What can you do after the death of a loved one?

Is it possible to wear a ring after the death of my husband?

Priest Alexey Zabelin, teacher at the Moscow Theological Academy, Russian Orthodox University, Sretensky Theological Seminary, cleric of the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fedosino, Moscow

If you have recently lost your husband and the ring is infinitely dear to you, you cannot part with it, then know that Christians are not superstitious: you can wear the ring as much as you see fit, both on the right and on the left hand. Don't be afraid, there is no sin in this. Taking off a ring and putting it on your left hand is nothing more than a tradition.

If many years have passed, the pain from the loss has subsided, then I would ask my own question to this question: for what purpose, for what purpose, to wear a ring after the death of my husband? For the sake of loyalty to the deceased? It's good to be a widow, but for what? Some kind of ministry? For example, the abbess of the Borodino Monastery lost her husband in this battle, raised a son, but he also died in his youth. And over time, she founded a convent on the Borodino field. She remained faithful to her husband through the feat of serving other people, including the wounded who remained on this field, the widows of the dead.

You can probably wear a ring, but is it necessary? If it's a memory of the deceased, it's probably good. But if this will be an obstacle in later life, then why? A year or more has passed since the death of her husband and the woman wants to remarry. There is nothing bad or shameful about this. But this ring, frankly speaking, scares away those potential suitors, some of whom could become a worthy husband for this woman.

You can wear the ring on your finger, on a chain around your neck, or hang it where the icons are, as a keepsake. But the main thing is that it makes sense, that this ring gives comfort, inspiration and does not interfere with further life. Because life does not end with death. Death is a part of life and there is no need to put up a concrete wall “that’s where my life ended.”

What is important to us are the objects left by the deceased as a memory. But if we really live by the thought that our Fatherland is where our Lord is, it is not so important for us to wear rings or something as a keepsake. Here on earth it may be important, but further down it is not. The Lord answers the lawyers in the Gospel: “In the Kingdom of Heaven they do not marry or be given in marriage.”

Is it possible to make repairs after the death of a loved one?

Priest Philip Ilyashenko, Vice-Rector for Social and Missionary Work of the Orthodox St. Tikhon's Humanitarian University (PSTGU), Candidate of Historical Sciences, Moscow

The death of a loved one is first and foremost a tragedy. Until the fortieth day, the time of mourning, commemoration, grief continues, and then you can act as it will work out.

If we have just lost a loved one, then rushing to glue wallpaper or paint the ceiling is, of course, absurd. We must salute the deceased, mourn him, and see him off.

At the same time, of course, it is important to understand what death is. In fact, death is birth into eternity. And in this sense, this day is terrible, of course, and therefore all the more sad, but also very solemn, because the result of earthly life is summed up. A person goes to God so that, having given Him an account of his earthly life, he finds himself in eternity.

We are afraid and cry, we are saddened by death, because death is not characteristic of man. Man was godlike, that is, immortal, but having committed a sin, man lost this godlike property: the state of harmonious union with God was distorted and death came to the world. Therefore, first of all, we must pay our last respects to the deceased, the deceased.

It often happens that death occurs as a result of a long illness. And then the life of the family, the space of the house, the apartment changes: medicines, medical devices appear, perhaps a special bed, you can no longer open the window with ease, the air cannot be cooled or warmed for a long time. This is all connected with a person’s infirmities due to a long illness. But nothing prevents us from making repairs in the room where a person dear to us was ill for a long time, where he lived. This is a completely natural need. And a violation of the mystical connection with a loved one will not happen as a result. From time to time we update the space of our home or apartment. It happens that ceilings leak or something breaks down over the years and wears out. And if previously elderly people lived here, who were sick and dying, now it will probably accommodate children.

I am sure that the deceased, loving their loved ones, seeing them from eternal life, will, of course, be glad that where a greater or lesser part of their earthly existence passed, life will continue, someone will be happy.

But in the first days after death, in a sense, we have no time for that, no time for repairs. We work to receive the body in a dignified manner, rite it, prepare it for burial according to Christian custom, and arrange a wake. It is also important to be in some silence in order to realize what happened. There is church remembrance of special days associated with church tradition - the third, ninth and fortieth. Saint Macarius of Alexandria writes about this. These are special days for the human soul that has left the human body. Until the 40th day we try to read the Psalter. Usually we gather in such groups that everyone, reading one kathisma (there are 20 of them) or several psalms a day, participates in the general reading. And if we find 40-50 people, then it may turn out that when everyone reads several psalms (part of the kathisma), the entire Psalter will be read daily.

It seems to me that the time until the fortieth day is the minimum period when you can come to your senses after the death of a loved one. Disassemble the deceased's belongings, distribute them, at least arrange them. And then, of course, life goes on and its needs will have to be followed.

All Souls Days

Holding memorial days is something that we, the living, can do for the deceased. By remembering them and praying for them, we testify that these people left a bright mark on our lives. At the wake there should be a place for both light grief that a loved one is not around, and quiet joy that another person has completed his life’s journey, full of trials and sorrows.

Dates for the funeral

After death, a person's body is buried in the earth. There it rests until the moment when the general Resurrection occurs. In Christianity, death is not the end of existence. It only completes a person’s earthly journey. With its onset, a stage begins that every believer strives for throughout his life. To know the true meaning of existence and die in faith means to defeat death.

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Commemoration of the dead on the ninth day after death

In the Orthodox tradition, there are strict canons regarding funerals and commemoration of the dead. The custom according to which it is customary to remember the deceased nine days after the funeral is one of them. And even people far from religion observe it.

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Forty days

The fortieth day has special significance. This is a certain border, after which the soul of the deceased leaves the earth forever and enters eternal life. From the moment of death until the 3rd day, she can go anywhere, and then is subjected to many obstacles, the so-called air ordeals.

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How to carry out commemoration for 9 and 40 days?

In the traditions of peoples in which Christian religions predominate and, after a person’s earthly life is cut short, the third, ninth and fortieth days are considered especially significant for commemoration. Almost everyone prepares a funeral table for these days, but not everyone knows why these particular dates were chosen.

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Holding a wake six months after death

The tradition of commemorating the deceased is known to everyone. Traditionally, during the year after death, commemoration is organized several times: nine days, forty days, a birthday, a year. But many people are interested in the question: are the deceased remembered at six months?

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Death anniversary

According to Orthodox customs, on each anniversary of death it is customary to visit the cemetery where the deceased rests. Only after this do close relatives and friends gather at the funeral table. for the year following the death . At this time, it is customary to remember the deceased in a narrow family circle.

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Commemoration of the deceased 2 years after death

Funerals 2 years after death usually take place in the circle of close relatives and good friends. By this time, the grief and pain from the loss subsides a little, remaining a quiet sadness in the heart. People gathered at the funeral table remember the deceased with kind words. Basically, it’s up to you to decide whether to hold a funeral 2 years from the date of death or not. In Orthodoxy, this date of death is not highlighted, but at the same time, the church does not prohibit commemoration on this day or on any other day.

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Commemoration of the deceased 5 years after death

When a person dies and cannot pray for himself before the Lord, his family and friends should do this for him. Memory of the deceased, prayer for their souls is the only possible help to dear people who have left us for another world. In fact, all existing traditions have no meaning for the deceased, but his soul is in dire need of constant prayer for it.

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All Souls Days 2021

The loss of a loved one for a Christian is not a reason for sadness, since the deceased in Christ has hope of eternal life with God (“He who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.” John 11:25) and to receive an inheritance from his heavenly Father , that is, going to Heaven.

Therefore, when seeing off friends to a new life, we must hope to meet them in the heavenly abode.

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Memorial Saturdays in 2021 Orthodox

Orthodox traditions provide for several days a year when it is important to remember the deceased according to all canons. The so-called parent's Saturdays. Orthodox Christians are instructed to pray for the repose of the dead, visit the graves of their relatives and friends, restore order there, and honor their blessed memory.

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Is it possible to remember on Monday?

There is an opinion in everyday life that wakes on Monday can only be held for suicides. The same applies to funerals on this day of the week. But all this is just superstition and there is nothing like that in church traditions.

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Commemoration of the dead on the twentieth day after death

Each nation has its own burial traditions, but almost all are united by the belief that for a person only earthly life is finite, and the human soul is eternal. That is why burial rituals and all subsequent traditions of commemoration are so important.

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Is it possible to watch TV after the death of a loved one?

Archpriest Roman Batsman, rector of the Churches of the Life-Giving Trinity and the Resurrection of Christ at the Research Institute named after. Sklifosovsky, the house church of St. Luke Voino-Yasenetsky Scientific Center for Cardiovascular Surgery named after. A. N. Bakuleva, Moscow

Since you are asking such a question, apparently you already feel some incompatibility between these events: watching programs on TV and experiencing the loss of a person. The death of a loved one involves worrying about him or her, prayer, which is incompatible with any kind of entertainment or even distractions. Therefore, some time is given to people to show concern for their deceased: funeral service, wake, 9th day, 40th day. During this period after death, people gather to pray together for repose, trying not to be distracted by unimportant things. Although the daily necessities—going to work, going to school—cannot be avoided, and even, of course, we continue to do. And those things that distract a person or entertain are not so paramount; it is better to put them off for a while. Then you can read the Psalter with more concentration, as it should be in the church. It is more serious and responsible to participate in divine services - not just go to church, but try to participate in the sacraments, confess before communion. Then both the people themselves and the deceased, for whom they worry, will benefit. It is not for nothing that there is a tradition of mourning, which in some sense is similar to the tradition of fasting and implies some restrictions.

Of course, after some time we return to life in all its fullness, especially since you can find some good programs on TV, and not just empty and meaningless ones, which, unfortunately, are now becoming more and more numerous.

In any case, even during this period, if you watch some sermon or program about an Orthodox holiday that the Church celebrates at this time, there will be no great sin, there may even be some benefit.

Is it possible to baptize a person after death?

Hieromonk Dimitri (Pershin), deputy chairman of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Pathfinders, editor-in-chief of the television, cleric of the Krutitsky Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow

It is impossible to baptize someone who has died after his death. Another thing is that turning to the topic of death, confronting it, leads many people to repentance; the unbaptized begin to think about their soul.

There is no reason to postpone the baptism for which you were preparing because of the death of a loved one. If you have faith in Christ, then you should not delay baptism even in these days of mourning for the deceased. Of course, if a person has just decided to be baptized after the death of a loved one, then there is no need to rush into it: it is worth preparing, going through catechetical conversations in the temple.

Strict prohibitions associated with memorial periods: 9 and 40 days

The procedure does not end with burial. In Orthodoxy and Islam it is customary to make a commemoration. Christians convene people to honor the newly deceased (counted from the date of death):

On the morning after the burial, those closest to him bring breakfast to the churchyard. Friends and comrades join at will.

On the third day they gather in a tight circle.
On the ninth, they treat colleagues and neighbors to funeral baked goods.
On the fortieth day they hold a feast, the same as a wake.

The funeral meal must comply with religious canons. The Church recommends adhering to the following standards:

It is advisable not to drink alcohol. A shot of vodka covered with a piece of bread is not welcome. This ritual is secular in nature.
A photo of the dead person is placed on the funeral table. Do not light a church candle before taking a photo. It is supposed to be placed near the Icon. And place a photo next to it.
Place the kutya consecrated in the temple on the table. Make the menu out of three simple dishes (the first liquid, the second hot, pie and compote).
Those gathered should not: speak badly about the newly deceased, express emotions violently, or indulge in fun.

You can help your orphaned relatives and souls only through prayer. Order a funeral service. It is repeated at specified times, as well as every anniversary.

Folk superstitions:

For the first nine days, do not look at your own reflection. It is believed that this is a sign of premature death.
Household members should not be left alone, especially at night. Psychologists completely agree with this.
You are not allowed to take things out of the house, move furniture, or repair premises for forty days. The soul is still saying goodbye. He will arrive and will not recognize the rooms. Will be bad.
Don't take anything from the graveyard. Any little thing will open the path to disaster. Leave flowers at the grave.
Days of mourning are spent at home. It is not advisable to go on a visit yourself and receive visitors at your place.

People determine the duration of mourning themselves. Religious citizens yearn for a year. In our conditions, such a long period is not necessary. It is advisable for the widow and children of the newly deceased to refrain from entertainment for the first two months.

Is it possible to baptize a child after the death of a loved one?

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Priest Fyodor Lukyanov, cleric of the Church of All Saints on Filevskaya Poima, Moscow.

Of course, you can baptize a child after the death of a loved one. Such doubts fall into the category of superstitions. In some churches, baptisms and funeral services take place every day, and there is no need to be embarrassed about this topic. Another thing is that very often the mood of the family is sad, because they parted with their loved one recently. That is why people want to postpone the baptism of the baby, so that the joy of this event is not overshadowed by sadness about the departed relative.

But we must remember that the death of a Christian is rather a dormition, it is more like a dream, in contrast to the eternal separation that was in paganism. Christians present themselves to the Father with joy, shades of which are also present in the funeral service. Unfortunately, not everyone today hears these shades, not everyone transfers them to their lives and the life of the deceased. It is not customary to cry at a Christian funeral, because this is not pagan mourning for unspeakable sadness. A Christian goes to meet God.

Pay attention and think about why funeral services are performed not in dark vestments, but in light ones. We sing “rest with the saints,” we escort a person to eternal life.

The funeral service and baptism have much in common: three times immersion in water symbolizes the three days that Christ spent in the tomb before his resurrection. During baptism, the baby is united with death and with the resurrection of Christ. So a person, dying, is born into a new life, into eternity.

Is it possible to photograph a dead person?

A matter of belief. Esotericists claim that the photograph is an imprint of the energy of the deceased. If the latter was sick, then the illness will be passed on to those who will treat it later. But the photo ban has more to do with ethical standards.

Relatives want to remember their loved one as alive, cheerful, and active. This is why photographers are not welcome at funerals.

There is also a bad omen. Taking a photo attached to a monument or cross is not good. The family experiences the bitterness of multiple losses. It's better to leave it at the grave. And if you decide to replace it, then bury it in the ground next to the cross.

Will it be possible to meet a loved one after death?

Priest John Zakharov, rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital (RCCH), Moscow

We believe that after death, meeting with loved ones is possible. We have only a theoretical idea of the afterlife. We don’t know what it will really be like there, whether there will be a meeting of loved ones after death, although we can talk about this for a long time.

From experience serving in a hospital church, I know that when a child dies, mothers no longer ask anything. In this state of shock, they have no time to talk. After a while they may come, we can pray together, but at the very moment of the child’s death, mothers become isolated in their grief.

It is absolutely obvious that after death we will all find ourselves in the place where Love reigns. But Love can reign only when there is an object of love. A person cannot love “abstractly”; he needs the one he loves. Of course, the main object of our love is Christ. But we also love our loved ones. Some become so attached to animals that they cannot imagine their life without a cat or dog. I don’t know about a specific cat, but the love that a person experiences in life will, of course, be with him there, after death. For this reason, man was created to bliss in love. If a person does not consciously fence himself off from this love, does not consciously drive it away, then we hope that we will be consoled there.

Is it possible to get a haircut after the death of relatives?

Priest Boris Osipov, cleric of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Research Institute of Emergency Medicine named after. N.V. Sklifosovsky, Moscow

An Orthodox Christian can cut his hair after the death of his relatives; this is not a sin. There are no restrictions, only a lot of superstitions. The only thing is that the wedding, of course, is not held immediately after the funeral. A time of mourning is necessary for those entering into marriage. If a loved one has died, then the celebration will be postponed simply because the young people have no time for it. Time is needed to grieve for the deceased, at least until 40 days, when a special prayer is performed for him, his posthumous fate is decided and he needs the help of his loved ones and those who love him. As for ordinary household things - getting a haircut or washing. Cleaning up or washing - they do not matter to the soul of the deceased.

Is it possible to listen to music after the death of a loved one?

Archpriest Dimitry Struev, rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost” at the youth center “Ecclesiastes”, Lipetsk

A believer who has buried a loved one feels the need to pray for the newly deceased. And it’s good when this is not only a memorial service ordered in the church - a fulfilled tradition, but also a private prayer. We can read the Psalter at home and pray in our own words. Naturally, for the very first time after death, this need for prayer becomes more pressing than many other matters. And the person praying himself feels which activities contradict this prayer and which do not contradict. If we feel that some secular piece of music or even too cheerful idle communication, or even spending some time with this prayer enters into dissonance, then it would be logical to refuse it. But not because we are limited by some canons, laws or prohibitions, but because we ourselves feel this dissonance and follow the call of our hearts. But there may also be music that will not interfere with this prayer, but on the contrary will help to distract from the hustle and bustle and create a prayerful mood. And this, too, is not determined by any rules, but rather by intuition, the inner feeling of the person himself.

Is it possible to clean up after the death of a loved one?

Archpriest Gennady Ursov, rector of the Church of the Archangel Michael in the village of Shiringushi, Krasnoslobodsk diocese, Republic of Mordovia

Unfortunately, there are a lot of prejudices and superstitions regarding the topic of funerals and attitudes towards death. This in most cases has nothing to do with faith in Christ. Think about it, what is the connection between the Gospel and the belief that “if you take out the trash or clean up while the dead person is in the house, the rest of the family will die” or “it is forbidden for blood relatives to wash the floor after removing the body”?

Of course, you can clean up after the death of a loved one. Moreover, the things of the deceased in a clean and proper form can be donated to those who need them and ask for their prayers for the newly deceased.

The most important thing to concentrate on after the death of a loved one is prayer for him and our good deeds in prayerful memory of his soul. At this time, we can become closer to God, we can understand spiritual laws and the depth of life in the Church. If you put aside the bustle of everyday life and think about the most important thing, you can find time to come to the temple and talk with the priest. Personal communication in the temple and clarification of all confusion is much more effective than searching on the Internet for answers to numerous questions.

Traditions at the time of the funeral and after

The course of the event is strictly regulated. The algorithm should be followed especially strictly if the deceased is taken out of the apartment.

What to do:

Prayers according to faith are read over the coffin, which must “spend the night” at home. It is allowed to stay awake in turns or invite old ladies.
Domovina is carried out feet first by people who are not related to the deceased by blood ties. The lid is separate. It is forbidden to walk in front of the coffin. Whoever disobeys will also die soon.
Immediately, as soon as people leave the apartment, they wash the floors in the direction from the room to the threshold.
The door and windows must be locked. Opened - a signal of an imminent new death in the family.

What is not allowed at the cemetery:

Kissing a corpse on the lips is not good. They say goodbye by touching their lips to their forehead.
It is undesirable to cry out loud during the process or shed tears. They say that the moisture in the eyes drowns the dead.
Do not go near graves other than fresh ones. Visit your family later. This is not a good omen.
You cannot take away from the graveyard the ropes or towels on which the coffin is lowered into the grave. They are thrown there too.

In Orthodoxy, it is not forbidden to see off the newly deceased with fresh flowers. On the contrary, each person saying goodbye must bring an even number of twigs. Red carnations are usually used. Superstitions claim that the variety of colors of buds disrupts the mourning mood.

Before leaving the cemetery, be sure to wash your hands of the soil. Otherwise, the “deadly road” will swallow the family entirely. The handkerchief is kept. They are allowed to be used for their intended purpose. Believers pray to remember the deceased.

Is it possible for an Orthodox Christian to bequeath organs after death?

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Priest Fyodor Lukyanov, cleric of the Church of All Saints on Filevskaya Poima, Moscow.

An Orthodox person can bequeath organs after his death, but only at his own request. The Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church states this quite clearly: the removal of organs for posthumous donation can only be the result of a voluntary expression of will, the mercy of a person who made a will in this way.

From a church point of view, the so-called presumption of organ removal is unacceptable. We must respect the God-given freedom that man has. Donation cannot be self-harm, it should not harm human health - this is also the position of the Church. As for posthumous donation, it can be formalized in a will (there is a special form for this) and recorded by the person himself during his lifetime.

What should be done with the belongings of a deceased person and after what time?

The church does not establish strict rules on this matter. Relatives usually sort them out within 40 days. The following rules have been adopted:

Items mentioned in an oral or written will are transferred to the heirs.
Memorabilia is distributed to relatives upon request. It is allowed to use Icons, indoor plants, clocks, mechanisms and household appliances to heirs and friends.
Documents are processed in accordance with the laws of the country. The passport is usually taken away.
Items associated with death are destroyed or thrown away.
The rest of the inheritance is donated to the poor, to shelters and churches.

According to the rules of decency, you are supposed to ask your friends if they would like to take something in memory of the deceased. The exception is bed linen and wearable items, except outerwear.

Superstitious people are afraid to touch the linen, dresses, shirts, and shoes of the murdered. The latent suspicion that the death was “contagious” is quite understandable. The people have established the opinion that it is better to give the bedding and items of clothing to the poor, having first washed them thoroughly. And shoes are thrown away or burned.

Is it possible to wash floors after a person's death?

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Priest Mikhail Senin, rector of the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village of Polivanovo, Moscow

This is the first time I've heard about this. Although I know that there are a lot of superstitions and prejudices around death. But by developing the idea that it is impossible to wash floors after a person’s death, you can stop washing, combing your hair, changing clothes, doing laundry, and so on. I hope the absurdity of this line of thinking is obvious.

After the death of a loved one, you should first think about yourself. About the fact that death awaits everyone, including me. If we correctly accept the death of a person, not as a reason for grief and mourning, but as a window of opportunity, then we will think about the meaning of life and our destiny in eternity, about how I can now help the newly deceased. Then we understand that our most important task now is prayer. Moreover, this work will be useful to me, too. You can take the Psalter at this time and start reading it. This is especially important in the first 40 days after the death of someone close to you.

Is it possible to burn a body after death?

Hieromonk Dimitri (Pershin), deputy chairman of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Pathfinders, editor-in-chief of the television, cleric of the Krutitsky Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow

Yes, it is possible to cremate (burn) a body after death, but the Church does not recommend doing this. God will resurrect everyone: those who died at the front from a bomb explosion, those who drowned, and those buried in permafrost in Stalin’s camps. The resurrection will be universal. And how exactly the relatives buried the person’s body cannot influence the resurrection.

The Church does not recommend cremation because cremation does not cause pain to the deceased, but to the living, because it is an image of despair. And the burial of the deceased, when the body is buried, is the gospel image of the grain, which will then sprout - at the hour of resurrection. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; and if it dies, it will bear much fruit. He who loves his life will destroy it; But he who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. Whoever serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there will my servant also be. And whoever serves Me, My Father will honor him. My soul is now indignant; and what should I say? Father! deliver Me from this hour! But for this hour I have come. Father! glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” (John 12:24-28).

In the Orthodox tradition, the body of a deceased Christian is perceived as a shrine. The reason for this is not only the belief in the Resurrection, but also the fact that the rite of the funeral service took shape in the 2nd-3rd centuries, during the era of persecution, when every Christian was, to one degree or another, a confessor, and many ended their lives as martyrdom. The first Christians were blackmailed, convincing them to worship pagan gods: you believe in the resurrection, and we will burn you and scatter the ashes! And even in those days the answer was given: the God of the Resurrection is the Creator. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the fate of your flesh. God has power over the elements; Evangelist John the Theologian describes the picture of future events as follows: “Then the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and hell gave up the dead who were in them; and each one was judged according to his works” (Rev 20:13). In later times, Christians did not care about the fate of the body after their death. Saint Monica, mother of St. Augustine, who lived in the 4th century, died far from her homeland. Friends asked her before her death, “isn’t she afraid to leave her body so far from her hometown. “Nothing is far from God,” she answered, “and there is no need to fear that at the end of the world He will not remember where to resurrect me.”

Nowadays, during the funeral service, you hear that the body of the deceased is called the relics, like the throne, they incense it on four sides and turn to God with a prayer for the deceased to be numbered among the Heavenly Church: “From the spirits of the righteous who have died, give rest to the soul of Thy servant, O Savior, preserving it in a blessed life, even with You, Lover of Mankind” (you can read more about this from Bishop Athanasius (Sakharov) in the book “On the Commemoration of the Dead according to the Charter of the Orthodox Church”). Unfortunately, these days during funeral services we often pray for the forgiveness of sins rather than glorify them. And even though not all of the departed are examples of life in Christ, we still ask God, Who “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16), to open the gates of His Kingdom for them.

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Signs about funerals

A sad event affects not only those closest to us. Some situations affect everyone around us. Specifics:

Just meeting a procession is not bad. Don't talk to people in it.
Seeing her through the window means illness and loss. Immediately close the curtains and pray.
The croaking of a black raven in a churchyard means big profits.
It’s bad when the domina with the newly deceased falls. A sign of the imminent death of another family member.

The best sign is a quick departure to another world without suffering. The deceased lived a sinless, bright life and fulfilled his karmic debt. He is welcomed to heaven.