignore church commemoration, although there is absolutely no benefit for the soul of the deceased in this.

Now you know exactly what date is Parents' Day in 2016 and you know how to behave correctly on this day.

There are a large number of holidays and dates revered by Orthodox Christians. It is important to remember the calendar of Lent, to know what date Anti-Easter is in order to prepare in advance and meet the days with humility or joy. But not all dates are celebrated with joy; some of them are marked with sorrow, repentance, remembrance and humility.

Remembering what date Maundy Thursday is, you will not be mistaken in calculating what date Radonitsa is in 2016. In the second week after Easter, this day of remembrance of the dead is celebrated. A truly religious person never forgets his ancestors, so he always knows what date parent’s day is in 2016 and prepares to visit cemeteries to remember relatives and loved ones who have passed away.

When and what date is radonica in 2016? The memorial date falls on the ninth day after the holiday of Easter, which means it is easy to calculate: what date is Radonitsa celebrated in 2016? It's May 10th. According to ancient traditions, the deceased radonitsa is the day when Easter cakes, colored eggs, and homemade cakes should be brought to the resting place of relatives. Everything should remind you of Easter, that is, of the Resurrection of Christ. And there is no need to believe that Radonitsa Day is a mournful and mournful holiday. Quite the contrary, reverence, remembrance of the departed, and prayers for them should instill reverence in the heart of a Christian. That is why, knowing what date radon is in 2016, try to set yourself in a bright and blissful mood.

RADONITSA

According to the Christian faith, death only means a transition to a new, pure life. Arriving at the cemetery on Radonitsa day, you need to have lunch near the resting place. And it is worth taking care of those who are suffering today; poor people also honor the holiday, so they sacredly remember when Radonitsa is celebrated in 2016, on what date they will be especially generously given alms. It is strictly prohibited to refuse a request, please show mercy. It is important that on Parents’ Day, Orthodox Christians should not drink alcohol, behave defiantly, quarrel, or offend people.

Pray in the morning, light a memorial candle in front of the icons, dress cleanly and go to the place where your relatives and friends are buried - this is how you celebrate parent’s day. In 2016, you already know what date it will be – May 10. Let your soul rejoice for those who have been transferred from the earthly world to a purer and brighter world and be filled with gratitude and peace.

Orthodox Parents' Day is the date when true Christians bring the good news of the Resurrection of Christ to those who have fallen asleep in the body. Therefore, it is so important to remember what date and day parent’s day is in 2016. By the way, May 10th falls on a Tuesday. If you want to know what date the Annunciation is, we will remind you that the Orthodox holiday falls on April 7.
What kind of holiday is Parents' Day?

Now you know absolutely exactly what day and date parent’s day is in 2016. But why is it called radonitsa (radius)? Historians offer several versions of the origin of the name:

1. Church traditions understand this date as joy about the Resurrection of Christ, therefore radonitsa (from the word rejoice). We celebrate the victory of eternal life over death and the transition of our ancestors to the world of purity and holiness. That is why the deceased Radonitsa is not a holiday of sorrow, but of smiles and goodness.

2. The second definition of day comes from the word “genus”. Commemoration of ancestors has always been a sacred duty in Rus'. Even before the advent of Christianity, round dances were held in churchyards and sad songs were sung, meals and other rituals were held. A person who had forgotten his family was accepted as an orphan and pitied, while shunning his sorrowful, short-lived memory.

PARENTS DAY

Of course, it doesn’t matter where the name came from, the main thing is that we remember what date parent’s day is in 2016 and honor the memory of our beloved loved ones. Radonitsa is a temporary holiday, always celebrated on Tuesday. That is why we are looking for what date parent’s day is in 2016, counting the days from Easter.

Now that it is clear that Radonitsa 2016 is Orthodox, what kind of holiday this is, let’s talk about what is customary to do on this day.

After morning prayer at home or in church, it is customary to take communion. And then go to the resting place of your beloved loved ones. Very often on this day a priest is present at the graves. You can ask him to consecrate burial places, and then remember the deceased with a meal. It’s good if you brought Easter cakes and eggs from home. But even if everything is eaten clean, you can still prepare and consecrate the same products on Krasnaya Gorka.

Trying to take as much food as possible is the duty of any Christian. Alms and handouts are an integral part of radonitsa. May this Orthodox parental day be the beginning of good deeds for you. Do not refuse anyone who asks, even if his appearance makes you doubt. Ask to pray for your departed, serve food, and send them away in peace. Often it is the prayer of a grateful person, met for the first and, perhaps, last time in his life, that instills peace in the soul. And at the cemetery there is no need to cry and be sad; tell your family about how Easter went, how you prepared for it and celebrated it.

Share your joy with your ancestors, do not take sin on your soul and do not grieve desperately. Even if a terrible grief has recently befallen you, gain strength and strengthen the spirit of the deceased. Christ is Risen, and this is a great miracle and blessing. Let the departed feel your mood in that eternal life. And now that we have told you why Orthodox Radonitsa 2016 is called that, what kind of holiday it is, let me remind you once again: what date is Parents’ Day in 2016? It's May 10th. Be healthy and happy to you and your families!

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