Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased

What to do when a relative, friend or closest person dies? Let's talk about how to properly pray for the deceased, what pious traditions exist in Orthodoxy. But first, we will understand: was the deceased a Christian, an Orthodox believer, baptized or he is a heterodox. It is very important. Prayer for repose is ecclesiastical and domestic. In the church you can serve notes, both for the liturgy and for the funeral service. But it is necessary to write only the baptized, and those who during life did not reject God in any way (including suicide).

If the deceased is not baptized

As we said above, in the temple you can file a note only for the baptized. What to do if a loved one has gone to another world without a cross? Nobody forbids praying at home. The elders and modern priests say this: "The prayer for the repose of the unbaptized is permitted, but you can not give notes in the church." So where is the guarantee that the deceased will be accepted by God?

There is one story about Saint Huar (an Orthodox Christian) who was brutally murdered. For some time, no one collected pieces of his body from the ground to bury. But one good woman saw the torn body of a saint, carefully collected the remains and buried in a crypt prepared for relatives, despite the fact that she and her family professed an entirely different religion. And the burial in the family crypt is a great honor. The benefactor saw in the dream of Saint Huar, he thanked her for having buried his body. The saint told her: he interceded before God for her dead relatives, now they are in paradise.

To whom - paradise, and to whom - hell

In different religions there are concepts of paradise and hell, but here they interpret, they imagine everything differently. Only the Orthodox Church can give an answer, who is destined to enter heaven, and who should be in hell fire. Open the Gospel: Jesus Christ answered questions of people during his lifetime, he taught the apostles. Despite the fact that many answers are given in parables by the Lord Himself, there one can read for what sins people can go to hell, and what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.

Why did we start talking about the gospel, hell and heaven? Because the soul of the deceased leaves forever for another world, it is eternal. And her fate can depend not only on himself, but also on the diligent prayers of his relatives. Therefore, if you are dear to the deceased, you need to remember about it. The prayer for the repose of the soul is read in both its own words and in the prayer book. There are in the morning rule among pious Christians among other prayers a petition for repose, where it is necessary to list the names of parents, relatives (relatives of all generations), benefactors (those who helped you during your life, prayed for you), all Orthodox Christians.

If a person just died

Who is the new one? From the first day of death and on the fortieth day, the soul of the deceased is considered a new one. But this means not only that he is "new" in the afterlife, but even in this period his future is being decided. Therefore, the prayer for the repose of the soul of the newly-reposed should be, so to speak, strengthened. What is meant? First, be sure to ask the priest to perform the burial service on the third day. Secondly, the Christian reads the Psalter for 40 days. In this book, King David sings the psalms to God, praises Him and asks for forgiveness for their terrible atrocities. For more than 2,000 years, the Psalter has been the textbook of true repentance.

Not everyone knows how to ask God for forgiveness for their sins. King and psalmist David left behind a unique "textbook". You can read the Psalms not only during illnesses, sorrows for yourself, others, but also for the deceased. Thirdly, note should be submitted for a memorial service and a liturgy.

A wake or a reason to drink?

Unfortunately, since the days of the Gentiles today, commemorative customs have come that are contrary to Orthodox traditions. In fact, when a feast should not drink vodka, especially put a pile next to the portrait of the deceased - it's all wrong. If you want to conduct the deceased in a human way, you should read to yourself or aloud Orthodox prayers for repose. The Lord accepts sincere prayers from the deceased's relatives, and a pile of vodka may be punished, because such an act is a big sin.

It is recommended to invite to the table not crowds of guests who want to eat, chat and drink, but pious people, beggars, destitute, who could pray for the new one. It is desirable to put on the table kutya (boiled rice with raisins) and at least some juice. Instead of a pile of vodka, the portrait should have a candle or a lamp and an icon of the Savior (if a man has died) or the Mother of God (if a woman).

What happens to the soul of the newly unrepresented?

Do you know why the prayer of repose is so important? Because the soul of the deceased is defenseless. When she leaves the body, it seems to her that she does not see a living person. Being in the body, a person does not see a different world, but can feel it. For example, he feels fear, anxiety, because demons invade him invisibly, he can pray to God with the words of the prayer "May God Rise ...", read Psalm 90, "Our Father" or in your own words. But when the soul is released, as if emerging from the protective armor, it is in danger. Only the prayer of repose (from living people) will help get rid of the already visible demons and call for help from angels, saints.

For three days the soul is on the ground, it can visit your favorite places, be close to close people or be near your body. On the third day, she goes to Heaven to worship God. This path is very difficult for sinners, but easy for the righteous and those who confessed and communicated before death. On the sixth day, the soul descends into hell to see what is happening there. Then on the 40th day there is a trial. This is a kind of examination, the court, where the sins of a person are denounced, are read by demons. If a person is very guilty, then demons can drag him to hell. Therefore, it is very important that the prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased be read. The Orthodox Church is for this to exist, to teach all people, to prepare for eternal life. If this were all a myth, there would not be a Church that exists, despite cruel persecutions.

How does prayer work?

It should first be noted that at all times the holy fathers and priests said that the strongest and closest relationship with relatives (alive and deceased) is through prayer. When you ask the Lord for a native person, it becomes easier and asking, and to whom you ask. The prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased is no less effective than for a living person. The Lord is waiting for us to sincerely ask for each other. He hears requests.

Good deeds

For example, if a person prays for a deceased loved one like this: "Lord, he did not have time to repent before his death, forgive him, please! But let the Lord be Your will, not mine "or" Lord, I'll give the beggar a loaf and an apple now, take my prayer for the rest of Your servant (name). "

The latter option says that it is necessary to distribute to the poor and destitute food, clothes, help in the affairs of the infirm. Let it be as a sign of intercession for the soul of the deceased. But remember that things must be done sincerely, with love, with a desire to help, and not just for the deceased. God needs sincerity, not "need".