When is parent's day in what year? Parents' Saturday. Memorial days and the Orthodox calendar

From this article you will find out what date Orthodox parental Saturdays will be in 2017. You will also learn about the meaning of this Ecumenical service.

Parents' Saturdays in 2017

Often these special days of remembrance of the dead are called “ecumenical parental Saturdays.” This is not true. There are two Ecumenical Memorial Saturdays: Meat (on the Saturday preceding the Sunday of the Last Judgment) and Trinity (on the Saturday preceding the Feast of Pentecost, or also called the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity - the birthday of the Church of Christ).

The main meaning of these “universal” (common to all Orthodox Church) funeral services - in prayer for all deceased Orthodox Christians, regardless of their personal closeness to us. This is a matter of love that does not divide the world into friends and strangers. The main attention these days is to all those who are united with us by the highest kinship - kinship in Christ, and especially to those who have no one to remember.

Parents' Saturdays in 2017 fall on the following dates:

• Ecumenical Parental Saturday (meat-free)– February 18, 2017.
• Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent – ​​March 11, 2017.
• Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent – ​​March 18, 2017.
• Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent – ​​March 25, 2017.
• Commemoration of deceased warriors– May 9, 2017.
• Radonitsa– April 25, 2017.
• Trinity Parents' Saturday in 2017– June 3, 2017.
• Dimitrievskaya Parents' Saturday– November 4, 2017.

For the primary commemoration of people dear to us personally, there are other parental Saturdays. First of all, these are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of Great Lent, and besides them, the Dimitrievsky parental Saturday established in the Russian Orthodox Church, which was originally intended to commemorate the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo, but gradually became a general memorial day .

This memorial service falls on the Saturday preceding the memory of St. Vmch. Demetrius of Thessalonica - patron saint of the prince. Dmitry Donskoy, at whose suggestion, after the Battle of Kulikovo, an annual commemoration of soldiers was established. But over time, the memory of the liberating soldiers was supplanted in the popular consciousness, which is very regrettable, turning Dimitrievskaya Memorial Saturday into one of the “parents’ days.”

Why "parental"? After all, we remember not only our parents, but also other people, often not connected to us by any family ties? By various reasons. First of all, not even because parents, as a rule, leave this world before their children (and therefore too, but this is not the main thing), but because in general our first priority prayer duty is for our parents: of all the people whose temporary earthly life is over, we first of all owe it to those through whom we received this gift of life - our parents and forefathers.

April 18th, 2017 admin

Since Orthodoxy in Rus' was recognized as the official religion, many things have appeared in our lives. religious holidays and spiritual rituals. Their history is not only well known to us, it is closely connected with our modernity. One of the special Orthodox holidays is “Radonitsa” (“Radunitsa”) or Parent’s Day, which does not have a specific date in Orthodoxy. As St. John Chrysostom states, since ancient times on Tuesday of the second week after Easter, that is, on the 9th day after Easter people went to the graves of their relatives and loved ones and celebrated Easter for the departed. According to the archaic folk tradition the Slavs brought colored eggs and other food to the cemetery and had a meal. The day of veneration of ancestors has also become an Orthodox holiday, Christians emphasized that physical death does not mean spiritual death, that dead ancestors are always with us.

Parents' Day is one of the special days set aside by the church for honoring (commemorating) our deceased ancestors. There are only eight Parental Days in the year, each day has its own name and religious customs. Radonitsa is the most significant and important day among all other memorial parental days. Radonitsa begins on Tuesday, the 9th day after Easter, which gives it special significance. This year, both Christians and Catholics celebrated the most long-awaited and joyful holiday Easter on one day - April 16 , means funeral Parents' Day in 2017 falls on April 25th.

Orthodox Radonitsa

Radonitsa is celebrated by all Slavic peoples, the only difference is in the name. In Russia, this day of remembrance of ancestors is called Radonitsa or Radovnitsa, on the territory of Ukraine - Mogilki, in Moldova - Parents' Day, and in Belarus this day has the status of a public holiday and is called Radovantsy or Navii Day.

Origin and history of the day of remembrance of ancestors — Parent’s day has ancient roots, going back to archaic pre-Slavic history, when in the center of the picture of the world “one’s own kind” was placed - *svojь rodъ> (I.E. *suo- geno - “one’s own kind”). The first commandment of the pre-Slavic world was - *znajь svojь rodь - “KNOW YOUR KIND” (lat. *gno– suom genom), and honor your ancestors. Since the archaic period of paganism in the proto-Slavic world, there was a cult of remembrance and veneration of ancestors, when the people gathered on burial mounds, lit bonfires, on which they sacrificed domestic animals, fruits of fields and gardens to their ancestors, believing that in this way they would appease the souls of the deceased, people held funeral feasts on funeral mounds, as if inviting deceased relatives to share treats with them.

The desire to preserve the spiritual connection of generations was too deeply rooted in the popular consciousness, and after centuries, the Radonitsa holiday was officially recognized by the Orthodox Church. However, with the adoption of Orthodoxy, the traditions of celebrating the day of remembrance of ancestors changed and took on a pronounced spiritual meaning. The very word “Radonitsa” means “joy” from meeting one’s ancient family, deceased relatives, who, of course, also rejoice for us living. And the fact that on a mournful day of remembrance we talk about joy is nothing strange. Despite the fact that Radonitsa is associated with the cemetery, burial hills, in remembrance of the deceased, Parents' Day refers to joyful holidays.

Coming after Easter and the Resurrection of the Lord, which trampled death with his death, Radonitsa becomes for all Christian believers a bright hope for the resurrection of all those who have died. On this day, remembering the dead, the living celebrate the victory of life over death and believe that Orthodox Christians have entered the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Church dictates that Orthodox Christians should visit the temple on Parents' Day, hold a funeral service, then visit the graves of their relatives, remember them in their memory, pray and be sure to light a church candle at the grave.

How to remember ancestors on Parents' Day?

Close people always clean and put in order graves, wash and paint monuments, and decorate them with flowers. Coming to the cemetery on Parents' Day, Orthodox Christian believers should be aware of the essence of the Rodonitsa holiday, feel a spiritual connection with their ancestors, therefore, in the cemetery you need to behave with reverence, you should not arrange feasts at the graves of the deceased and leave food and alcoholic drinks on their graves. It is better on this day to distribute food to the poor and needy people, asking them to pray for those who rest in peace.

There is nothing shameful in the fact that some of us, until today, out of ignorance, acted incorrectly; the very manifestation of a desire for knowledge of Orthodox canons and for paying honor to deceased close relatives speaks of a desire for spirituality and closeness to God. And how wonderful it is that in modern world corrupted by temptations and temptations, Orthodox people remain with the true spiritual Christian Faith. Parents' Day - Radonitsa helps us maintain the connection between generations, which is one of the foundations of spiritual Orthodox life.

With bright sadness, let us remember all our relatives who are no longer with us. People are not given immortality, but the human soul lives forever. Our beloved, close people are alive as long as the memory of them lives in our hearts. Let them be happy and calm where they are now.

When do Orthodox Christians celebrate Parents' Day in 2017?
Knowing the dates of all Parents' Days, Orthodox Christians can adequately prepare for them in advance.
Parents' days in 2017:
1) Ecumenical Parents Saturday(meat) – February 18, 2017
2) Second Memorial Parent Saturday - March 11, 2017
3) Third memorial day Parent’s day – March 18, 2017
4) Fourth Memorial Saturday - March 25, 2017
5) Radonitsa Parents' Day – April 25, 2017
6) Day of Remembrance of Fallen Soldiers - March 9, 2017
7) Trinity Saturday – June 3, 2017
8) Dmitrievskaya Saturday –November 4, 2017

Parental Saturdays are important dates in the Orthodox calendar, and are so named precisely because they fall on the sixth day of the week. As all believers know, some Orthodox dates shift from year to year, and therefore every year you need to turn to the current Orthodox calendar, which not only indicates important dates and holidays, but also tells their history. When Parents' Saturdays will take place in 2017, we will tell you in this material.

Parents' Saturdays: dates for 2017

In total, there are 8 days of remembrance of the dead in a year, seven of which always take place on Saturdays, and the eighth day of remembrance always falls on Tuesday and this date is tied to the date of one of the most important Orthodox holidays, Easter. Memorial Day, which falls on Tuesday, is always celebrated on the 9th day after Easter.

Parents' Saturdays in 2017 will be held on the following days:

1. 02/18/2017 – Ecumenical (meat-free) Saturday. This day of remembrance always takes place 7 days before the start of Lent.
2. 11.03.2017.
3. 18.03.2017.
4. 25.03.2017.
5. 04/25/2017 – Radonitsa, the ninth day since the celebration of Easter.
6. 05/09/2017 is the day of remembrance of fallen soldiers.
7. 06/03/2017 – Trinity Saturday.
8. 28.10.2-17 – Dmitrievskaya Saturday.

Despite the fact that there are a total of 8 parental Saturdays, the most important are Meat Saturday (the eve of the week of the Last Judgment) and Trinity Saturday before the great feast of the Holy Trinity. Radonitsa and Dmitrievskaya Saturday are also considered important.

Parents' Saturdays: what to do

Parents' Saturdays are days of remembrance for those who have passed on to another world. As a rule, churches hold memorial services for the dead, where you can light a candle for the repose of your loved ones. These days you need to visit the graves of your loved ones, remember them, and pray.

Many people mistakenly visit the cemetery on the bright holiday of Easter, not having reliable information about when this can be done and when it cannot be done. Moreover, visiting a cemetery on Easter day contradicts the church charter, which states that the dead cannot be commemorated before the ninth day of Easter. Even if a person passes into another world on Easter, he is buried according to a special Easter rite.

In order to avoid such mistakes, it is best to remember the dead on parental Saturdays, of which there are 8. On these days, special services are held in churches in the morning and evening. And if it is not possible to visit the temple, then you can pray for the dead at home by choosing quiet place, where no one will disturb. On Parents' Saturdays it is very important to remember and pray for those who are no longer with us - this is the most important thing and purpose of such days of remembrance. It is believed that the souls of the deceased find peace when they are prayed for on earth, when they are remembered. It’s not for nothing that they say that love for those who are no longer with us lives in the hearts of living people. It is believed that the soul of the deceased is alive as long as it is remembered and prayed for.

In addition to prayers and visiting church, on Parents' Saturdays you need to go to the cemetery, light a candle on the grave and pray. You can invite a priest to the cemetery to perform a litiya.
On Parents' Saturdays, you need to clean up the grave: weed the ground, throw out old flowers, bring new ones, change the lamps and ribbons on the gravestone. Contrary to the widespread tradition of bringing food and alcoholic drinks to the cemetery to remember the deceased, this cannot be done, since such an action is pagan in nature, and therefore inappropriate in Orthodoxy.

It is important to remember that Parents' Saturdays are not days of mourning and sorrow, they are days of remembrance. There is important nuance– you need to remember the dead with bright thoughts, and not with sadness, otherwise the soul will not be able to find peace. No matter how difficult it may be to survive the loss, one must remember deceased loved ones with a smile and with a light heart, then it will be good for them in the next world.

In the spring, Orthodox Christians prepare for a big celebration - Easter. But not only. On the eve of the brightest day, people are buying armfuls of artificial flowers and wreaths. This means that the memorial day is coming very soon. To prepare for Parents' Day, you don't need to know the date. Simply because it always falls on the ninth day after Easter. Once Easter this year is April 28th, Thatin 2019 very easy to determine. The remembrance of the dead will be on May 7 and this is Tuesday.

But Orthodox Christians do not try to go to the cemetery on this day. The main thing is that the visit should be no later than the official date established by the church. Since it is not recommended to disturb the dead a week after Easter, Orthodox Christians go to the cemetery starting from the next Sunday after Easter. For many people, this is not a working day and can be dedicated to commemorating relatives, friends, and parents. If you can't do this on a day off, you still have Monday and Tuesday left.

Before Easter, they try to clean up the graves so that on the big bright holiday they will not be ashamed in front of the memory of their relatives. After all, we do a general cleaning of the house before the celebrations. And the cemetery is the last refuge of our deceased loved ones.

Therefore, by Radunitsa the cemetery has been cleared and is awaiting its guests.. Where did this tradition come to us - to remember the dead?

The history of parent's day

Slavs- a hardworking people, accustomed for a long time to honor their dead. It seemed to them that no one else, except those who were no longer there, could worry about them. And most importantly: ask the deities good harvest. A bad harvest led to famine, from which entire families died out.

Therefore, during any meal, sacrifices were made to the ancestors. In every house there was always a light burning in the corner. Before eating, a little of everything the table was rich in was taken onto the plate and laid out on the sacrificial fire. If the flame flared up more, consuming food, it was believed that the dead had accepted the sacrifice. But if the light stopped burning, it means that the sacrifice was not accepted. Expect trouble.

When the prince died, a funeral feast was celebrated. His large relatives, as well as the princes of nearby lands, sat at the large table. They drank mead, had a snack, had leisurely conversations, and sang. It was believed that the spirit of the deceased was with them at this time. Listens, enjoys drinks and food. Why cry if only the body has turned to ashes, but the spirit does not go anywhere? This is how the word Radunitsa appeared, the root of which is the word “genus”, “rejoice”.

There is no concept of “funeral funeral” in the modern Orthodox world. Parents' day has appeared (Farewell, Radunitsa). Each locality has its own name for this common memorial day. Like thishistory of appearance parent's day. 2019 the year will not differ from previous ones, and the traditions of the event will be respected.

Traditions and rules for holding Radunitsa

For some reason, many people think that Parents' Day is needed to eat and drink at the cemetery for the deceased at their own graves. Therefore, along with bouquets of artificial flowers, they carry entire baskets of food and alcohol, not forgetting bags of sweets. But the church advises not to organize drinking parties, but rather to call a priest to read a prayer at the grave of the deceased. The dead don't have physical body, to keep company with the relatives who came to remember them, but prayer and a lit candle show them the way. What?

1. Remove the grave. It's better the day before. After all, the cemetery on Radunitsa pleases with its cleanliness. If you come with equipment and start cleaning up on a holiday, then those around you will not understand this person at all. Who does the cleaning on holidays?
2. Attach or lay down the flowers you brought, as well as a bag of sweets.
3. Light a candle.
4. On this day it would be good to make donations to the poor. But if you don’t meet them along the way, then someone will definitely take the sweets left at the grave.
5. In a bag of sweets you need to put two colored eggs and a cake.

At this time, a clergyman and singers are present at the cemetery, who, together with the Orthodox Christians present, read a common prayer for the deceased. When this procedure is over, you can approach the priest and ask him to read a prayer near the grave of a deceased person close to you. Of course, you can remember it at the table. But the church does not welcome this. It is better for relatives to gather at home at one table.

Traditions for celebrating Parents' Day in 2019 will differ slightly only in that Easter is a little early this year, so the flowers will not bloom yet. We'll have to be content with artificial ones.

Nowadays, parent's day is celebrated differently than even a couple of decades ago. It was necessary to lay a tablecloth on the grave itself, put food on it, and then eat from this place. First, they poured a glass of alcohol for the deceased and left him with a crust of bread on the grave. In the villages they laid tablecloths and embroidered towels near the cemetery and laid out everything they brought with them. Then they commemorated all the deceased together.

There are also signs of this day:

• if you hear thunder on this day, then the spring will be warm;
• it will rain, which means the harvest will be good;
• On this day nothing is supposed to be sown in the ground. It will grow, but will not bring joy;

A person lives as long as those close to him remember him. We remember, and we will not be forgotten later. It’s so sad to look at someone else’s grave overgrown with grass. Did the kids forget? But children grow their own. Judging by this attitude of the elders, they will also forget to come to their parents’ graves someday. Therefore, you need to find out, gather relatives and go to the cemetery to together remember loved ones who were and remain dear to us.

Days of special remembrance of the dead in 2017 According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, they are shifted relative to Easter. The exception is one day, characteristic only for Russia.

The days when the Church especially remembers the dead are traditionally called in Rus' parent's Saturdays. Saturday is considered a day of rest, so we pray for the repose of our loved ones and all Orthodox Christians and saints who have died since time immemorial. Parental Saturdays are called because we most often remember our deceased parents and direct ancestors. Almost all days of remembrance were determined on church calendar back in the days of the first Christians.

UNIVERSAL PARENTAL SATURDAY (MEAT SATURDAY) in 2017 falls on 18th of Febuary. The basis for the establishment of Ecumenical commemoration on this day was the fact that next Sunday the Last Judgment and the Second Coming of Christ are remembered. In addition, during preparation for Lent on this day, Christians are called to love all the previously departed and remember that we are with them in the one Body of Christ.

The 2nd, 3rd, 4th SATURDAYS OF GREAT LENT fall in 2017 respectively on March 11, March 18 And March 25.

In addition to the ecumenical remembrance of the dead, performed on some parental Saturdays, the Church holds ecumenical memorial services on the Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Great Lent. These days, the Church prays for the forgiveness of Christians of “voluntary and involuntary sins... and their eternal repose with the Saints.”

Radonitsa occupies a special place in the annual circle church holidays, this day is located immediately after Bright Week, which calls on Christians not to suffer over the death of loved ones, but to rejoice at their birth into eternal life.

On this day, the same funeral service is performed as on Ecumenical Parental Saturday. These days of remembrance are also brought together by the fact that they are located in the church circle a week before Lent. Trinity Parental Saturday precedes the Apostolic or Petrine Fast.

DIMITRIEVSKAYA SATURDAY in 2017 falls on November 4 and this year coincides with the holiday in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Dimitrievskaya Saturday was established by Dmitry Donskoy after the Battle of Kulikovo, on this day the Church historically remembers all Orthodox soldiers.

IN last years Another day of remembrance of soldiers has become widespread - 9th May, in memory of those who suffered during the hard years of the Great Patriotic War. This day is not approved by the Church, the tradition is just being formed.

Eastern Christians have a tradition of creating another funeral Saturday- before the Day of Intercession. In 2017 it falls on October 7th.

All dates are given according to the new style.

On all days it is possible to commemorate a deceased person baptized in the Orthodox Church during the Liturgy. To do this, special notes are submitted in advance, colloquially called "Lunch for the repose."

Repose can be ordered in monasteries The Indestructible Psalter, which has long been considered a great alms for a deceased soul.

There is also a custom to order funeral services, which can be served not only in churches, but also in cemeteries.

There is another type of remembrance, funeral lithium, can be performed by a layman in a cemetery or at home.

There is an ancient tradition consecration of Kutya- a special funeral meal, which after consecration is eaten at home with prayer.

In addition, Orthodox Christians widely commemorate the dead by giving alms. Particularly in this series is the serving "to the canon", that is, the laity’s offerings to the temple of food for the clergy’s meal, the distribution of food to those working in the church and those in need.