Why do Christians pray for the dead?
According to Orthodox doctrine, death is a great sacrament. This is the birth of a person “from earthly, temporary life into eternity” (St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov), “The Word on Death”). The material body of the deceased goes into the ground. But the immortal soul continues to exist independently in another, spiritual world. Therefore, Christians ask God for their deceased loved ones. In particular, believers read a prayer and akathist for the one who died.
Akathist about the one who died
The afterlife fate of the soul depends on how much a person strived for salvation during life. If he struggled with sins, tried to fulfill God’s Commandments, prayed and participated in the saving Sacraments, then the soul of such a person remains with God after death. This is a natural result of her earthly life. Unrepentant souls, even after death, continue to be in the painful captivity of dark forces.
In the afterlife, the soul cannot actively influence its fate. After all, she is capable of repentance only before separation from the body. A person can improve morally only when his earthly and spiritual essences are one. However, the loved ones of the deceased living on earth can help the suffering soul with prayer and good deeds. God hears our prayers and eases the lot of sinful souls.
Saint John Chrysostom taught that the commemoration of the dead “was established by the Holy Spirit, wanting us to benefit through each other” (“Orthodox Dogmatic Theology” by Archbishop Philaret (Gumilevsky)). After all, the Church of Christ is a single whole organism. And this organism consists not only of living Christians, but also of those who are already in another world. Physical death cannot prevent the spiritual connection of its members, based on love, mercy and compassion.
When the funeral akathist is not read
The clergy do not always recognize the reading of the akathist by believers. The Church considers the text a song of praise with words of remembrance for deceased relatives. The chants must be combined with a memorial service and the reading of prayers for the repose of the person’s soul.
The dates on which priests prohibit any commemoration of the dead are the day of the Great Resurrection of Jesus Christ and Holy Week.
A week before Easter, if you want to remember deceased relatives, priests allow you to read the Acts of the Holy Apostles in combination with an akathist. If you do not know the texts of prayers by heart, turn to the Almighty with requests for the repose of a person in your own words. The Lord is generous to everyone, he will hear everyone who calls to him. Material goods and money are not of interest to the Creator. If you don’t have the finances to order a memorial service or buy food for the poor, pray and love your neighbors.
Canon about the same deceased
Prayerful remembrance of a deceased Orthodox Christian is expressed through the reading of special prayers and the Psalter for the deceased, the performance of a funeral service, the service of a memorial service and a funeral litia. Church commemoration also takes place at the proskomedia during the Divine Liturgy. Immediately after the death of a Christian, before his burial, the canon about the same deceased is read.
A single deceased person is called one deceased person, according to whom the corresponding canon is read immediately after death. In it, the deceased is always mentioned in the singular. As a separate genre of church hymnography, the canon has a certain structure. The canon of the same-dead consists of eight songs in which the person praying asks God to have mercy on the soul of the deceased, forgive him his sins and grant him the Kingdom of Heaven. Each song begins with an irmos - the title verse, referring to the sacred events of the Old Testament. The songs repeat a chorus common to the entire canon. They end with praises and appeals to the Mother of God. Also, the canon about the one-dead contains psalms 50 and 90. The first is of a repentant nature, while the theme of the second is trust in God’s intercession.
The canon of the same-dead is included in the Succession of the soul's departure from the body. It is read once after the death of a person. Such a prayer for the same deceased is much smaller in volume than, for example, a memorial service. This is dictated by the fact that the canon must be read by the loved ones of the deceased immediately after his death. Therefore, the state of the deceased’s relatives, overwhelmed by grief, is taken into account.
The ordeal of the soul after death
According to church tradition, the soul begins ordeal after death. They last 40 days, so prayers for the same deceased at this time are considered the most effective.
After death, in the first 3 days the soul is at the coffin, next to its relatives. From days 3 to 9 she flies around the heavenly abodes. From days 9 to 40, she contemplates hell and the torment in it. All material goods - an expensive coffin, a monument - become unnecessary for the soul. It connects with the world of spirits, where cleansing from earthly sinfulness is more important.
Repentance before death helps to start a new path. The prayerful help of loved ones and their good deeds in memory of the deceased is necessary spiritual, sacrificial work. The Holy Fathers say that the seat of passions is the soul, not the body. No one knows what suffering is in store for this immortal substance after earthly life, what passions will torment it. That is why it is worth asking for remission of sins and forgiveness of the deceased.
In earthly life we encounter small temptations and do not always strive to overcome them. Ordeals are a test of the strength of the soul, a test of good and evil. Repentance before death can change a person’s inner mood. Prayers after his death will help the soul pass the tests.
Canon and akathist about the one who died
The canon about the one who died is often mistakenly called an akathist. There is an akathist about the one who died. But it is not included in the Follow-up on the departure of the soul from the body and is a separate work. In addition, canon and akathist are terms denoting completely different genres of church hymnography, with their own structure. They cannot be used as synonyms.
The akathist about the one who died consists of 25 songs. Namely, from 13 kontakia and 12 ikos alternating with each other. A kontakion is a short stanza that outlines a specific theme. In a more voluminous icosity, this topic is developed. Each ikos in the akathist for the one who died ends with repeatedly repeated appeals to Christ. Prayers are expressed for the forgiveness of sins for the deceased, the granting of the Kingdom of Heaven, as well as for the consolation of living loved ones.
It is customary to read an akathist for one who died every day for 40 days after death. It is also read during the 40 days preceding the anniversary of the death of the deceased.
What is an akathist
Akathist is a hymn, a chant that is read while standing. The very first akathist in Christianity is dedicated to the Mother of God. It was created in the 7th century in gratitude to the Mother of God for the liberation of Constantinople from the Persian army. It is this akathist that is called the Great. According to the Charter, it is included in church services.
All other akathists (translations or original Slavic expositions) appeared everywhere throughout the history of Christianity in Rus'. Later, entire collections of such texts began to be published. They are hymns of praise to the saints, the Savior, and the Mother of God. The authors are clergy, spiritual writers or teachers of theological schools and seminaries.
In order for the akathist to be included in the service, it is sent for consideration to the Committee of Spiritual Censorship. The Committee's decision is forwarded to the Holy Synod. After which a hymn that meets the requirements may be included in the worship service and thus will be printed in the official spiritual collection.
Following (canon) for a person who died at the same time
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and bow from the waist.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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 (three times).
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 Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Lord, have mercy (12 times).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship our God the King (bow).
Come, let us bow down and bow down to 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 dwell in the shelter of the heavenly God. The Lord says: You are 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 trusting under His wing, His truth will bypass you with a weapon.
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 demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you, otherwise you will look at your eyes and 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 against a stone; tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the 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 destroy him and glorify him, I will fill him with long days and show him My salvation.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, glory to you, O God (three times).
Lord have mercy (three times)
Troparion, tone 8
With the depth of wisdom, humanely build everything and give it to everyone that is useful. O Lord, the only Creator, give rest to the soul of Your servant, for place your trust in You, Creator and Maker and our God.
Glory, even now: Theotokos: To you and the wall, and the refuge of the imams, and the prayer book favorable to God, Whom you gave birth to, O Blessed Mother of God, salvation for the faithful.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. You alone have sinned and committed evil before You, so that You may be justified in Your words and overcome, never judge You. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins.
Behold, Thou hast loved the truth, Thou hast revealed to me Thy unknown and secret wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Give joy and gladness to my hearing; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
As if you had wanted sacrifices, you would have given burnt offerings, but you would not have been pleased. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a contrite and humble heart, God will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering, then they will lay the bullock on Your altar.
Canon, tone 8
Song 1
Irmos: Having passed through water like dry land, and having escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israeli cried out: Let us drink to our Deliverer and our God.
Chorus: Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
I opened my mouth, O Savior, grant me the word to pray, O Merciful One, for Thy departed servant, named, may He rest his soul, O Master.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
Having been dead in the flesh, O Savior, and laid in the tomb with the dead, the soul of Your servant rests in a green place, like the Merciful.
Glory: Hear my prayerful voice, O God of the Trinhypostasis, and teach the soul of the reposed in the depths of Abrahamlikh, the Deliverer.
And now: You, Most Pure Mother of God, Whom you conceived without the temptation of a man, pray to Your Son to grant peace to Your departed servant, named.
Song 3
Irmos: O Supreme Creator of the heavenly circle, O Lord, and the Creator of the Church, Thou strengthenest me in Thy love, the desires of the land, the faithful affirmation, the One who loves mankind.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
In a place of greenery, in a place of peace, where the faces of the saints rejoice, the soul of Your departed servant rests, O Christ, the Only Merciful.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
Where the faces of the saints are, place there, O Master, who served You with all my heart and lifted Your yoke upon His frame, as the One Lord of life and death.
Glory: Heavenly Father Almighty, and the Only Begotten Son, and the Holy Soul of Origin, despise the sin of the dead, and in the Church the firstborn dwell it, glorify Thee with all those who have pleased Thee.
And now: As the Holy Mother of the Most Holy God, the Lady of all, Mary the Mother of God, with all the saints, pray for the soul of Your servant, named, in the heavenly villages.
Lord have mercy (Thrice)
Sedalen, voice 5th
Rest, our Savior, with the righteous of Thy servant, and this one is lodged in Thy courts, as it is written, despising, as good, his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and all things known and not known, Lover of mankind.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God: You who shone forth from the Virgin to the world, O Christ God, who showed the sons of light by You, have mercy on us.
Song 4
Irmos: I heard, O Lord, Thy mystery, I understood Thy works and glorified Thy Divinity.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
He who descended into the underworld, O Christ, hast raised up all that has died, and has departed from us, O Savior, who is generous.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
There is no one without sin, except You are One, Master, for this sake forgive the one who has been removed and forgive him his sins, and place him in paradise.
Glory: Hear, Holy Trinity, the voices of the prayer offered to You in the church for the deceased, and illuminate with Your Divine light the soul darkened by vain devotions.
And now: Thou hast given birth, O Most Pure One, without a male seed, to a perfect God and to a perfect Man, who takes away our sins, a Virgin. Pray to this, Lady, to grant Your departed servant peace.
Song 5
Irmos: Enlighten us with Your commandments, O Lord, and with Your high arm grant us Your peace, O Lover of Mankind.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
Having the power of life and death, rest has been left from us, O Christ God, for Thou art the Savior of all, peace and life.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
Place your hope in Thee, the Savior, who has departed from us; You, Lord, have mercy on him, for God is abundantly merciful.
Glory: Enlighten us, O Trisagion, glorified Master, who pray to You, receive heavenly peace, and bring into peaceful villages the soul that has departed from the temporary in the hope of endless life.
And now: Shuyago standing, Most Pure One, beseech Thy Son, O Virgin Lady, to deliver the departed One, as the Savior and God of our Mother.
Song 6
Irmos: I will pour out a prayer to the Lord, and to Him I will proclaim my sorrows, for my soul is filled with evil and my belly is approaching hell, and I pray like Jonah: from aphids, O God, lift me up.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
You have overthrown hell, O Master, and you have resurrected those who have died from time immemorial: and now you have taken him away from us into the bosom of Abraham, You, God, have abode, having forgiven all sins, for You are Merciful.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
The commandment that you gave to me, O God, transgressed and were mortal, but You, God, who descended into the grave and resurrected souls from all eternity, do not raise me up, O Master, to torment, but to rest, the departed one cries out to You with us, O Most Merciful.
Glory: We pray to You, the beginningless Father and Son and Holy Soul, embittered by the malice of the soul-evil world and towards You, the Creator, do not reject the soul that has passed into the depths of hell, my Savior God.
And now: From heaven, Christ our God, like rain on the fleece, the Most Pure One, descended on Thee, drinking the whole world and drying up all the godless streams, flooding the whole earth with His mind, Ever-Virgin; Pray to him to give peace to your departed servant, name.
Lord, have mercy (Thrice). Glory to this day.
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 only Immortal One, Who created and created man; In the earth we were created from the earth and we will go to the other earth, as you commanded, Who created me and gave me: for you are the earth and you went back to the earth, and maybe all men will go, creating a funeral sob creating a song: alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Song 7
Irmos: The youths who came from Judea, in Babylon, sometimes, by the faith of the Trinity, asked the fire of the fire, singing: God of the fathers, blessed art thou.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
Master Christ God, whenever you want to judge the world, have mercy on the soul of your servant, whom you received from us, crying: our father, God, blessed are you.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
In the food of heaven, where the righteous souls rejoice, those who have served You, consider with them, O Christ, the soul of Your servant, who sang: Our father, God, blessed art thou.
Glory: You saved the three youths of Judah into the fires, sung into the Three Persons, deliver the eternal fire of the departed, who sang to You truly: our father, God, blessed art thou.
And now: Who gave birth to the Lord Christ, who gave birth to all God, delivered the power of the dark prince of the air, O Virgin, who reposed her soul in faith and sang: Our father, God, blessed art thou.
Song 8
Irmos: By the Sevenfold, the Chaldean tormentor furiously kindled the cave of the pious, and having seen this better power, they were saved, crying out to the Creator and Savior: bless the youths, sing to the priests, exalt the people to all ages.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
Having finished the course and come running to You, Lord, the departed one now cries out, forgive my sins, O Christ God, and do not judge me, when you want to judge everyone, for I truly cry to You: all the works of the Lord, sing to the Lord and exalt Him forever.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
He bore, O Master, Thy yoke on his frame, and Thy burden was light, even if not always, but in the place of Thy saints indwelled his soul, who sang to Thee, Christ the Savior: bless the youths, sing to the priests, people exalt Him forever.
Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Lord.
Beginningless Holy Trinity, God the Father and the Son and the Holy Soul, in the person of the saints rank the soul of Your departed servant and deliver eternal fire, so that He may praise You, singing forever: bless the youths, sing to the priests, people exalt Him forever.
And now: Thee, Virgin, the prophecies of the face prophesied, for the clairvoyant eyes of Thee saw: for the rod is called Thee, or the eastern door, or the uncut mountain of man. We confess You truly as the Mother of God, who gave birth to the God of all things, and pray to Him for the repose of the departed One forever and ever.
Song 9
Irmos: The heavens were horrified at this, and the ends of the earth were amazed, for God had appeared as a carnal man, and Your womb was more spacious than the heavens. Thus Thea, the Mother of God, the Angels and the people of the ranks are magnified.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
Jesus, my God, Savior, Adamle, you took away crime and tasted death, and freed people from it, O Merciful One. In the same way we pray to Thee, the Most Merciful: for the rest of the Lord, for He is good, in the courts of Thy saints, for He alone is all-good and merciful.
Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Your departed servant.
There is no one, O Merciful One, who has not sinned among men, except You alone, Jesus Christ, take away the sins of the whole world. Moreover, having cleansed Thy servant from sins, establish in Thy holy courts, for Thou art the life of peace, light, and joy of all who have pleased You.
Glory: All human nature marveled at how this only-begotten Son of the beginningless Father received flesh from the Virgin through the action of the Holy Spirit, and suffered like a man, so that the dead could be brought to life. Thus, now departed from us, we diligently pray to Thee, in the land of the living, as Good, dwell.
And now: We call You the Bride, Most Pure, the Invisible Father, and the Mother of the Son, incarnated from You by the Holy Spirit, and we offer Your prayer service for Your departed servant, named: For You, the helper of the Imam, earthly, and singing with love, we magnify You.
It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, ever-blessed and most immaculate and Mother of our God. The most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the real Mother of God, we magnify Thee (bow).
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (three times).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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 (three times).
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 Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Troparion, tone 4
With the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, give rest to the soul of Your servant, O Savior, preserving him in the blessed life that belongs to You, O Lover of Mankind.
In Thy chamber, O Lord, where all Thy saints rest, give rest also to the soul of Thy servant, for Thou art the only lover of mankind.
Glory: Thou art God, Who descended into hell and loosed the chains of the bound, and give rest to the soul of Thy servant.
And now: One pure and immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray for his soul to be saved.
Lord, have mercy (40 times).
Spiritual almsgiving
Relatives and friends of the deceased do not always have the opportunity to donate to the temple, give alms, or order a memorial service. There is such a thing as spiritual almsgiving. It does not require financial investments. At the same time, it can bring tangible benefits to the soul of both the living and the deceased. What is its essence?
This is spiritual help to another person. It can consist of kind words of support and encouragement in difficult times. Or the free distribution of books with spiritual content.
If someone you know is in grief or sadness, even the smallest words of comfort can be beneficial. Thus, spiritual support for the grieving person is also a sacrifice for the sake of the soul of the deceased.
Deeds of mercy and prayers with love are a tremendous force that will help atone for the sins of the deceased and return God's grace to him.
