Moscow, 07/24/2021, 05:17:24, editorial office of FTimes.ru, author Dmitry Novakh.
Since ancient times, it has been believed that Saturday is a particularly suitable day of prayer for the repose of souls who have passed on to another world. Even in the Old Testament, Saturday is a day of rest, and in the New Testament it is a day of forgiveness and remission of sins.
Dimitrievskaya Saturday fell on November 2 this year. On this important day for Orthodox believers, people go to temples and churches, where memorial services are held, and visit cemeteries.
The history of the appearance of Dmitrievskaya Saturday
Many centuries ago, preparing for the battle on the Kulikovo field, Dmitry Donskoy was blessed to fight with foreigners by the abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, Sergius of Radonezh. Two monks of the monastery went to the battle with the blessing of Sergius - Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslyabya, who fell in the battle.
After the victory of Dmitry Donskoy on the Kulikovo field on September 16, 1380, he again visited the Trinity-Sergius Monastery to commemorate the Orthodox soldiers who died in the battle. There he proposed that the Church commemorate every year on the last Saturday before October 26, the day of remembrance of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica.
The proposal was accepted, since the victory of the Russian army was stained with the blood of tens of thousands of Orthodox soldiers. It was a great loss that brought a lot of grief and tears of despair to Russian families.
Initially, commemoration was performed for all Orthodox soldiers who died in this battle. Over the years, Dimitrievskaya Saturday has become a day of funeral remembrance not only for soldiers, but also for all deceased Orthodox Christians.
November 3 is a special date in the church calendar: Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday, the last day of the year when the deceased are commemorated in a cathedral.
A funeral service was held in the Church of the Holy Righteous Warrior Theodore Ushakov in South Butovo.
It is believed that this day of remembrance was introduced by Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who wanted to honor the memory of those who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo.
Later they began to commemorate the soldiers who gave their lives for the Fatherland at all times, and then all the deceased Christians in general.
Establishment
The legend says: the memorial day of November 7 was established by Prince Dmitry Donskoy, when he won a victory on the Kulikovo Field. Saint Demetrius of Rostov writes about this event as follows: after the battle, the prince returned to Moscow “with the greatest joy” and immediately went to the Monk Sergius of Radonezh. Arriving at the monastery, he thanked the holy abbot and the brethren for their prayers and help, told the monk in detail about the battle, and at the end of the meeting he ordered funeral liturgies and memorial services to be served for all the soldiers killed on the Kulikovo field.
Why exactly this day, November 7, was chosen to commemorate the soldiers is unknown. The Battle of Kulikovo took place two months earlier, on September 8. “Perhaps the day of remembrance was determined by the first convenience upon the prince’s return from the campaign,” wrote St. Philaret Drozdov, a 19th-century theologian. Or, as another version says, the prince wanted to time the commemoration to coincide with his namesake day: the day after Demetrius Saturday, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, a Roman Christian who suffered for his faith in 306.
Since ancient times, the memory of the great martyr has been associated with the defense of the homeland, military feats and patriotism. The name of this saint opens the pages of the Russian chronicle: when in 907 Prince Oleg the Prophet won a victory over the Greeks near Constantinople, the Greeks, according to the chronicle, “were afraid” - they decided that it was not Oleg, but Saint Demetrius who was sent to them by God as punishment for their sins. The temple in the name of the Great Martyr Demetrius became the first stone temple in the Moscow Kremlin, and, for example, Prince Alexander Nevsky named his son in honor of the saint.
The life of Dmitry Donskoy says: the conqueror Mamai revered the Great Martyr of Thessaloniki, perhaps even more than other saints. It is known that in 1380, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, he solemnly transferred the icon of the Great Martyr from the Vladimir Cathedral of Dimitri to Moscow. Therefore, it is likely that it was the eve of the day of his memory that was chosen by the prince as the day of remembrance of the fallen soldiers.
Versions
However, a number of Church historians believe that the connection between Demetrius Saturday and the commemoration of the soldiers who died on the Kulikovo Field took shape later: not earlier than the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century. Speaking about this, researchers make the following argument: in historical documents and manuscripts, Demetrius Saturday is rarely mentioned - most often the so-called monastery everyday books, calendars, where the order of services was prescribed, talk about it. Thus, the 16th-century writer of the Trinity Lavra speaks of Demetrius Saturday as a day of remembrance exclusively for the deceased brethren of the monastery, without connecting it with the Battle of Kulikovo. The same is noted in the statutes of the Volokolamsk and Tikhvin monasteries.
Outside the monastic monasteries, this day was perceived as a day of remembrance of all departed Christians. It is known that Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered on this day to give alms, feed the poor, and sing dirges in churches.
In the 17th century, St. Demetrius of Rostov mentioned a memorial service in honor of soldiers, and in the 18th–19th centuries, spiritual verses appeared that directly spoke of the establishment of a day of remembrance by Dmitry Donskoy. In one of these verses there is a story about a vision of the prince during the liturgy - he again sees the fallen soldiers and then decides to establish a special day in their memory.
In 1903, an imperial decree ordered that memorial services be held on Demetrius Saturday for deceased soldiers, “who laid down their lives for the faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland on the battlefield.” This decree finally cemented the day’s connection with the Battle of Kulikovo.
Traditions
Dmitrievskaya Saturday is the last memorial day of the year. In Rus' they treated it very responsibly: they prepared rich funeral dishes for this day, cleaned the house to meet the day clean.
On the eve of the memorial day, they went to wash in the bathhouse - and they often left one or several bath towels in the dressing room so that the souls of the dead could also wash themselves. The same thing was done at meals: they placed separate cutlery for deceased relatives and set aside a portion of food. Before the meal, we made sure to visit the cemetery.
In the period between the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (November 4) and Demetrius Saturday, weddings were stopped - they were afraid that marriages concluded at this time would be unsuccessful.
How to spend this day
Orthodox Christians go to church for worship on this day. In the church on this day, candles are lit for the repose of the deceased and memorial notes with their names are given. After the service, they visit the cemetery: they clean the graves before the long winter. They sit down to a meal in the evening and try to spend it reminiscing about their departed relatives.
https://rusplt.ru/society/dmitrievskaya-subbota-istoriya-traditsii-znachenie-19592.html
Traditions of Dmitrievskaya Saturday
On Dimitrievskaya Parental Saturday, you need to visit the graves of deceased relatives; memorial services and funeral lithiums are held in churches and cemeteries, and memorial meals are held.
The traditions of Dmitrievskaya Saturday are no different from other parental Saturdays. On this day, Orthodox Christians pray for the repose of the souls of the dead, mainly parents. But there is one difference - Dimitrievskaya Saturday also carries a special meaning; it reminds everyone of all those who died and suffered for the Orthodox faith.
Even if you do not have the opportunity to visit a temple or cemetery these days, you can pray for the repose of the deceased at home.
In fact, the Church recommends praying for deceased parents and loved ones not only on special days of remembrance, but every day.
Remember all those who suffered for Orthodoxy
The clergy note that Demetrius Saturday also carries a special meaning: established after the Battle of Kulikovo, it reminds us of all those who died and suffered for Orthodoxy.
What needs to be done on Dmitrievskaya Parent Saturday?
- On this day, be sure to go to church and light candles for the repose of the souls of your deceased relatives.
- On Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday, it is customary to go to the cemetery, clean up the grave, bring fresh flowers and pray for the repose of the soul.
- On Parents' Saturday it is also customary to distribute sweets, buns and bread to the poor and needy so that they can pray for the soul of your deceased relative.
- On Dmitrievskaya Saturday, after the service, a memorial dinner is held and a rich table is set. There must be dishes on the table that the deceased loved during their lifetime.
- There must be pies with different fillings on the table; our ancestors believed that this could please and appease the soul of the deceased.
- During lunch, you must put another plate on the table, into which relatives put a spoonful of food. This plate was left overnight so that the soul of the deceased could come and dine with the family.
- On this day, you can only say good things about the deceased, share warm memories and stories associated with him.
- On Parents' Saturday, you need to do a thorough cleaning of the house, and then wash yourself well.
What you absolutely cannot do on Parents' Saturday:
- On Dmitrievskaya Saturday, it is forbidden to speak badly about the deceased, remember unpleasant situations associated with them, or scold them, as this can anger their soul.
- Drinking alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited during the funeral dinner.
- It is not appropriate to have fun, sing songs, listen to cheerful music, since this is a day of remembrance for those who are no longer alive, so fun is inappropriate.
- The church does not commemorate people who committed suicide, so you cannot light a candle for the repose of your soul, but you can go to the grave or pray at home.
What not to do on Dmitrievskaya Saturday
There are no special prohibitions on Dmitrievskaya Saturday. Traditionally, weddings are not celebrated on Saturday.
If you have planned important things, then you should not postpone them.
On memorial days, you cannot criticize or speak badly about the deceased.
No noise should be made while visiting the cemetery.
During the funeral dinner you should not drink alcoholic beverages.
You cannot refuse alms on this day.
Comments
Prayer for the departed
A specific prayer is read for relatives who have already passed away. It is convenient to read names using a special memorial book - a church book in which the names of relatives are written. Most Orthodox families have their own special memorial. This is a little book in which the Orthodox names of the entire family tree are written, indicating when this or that relative passed away. This will allow you to remember by name all your deceased ancestors and honor them every year on the days of remembrance of the dead.
Parents
The prayer that is read on Dimitrievskaya Parent Saturday sounds like this:
“Rest, O Lord, the souls of Your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names) and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.”
It is universal, suitable not only for parents, but also for other close relatives.
Children
“Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death, Comforter of the afflicted! With a contrite and tender heart I run to You and pray to You: remember. Lord, in Your Kingdom your deceased servant (your servant), my child (name), and create for him (her) eternal memory. You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. It was your good and wise will to take it away from me. Blessed be Thy name, O Lord. I pray to You, Judge of heaven and earth, with Your endless love for us sinners, forgive my deceased child all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance. Forgive, O Merciful One, our parental sins as well, so that they may not remain on our children: we know that we have sinned many times before You, many of whom we have not observed, and have not done, as You commanded us. If our deceased child, ours or his own, for the sake of guilt, lived in this life, working for the world and his flesh, and not more than You, the Lord and his God: if you loved the delights of this world, and not more than Your Word and Your commandments, if you surrendered with the pleasures of life, and not more than with contrition for one’s sins, and in intemperance, vigil, fasting and prayer have been consigned to oblivion - I earnestly pray to Thee, forgive, most good Father, all such sins of my child, forgive and weaken, even if you have done other evil in this life . Christ Jesus! You raised up the daughter of Jairus through the faith and prayer of her father. You healed the daughter of the Canaanite wife through faith and the request of her mother: hear my prayer, and do not despise my prayer for my child. Forgive, Lord, forgive all his sins and, having forgiven and cleansed his soul, remove eternal torment and dwell with all Your saints, who have pleased You from the ages, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: like there is no man like He will live and will not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin: so that when you judge the world, my child will hear Your most beloved voice: come, blessed of My Father, and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For You are the Father of mercies and generosity. You are our life and resurrection, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
Church commemoration
As mentioned earlier, church commemoration is not a strictly obligatory ritual. If it is not possible to visit the temple and pay tribute to the memory of departed loved ones, then you can remember them at home. But it’s better to come when there is a service in the local church.
If the pain of loss is still fresh, then a memorial service is held in the temple for the departed loved one. The great memorial service is held in the church on Friday evening, on the eve of parental Saturday. Parastas, as this ritual is officially called, consists of chants, troparions and readings, which are dedicated only to the memory of deceased people. The Liturgy for the repose is held in churches on the morning of funeral Saturday. A general memorial service is held after the liturgy.
Orthodox believers prepare notes before coming to the liturgy. They contain the church names of departed relatives. At the same time, it is important to write names in the genitive case, that is, they must answer the question: Whom? For example, Alexey, Alina, Alla, Lyubov, and not Alexey, Alina, Alla or Lyubov.
Church tradition establishes that on this day the temple accepts various donations. At the same time, they are accepted in the form of food, which are then given to low-income people who come to the church doors. It is customary to bring fruits, bread, sweets or vegetables. You cannot bring alcoholic beverages or meat and fish products.
