What is remembered in the first week of strict fasting. Lenten funeral table - what to cook

The commemoration in fasting is performed in the same way as on any other days. The funeral service is performed according to the order. Death in the Orthodox Church is called the transition, dormition. That is, a person did not just go into oblivion, did not disappear, turning into dust, but only moved into a new hypostasis of existence. But the fate of the deceased in the afterlife is also important for us. Therefore, we pray for his repose. And after the burial, a commemoration is made.

About the commemoration in the post

Usually, the commemoration is held three times, including in fasting. For the first time, the funeral coincides with the commemoration. Then we remember the deceased on the ninth and fortieth days. According to the teachings of the church, it is on these days that the “fate” of the deceased is decided. On these dates, relatives and friends should pray at the service in the temple. A memorial meal is organized at home. Of course, for the Orthodox, it is not the table that is more important, but the memory of the departed. On the day of the commemoration in fasting, you need to remember all the good deeds of a person, his earthly path, remember with a kind word, talk about a difficult life.

For some, these stories commemoration in the post will become instructive, help to gain faith, if the deceased person was an example of faith and a virtuous life. The memorial table is also laid so that all relatives and friends can come together and pray for the deceased. This has a hidden meaning.

Wake in Orthodox Lent

For believers, holding a commemoration in fasting is associated with some rules. For example, before you start a meal, you should pray, read the ninetieth psalm. The whole event requires seriousness, reverence for the memory of the deceased. At such a table, ambiguous jokes, sarcasm, immoral stories are not allowed.

A meal at a wake, as a rule, begins with kutya. This dish is prepared in advance from rice or wheat seasoned with honey and flavored with berries or fruit slices. Kutya is usually at a memorial service - a special service for the deceased. Kutya should be tasted by every guest who came to the commemoration in Lent. The tradition of commemorating kutyas is deeply rooted in church history. The grain prepared for kutia personifies the integrity of the soul, its immortality. Therefore, the table at the wake can be called symbolic.

Do not worry about generous treats, a variety of dishes. At the commemoration, they are not going to gluttony. Especially if the commemoration fell on the weekdays of Great Lent. You can simply move the table to Saturday or Sunday so as not to violate the rules of dry eating on other days. The third day of commemoration in fasting is associated with the resurrection of Christ (he resurrected on the third day after death), the departed will also be resurrected into eternal life. The ninth day of the commemoration during fasting is associated with the veneration of the nine ranks of angels, and the fortieth day of the commemoration is correlated with the Ascension of Jesus Christ.

The text of the Orthodox prayer to the Monk Andrei Rublev

O sacred head, reverend father, most blessed Abbot Andrew! Do not forget your wretched ones to the end, but always remember us in holy and favorable prayers to God: remember your flock, even if you yourself saved it, and do not forget to visit your children, pray for us, Holy Father, for your spiritual children, as if you have boldness to Heavenly King: do not be silent for us to the Lord, and do not despise us, who honor you with faith and love: remember us unworthy at the Throne of the Almighty, and do not stop, for grace has been given to you to pray for us. It’s not imaginary that the creature is dead: even if you’ve died from us in body, but you’re still alive after death, don’t depart from us in spirit, keeping us from the arrows of the enemy and all the charms of demons and the wiles of the devil, our good shepherd. Even if the relics of your cancer are always visible before our eyes, but your holy soul with angelic hosts, with incorporeal faces, with heavenly forces, at the throne of the Almighty, rejoices with dignity, leading you truly and alive after death, we fall down and we pray to you: pray for us to Almighty God, for the benefit of our souls, and ask us time for repentance, let us go from earth to heaven unhindered, from bitter ordeals, demons of air princes and from eternal torment, let us be delivered, and let us be heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven with all the righteous, who from time immemorial have pleased our Lord Jesus Christ: all glory, honor and worship is due to Him, with His Father without beginning, and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.

An obligatory tradition on the days of commemoration of the deceased - lay the funeral table. Regardless of the number of people gathered to honor the memory of the departed person, certain dishes should be served at the memorial meal.

An obligatory part of the funeral meal is considered kutya - porridge made from millet cereals or rice with the addition of honey and dried fruits. According to religious beliefs, this dish symbolizes the resurrection of the deceased in the next world and, as it were, "sweets" his stay in heaven.

Kutya is served to guests as a first course., observing the following order. First, the dish is brought to the closest relatives of the deceased, then the plates with kutya are placed in front of friends, colleagues and acquaintances of the deceased.

Another traditional dish that should be put on the funeral table is pancakes. Pancakes, like kutia, are not just a meal, their appearance on the memorial table is deeply symbolic, they symbolize the rebirth and continuation of life in another world. Pancakes are cooked without filling and served with honey. Also make sure that there is jelly on the table at the wake. Kissel for funeral dinners have been prepared since time immemorial, and it would be right to observe this long tradition.

Since we are talking about drinks, let us mention that there is no place for alcohol on the memorial table, especially with a pronounced religious component of the rite of remembrance. Even light wines at such a commemoration would be out of place. If the relatives nevertheless decided to give the audience an opportunity commemorate the deceased "without clinking glasses", remember the sense of proportion. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages at a wake can offend the feelings of the audience and desecrate the blessed memory of the deceased.

Funeral meal: what else to cook

In addition to kutya, pancakes and jelly, on commemoration days you can cook soups, salads, meat dishes (cutlets, roasts), fish, potatoes, as well as bake pies. Traditionally, all dishes are prepared unpretentious recipes, in a simple way, without frills and frills. So, on the memorial table you can put vinaigrette, herring under a fur coat, sauerkraut, cucumber and tomato salad. Pies are best baked with different fillings: for example, with rice and fish, cabbage and eggs, mushrooms, sweet pies with berries and dried fruits will also be appropriate.

It is not so important what size the funeral table will be: large, for several dozen guests, or laid only for close relatives. More significant of it design - modest, without pomposity and pretentiousness. Make sure that the dishes, tablecloths and the interior of the dining room (if the wake is held in a cafe or restaurant) are dominated by calm, muted tones. During the meal, do not rush the guests and do not rush yourself, let the funeral dinner last as long as the audience wishes. But still, an event dedicated to the memory of a deceased person should not develop into midnight gatherings.

Lenten commemoration

Separately, let's talk about the commemoration that falls for the days of Great Lent. At such a time, it is customary to cover funeral tables exclusively with lenten dishes, regardless of whether the invited people fast or not. This means that dishes made from meat, eggs, milk and other animal products are completely excluded. Despite the presence of restrictions, the funeral table, however, can be covered with a variety of tasty and satisfying dishes.

Recipes for lenten dishes for a wake

Everyone can prepare simple dishes for the funeral table, regardless of culinary abilities and religiosity. The main thing is to do it with good thoughts and bright memory about the departed person.

Rice kutya with dried fruits

Grains and dried fruits should first be rinsed and soaked in water for a while. Then the rice should be put on a slow fire and cook, stirring, for about 20 minutes. After that, drain the remaining water and rinse the rice. Dried fruits cut into pieces, honey and poppy seeds (optional) can be added to the finished porridge. The same cooking procedure should be followed if wheat groats are served on the funeral table.

Lean pancakes and pies

The recipe should not contain milk and eggs, which means that the dough is made from flour, yeast, sugar and salt. All this should be diluted with warm water, add a little vegetable oil and leave for a while until the dough reaches readiness. Dough for lean pies you can cook according to the same principle, choosing any vegetables, berries or dried fruits for the filling.

Kissel for a wake

First you need to bring water to a boil and, stirring, add starch and sugar diluted in cool water to it. When the jelly thickens, pour in fruit or berry syrup. Before putting on the table, the jelly is cooled.

Traditionally, memorial dishes are consecrated in the temple. If this is not possible, you can put glasses with consecrated water on the table. After the funeral meal is over, make sure that the guests do not leave empty-handed. The remaining dishes can be distributed to neighbors or treat colleagues at work, asking them to remember a person close to you.

The second, third and fourth Saturdays of Great Lent are the days of universal commemoration of the dead.

IN Saturday morning- the main church commemoration is served - the funeral Liturgy, where all the departed Christians are commemorated, after it - a general memorial service will be served.

Read below how to properly observe the remembrance of the dead in the church.

Tomorrow is Lenten Parents' Saturday again. This is not the first time I will go to this service to honor the memory of my dear departed and, of course, I know what these days of special remembrance in Great Lent mean - Parental Saturdays. But does everyone know how important and necessary for our dear departed our conciliar prayers for them in these days?

The second, third and fourth Saturdays of Great Lent are the days of universal commemoration of all "in the hope of resurrection and eternal life" who have fallen asleep in the Lord. According to the word of Jesus Christ, we must love our neighbors as ourselves, and in the prayerful memory of the departed, our greatest, completely disinterested and secret love is manifested. And this love is very dear to the dead, because we bring help to them, helpless.

In the days of Great Lent, the duty of every true believer is charity and mercy. Through them, we show the Lord that we are also worthy of His mercy and beneficence. One of these deeds, the most important for us, is the commemoration of the dead. Asking God for forgiveness for the sins of our loved ones, friends, relatives during their earthly life, we ourselves receive hope for the forgiveness of our own sins after death.

Another reason for the founding of parental Saturdays is that on these days of Great Lent, except for Saturdays and Sundays, there are no liturgies, and the dead, as it were, are deprived of the benefits that commemoration brings them during the liturgy. Therefore, in replacing the liturgy, the Church established a special prayer for the dead on Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks. The other Saturdays of Great Lent, dedicated to special remembrances, no longer have the name Parental, and on them the commemoration of the dead is carried out in the usual way.

It is on these three Great Lenten Saturdays that pious people, coming to the temple, pray with special zeal for their dead relatives and friends, light candles for their repose, serve memorial services, give alms for the remission of their sins, thereby showing love for their neighbors.

Each of us needs to understand the full significance of the commemoration of the dead. A sinful person, falling into the afterlife, and not worthy of the Kingdom of God, can no longer pray to the Lord for himself and for others. Only saints and especially pious people get such an opportunity. If here on earth he can confess his sins and receive their forgiveness, then there he is deprived of this opportunity.

But think, do all people go to another world completely cleansed, do they confess all their sins to a priest, does everyone even have the opportunity to confess before death? And if someone, having sinned in a small matter, forgot it and did not repent at confession? Or, out of false modesty, concealed his sin? And then he died suddenly? It turns out that there is no guarantee that a person will find peace in the next world. After all, even the smallest sin can prevent him from reaching paradise and doom him to eternal torment.

Therefore, a memorial service and home prayer for the dead are useful, as well as good deeds done in their remembrance, alms or donations to the Church. But commemoration at the Divine Liturgy is especially useful for them. There were many appearances of the dead and other events confirming how useful the commemoration of the dead is. Many who died in repentance, but failed to manifest it during their lifetime, were freed from torment and received repose.

Anyone who wants to show his love for the dead and give them real help can best do this by praying for them, and especially by commemoration at the liturgy, when the particles seized for the living and the dead are immersed in the Blood of the Lord with the words: “Wash, Lord, sins commemorated here by Your precious blood, by the prayers of Your saints.

If we love our relatives in deeds and not in words; if we really are Christians, whose law is love for our neighbor, we must pray for the souls of our relatives and friends, give alms for their salvation. It is only in our power to wash away the remaining sins from them and open the way to Paradise for them. And their commemoration is our direct and immediate duty.

Church commemoration of the dead on parental Saturday

To commemorate your deceased relatives in church, you must come to the temple for worship. On Memorial Saturday, a divine liturgy for the dead is performed, after which a common memorial service is served - your presence at the Liturgy and memorial service is necessary. Moreover, our dead are clear witnesses to whether we were present at the service, whether we prayed for them, or simply unsubscribed with little notes and paid off with candles.

For church commemoration for the liturgy, parishioners are preparing T memorial notes for the dead . In the note, the names of those commemorated in the genitive case are written in large legible handwriting (to answer the question “who?”).

At the same time, it must be remembered that in these notes it is possible to enter the names of only those dead who were baptized during their lifetime, i.e. were members of the Church. For the unbaptized, you can pray at home or over their grave in the cemetery. Read more about how to write a note here.

These days, candles are supposed to be placed not on the icons, but on the Crucifixion, on a special table called "eve". The candle is our sacrifice to God and at the same time the symbol of our prayer. Therefore, when Christians light candles, they always ask God at this moment for the repose of their loved ones, naming the names of the deceased relatives.

Related to this custom is another similar to it: give alms the poor with a request to pray for the dead.

Recently, the opinion has spread that the beggars who beg for alms are almost the richest of all of us. Well, if this bothers someone, you can easily find among your friends or neighbors a sick, weak, lonely person, and even living on one miserable pension. Maybe it is worth bringing a bag of potatoes from the market in memory of your dead parents to such a person ... It seems to me that God will accept our prayer in this form. If only she were warm and sincere, not poisoned by proud self-approval. “Blessed are the merciful; for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

In addition, it is customary to bring food to the temple as a donation. As a rule, bread, sweets, fruits, vegetables, etc. are placed on the canon. You can bring flour for prosphora, Cahors for the celebration of the liturgy. It is not allowed to bring meat products.

Have you ever thought during mass, looking at the so-called eve table, on which candles are warm for the repose of departed people? Quietly melting wax, slightly trembling lights somehow especially warmly and touchingly speak of people who have flown off the earth, who have not been forgotten, who are prayed for, for whom the people left without them and who loved them intercede. But what motivates us to pray for the dead? According to the word of Christ, we must love our neighbors as ourselves, and in the prayerful memory of them, our love is manifested as completely disinterested and secret, the greatest. And how dear this love is, bringing help to them, helpless! And, on the contrary, how ruthless we are when we forget about them!

People who know the rites of all religions unanimously affirm that nothing can be compared with Orthodox prayers for the afterlife of the Orthodox who have departed to God. Indeed, the grief of the Orthodox Church over the departed child is imbued with extraordinary warmth and unshakable hope. The Orthodox Church not only does not depart from its deceased member, but shows special concern for him. The highest good that the Church renders to the deceased is the commemoration of him at the proskomedia. The part that is taken out of the prosphora with the pronunciation of the name of a living or dead person marks the soul of this person. At the end of the Liturgy, after the communion of the faithful, all these particles are poured into the chalice and are thus imbued with the life-giving Blood of Christ. Above them the words are pronounced by the priest: "Wash, O Lord, the sins of those who are remembered here by Thy precious Blood." With this visible contact of parts of the prosphora with the Blood of Christ, an invisible contact of the soul of the commemorated person with the being of God takes place. At the same time, light souls feel a special joy - the same whether they are in the body or, at the end of earthly life, outside the body; evil souls - some anxiety from contact with the highest sphere, from which they are so far away; but still a tangible benefit. ( E. Poselyanin)

We must be ardent, we must be strong Orthodox, so that not only, perhaps, we can help ourselves, but also those who are close to us, and on the other side of life. We should not be those who just go to church from time to time, light a candle, cross themselves, fast, but it seems that they don’t fast; when he prays, and when he doesn't - well, it doesn't work. No, my dear ones, life is too serious to be cold, to be warm, barely warm.

Before the beginning of Great Lent, before we take the first step towards Pascha, the word of our love for all those who have walked the path of life before us sounds under the vaults of the temples: “God give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants who have fallen asleep!”. This is a prayer for everyone, because, according to the wonderful words of Tsvetaeva, “there are only believers and non-believers. All the believers are there.” Now they all see what we only believe in, see what they once forbade us to believe. And, therefore, for all of them our prayerful sighing will be a precious gift.

“The week of the Last Judgment has come. On the eve of the deceased relatives were commemorated in the church. At home, kutya was prepared from grains - as a sign of faith in the resurrection from the dead. On this day, the church commemorated all “from Adam to this day who have died in piety and faith” and sent a special prayer for those “whom the water covered, from battle, fire and earthquake, those killed, killed by murderers, slain by lightning, killed by beasts and reptiles, from frost frozen ... "And for those" even kill a sword, a horse to conquer, even strangle a stone, or sprinkle a finger; even kill the enchanting drink, poison, strangulation ... "" ( V. Nikiforov-Volgin.)

And we will come, we will definitely come, in spite of any worries of today. How else can we express our love for our loved ones who have gone to another world. How can we not fall down in prayer to the Lord for them, bowing the knees of our hearts when the deacon sings “Memory Eternal!”. Why not try to use everything possible to save their souls when we love them so much?! And do not say that those “whom the water covered, from the battle, fire and earthquake of the dead, killed by the murderers ...” are not our relatives. We are all one. We are all interconnected. Have you ever thought during mass, looking at the so-called eve table, on which candles are warm for the repose of departed people? Quietly melting wax, slightly trembling lights somehow especially warmly and touchingly speak of people who have flown off the earth, who have not been forgotten, who are prayed for, for whom the people left without them and who loved them intercede. But what motivates us to pray for the dead? According to the word of Christ, we must love our neighbors as ourselves, and in the prayerful memory of them, our love is manifested as completely disinterested and secret, the greatest. And how dear this love is, bringing help to them, helpless! And, on the contrary, how ruthless we are when we forget about them!

The death of a loved one is a great grief. But, unfortunately, it cannot be avoided. If a dear person has died, then loved ones have many questions. Where to bury? How to think over the menu? Is a canteen or cafe better suited for such an event? And this is not a complete list of questions. Today we will talk about commemorations.

Such a meal is not just a meal, but a rite during which loved ones remember the deceased, his good deeds. During this event, people read a prayer addressed to God. They ask to forgive the deceased for all his sins. Of course, a memorial dinner should be properly thought out, the menu of which must be compiled correctly. To make it easier for you to decide on the list of dishes, we will tell you what you need to cook for this event and why.

Memorial Dinner Principles

The lunch itself should be simple. Its main goal is to maintain the physical and mental strength of those who came to commemorate the deceased. Everything must be prepared from fresh ingredients. This is what a memorial service should be like. Its menu can be varied. It all depends on the traditions of the family, wealth, as well as the preferences of the people who come to commemorate. Although, of course, guests are not traditionally invited, they themselves come.

A memorial dinner is not a feast during which you need to feed those who came to satiety. The purpose of the commemoration is to satiate the guests, thank them for their participation, remember the deceased, and pray for his soul. Here, as you understand, the main thing is not food, but people - the dead and the living, who were united by the grief of parting.

Planning a funeral dinner

We will describe the menu a little later, now we will consider the main dishes that should be at this dinner. Firstly, (the second option is Kolivo). What it is? It is boiled from grains (rice, barley and others), sweetened with honey and raisins. Such a dish is consecrated at a memorial service. Grain here is a symbol of the resurrection of the soul, and honey and raisins denote spiritual sweetness.

What do you need?

The list of products is small:

• 0.5 kilograms of rice;
• 200 grams of dried apricots;
• three st. l. honey;
• nuts (optional)
• 200 grams of raisins;
• 1 liter of water (for soaking).

How is the dish prepared? Soak the grains in water overnight or for several hours. This is necessary in order for the porridge to turn out crumbly. You need to cook until done. Toward the end, add honey diluted with water, as well as raisins and dried apricots. This is how kutya is obtained.

Borsch

This is another must have dish. For five liters of water we need:

• 700 grams of meat on the bone (preferably beef);
• three potatoes;
• two bulbs;
• one beetroot (small);
• three tomatoes;
• one bell pepper (it is best to use red or green);
• one cabbage;
• a few peas of black pepper;
• greenery;
• salt.

Cooking borscht for a funeral dinner

For such a dish, first prepare the broth from the meat on the bone (boil for two hours). After that, you need to add chopped potatoes there. Then take a frying pan, pour oil into it, put it on the stove, pour finely chopped onions into it. After about three minutes, add carrots and beets (of course, also chopped) to the pan. If the beets are processed in this way, they will be able to retain their color.

Carrots will take on a bright, orange hue. Vegetables need to be simmered in a pan until they become soft. Remember that carrots, onions, and beets retain their flavor and most of their vitamins when cooked over high heat. Then pour the contents of the pan into the broth, boil everything a little, add chopped cabbage, bay leaf, a few black peppercorns, chopped tomatoes and sweet peppers.

Cook for another 15 minutes. Then you need to try the dish and salt. After that, you can turn off the fire and remove the borscht from the stove. Serve the dish hot, with sour cream. You can sprinkle with herbs.

Sweet

You can buy pies, or you can bake them yourself. We offer a banana puff recipe. What do you need?

• package of ready-made dough (500 g);
• bananas (gram 200-300);
• powdered sugar (to taste).

Cooking sweets for a wake

Take the finished puff pastry. Let it thaw, then roll it out. Then take a knife and draw rectangles with it. Spread the banana filling on them (fruit cut into small pieces). Then connect the edges of the dough so that the filling is completely in it. Next, pinch the products a little. Bake in a preheated oven at 220 degrees for about fifteen minutes. Products should be browned. Sprinkle finished puffs with powdered sugar.

Compote

For cooking, you can use both fresh and frozen fruits. Compote should not be sweet or too sour. How to cook? Put a five-liter pot of water on the fire, let it boil, pour in fruit (about 1 liter filled jar). Then add sugar (to taste) and cook until tender (about an hour).

The first version of the menu for thirty people

Now let's talk about what should be a funeral dinner. The menu after the funeral may be different. We offer our:

If you will be holding a funeral dinner for a year, this menu is quite suitable for this event. Kutya, however, can be removed from the list. It is an obligatory dish only at the wake after the funeral. And then - as you wish.

Second menu option for 12 people

Now we will analyze the approximate menu of a memorial dinner in a cafe or at home (for forty days). So, the list of products:

• fried fish in batter (two kilograms);
• mashed potatoes (2.5-3 kilograms);
• salad "Olivier" (two kilograms);
• cutlets (pieces 12, approximately 1.2 kg of minced meat);
• sandwiches with red fish or sprats;
• or potatoes (pieces 12-15);
• pickled cucumbers and tomatoes (about 1 kg);
• 5 liters of liquid (water + juices + compote)
• sweets and sweet cakes (optional).

If you plan to hold another funeral dinner later, the menu for six months, for example, may be the same. Although, of course, you can adjust the list of dishes at your discretion.

Lean

Thinking through everything, pay attention to whether the commemoration fell on the post. If the answer is yes, then you need to adjust the funeral dinner (menu). Lenten set of dishes will not only be appropriate. but even necessary. What to prepare for such a wake? How to correct the usual menu, making it lean? Now let's make a rough list of foods:

• knot;
• lean borscht;
• kutya;
• lean pies;
• potatoes with mushrooms;
• cabbage or carrot cutlets;
• vegetable salad (cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers);
• the vinaigrette.

Alcohol

We described in detail how to think over the funeral dinner, we also discussed its menu. Now let's touch on another important topic. "What?" - you ask. Should you drink alcohol during the funeral? There is no clear answer to this question. Some priests believe that during the funeral dinner, you can drink some red wine. The Church condemns the use of alcoholic beverages during such a ceremony. Therefore, here you must decide for yourself whether you need alcohol at a memorial dinner or not.

Conclusion

Now you know how to make a funeral dinner. We have reviewed the menu in detail. We have offered you a couple of options for approximate lists of dishes for the commemoration. We hope that our tips have helped you decide on the choice of food for such a dinner.

How to conduct a commemoration in the post? This question is often asked to priests by people who recently sent a loved one to another world. After all, our people tend to treat the dead with special respect and all the rites that, as we believe, facilitate their afterlife, so the relatives of the deceased strive to do everything in accordance with the rules. Like all Orthodox rituals, the rite of remembrance is overgrown with a thick layer of superstition and excess.

Before moving on to the question of how to organize a commemoration in a post, it is worth understanding what a commemoration is and why they are needed. I think many of us have faced sad situations when the commemoration turned into a zealous rampage almost with songs and dances. The Orthodox Church has an extremely negative attitude towards such phenomena, moreover, the clergy constantly remind the faithful that commemoration, and even more so at a commemoration in fasting, is unacceptable! In this matter, the concept of "measure" is not allowed - there should not be any alcoholic drinks on the memorial table at all. Unfortunately, even people who understand this often have to step over piety, following the lead of disgruntled relatives.

Is it possible to hold a commemoration in Great Lent?

Traditionally, a memorial meal is held three times: on the day of death, on the 9th and 40th days. At the commemoration in Great Lent, certain adjustments are made to this rule: during Great Lent, if the 9th or 40th day falls on weekdays, then the memorial dinner is transferred to Saturday or Sunday (except Palm). It is possible to organize a commemoration on the day of the funeral, but it is advisable to do this in accordance with the rules of the lean diet: on Wednesday and Friday, serve food without vegetable oil to the table. If there are many non-fasting people at the memorial table, you need to make concessions - diversify the table with fish and other seafood dishes.

Wake in Great Lent does not allow alcohol: you can put compotes, juices, kvass, mineral water on the table. It is completely unacceptable (not only at the commemoration in fasting, but always) the custom of putting a glass of vodka covered with bread in front of the photograph of the deceased - this offends the memory of the deceased and Orthodoxy as a whole. After all, Christians believe that the physiological functions of the body are inaccessible to the soul - it throws off the body, like a shell, soaring to heaven, therefore, it no longer needs our base needs. Wake in the Christmas, Assumption and Petrov fasts are held according to the same rules, but if you doubt the correct choice of the date, then you should consult with an Orthodox priest.

Commemoration in fasting and prayer for the repose

When preparing a commemoration during a church fast, do not forget that the deceased least of all needs gatherings of relatives and friends. Relatives do this primarily for themselves: after all, it becomes much easier on the soul after you sit at the same table with those who knew the deceased well, talk with them, remember different situations. At the commemoration, they will support and reassure, and one gets the feeling that he “let go” of his own soul. But the most important thing that the dead need is fervent prayer for the repose of their souls.