Sorokoust for the peace - forty days of prayer support to the wandering soul

Recently, parochialized church members learn and learn a lot for themselves, while at the same time getting rid of prejudices and superstitions. Such concepts as liturgy, matins, Mass, requiem, and other Orthodox terms are gradually becoming clear, their use is filled with meaning. Different services are ordered for different reasons. About what is sorokoust, the story will go in this article.

Magic number 40

"Forty-Forty-Forty." In translation into an arithmetic language, this is one thousand six hundred, if in years, then many - sixteen centuries. Two magical figures were called the elder Zosima: forty and seven, which were the personification of the cyclical development of the human chronicle. The Son of God Jesus was with the apostles after his resurrection forty days, then ascended.

The seventh is also a significant number, it is often mentioned in the sacred texts ("vengeance seven", "seven hungry years", "seven weeks fast").

The custom of mourning the dead during this period was introduced by the apostles. On the fortieth day, the destiny of the newly ordained slave of God is decided, after which she goes to the paradise booths for eternal bliss or to hell for torment. Sorokoust for peace or health is one of the most frequent demands in Orthodox churches.

Forty days of ordeal

For forty days the name of a person is mentioned in a special prayer, after which a part of the prosphora is soaked with wine, symbolizing the blood of the Lord. Thus, his invisible presence is performed in the service, whether he is alive or dead. The priest asks God to clean the sins of those who are commemorated with honest blood. It is especially important to begin serving the sorokoust for the repose immediately after death, when the soul wanders between the palaces of hell and paradise, thrice ascending to worship to God, being in turmoil and in particular needing prayer support.

In the temple

In the church, every person should renounce prideful feelings, especially one should not be ashamed of his ignorance. Ask about how to order the sorokoust for the repose, you can in the church shop by the candle-holder, which, as a rule, decorates the parishioners. She will explain how to write a note (called a remembrance), and will transfer it to the altar. It is necessary to do this before the service before the beginning of the Liturgy, therefore it is necessary to come early, not having breakfast.

After that, the name of the deceased will be remembered for forty days during the liturgies. It is perfectly permissible to pray for him and yourself.

Putting a candle before the crucifixion, it is necessary to ask the Lord for the repose of the soul of the deceased slave, adding the name of the deceased. To light it follows from already burning, standing on a candlestick. If there are no empty seats, you just need to put it on the edge, it will be kindled by kind people later.

You can also pray to the saints and the Theotokos. Putting a candle to them, it is necessary to accompany this action, though briefly, but with a prayer, following the pattern: "Reverend (name of the saint), pray to God for the servant of God (the name of the deceased)."

On some prejudices

By regrettable ignorance, other people who do not know the church life and have not mastered the very holy meaning of Orthodoxy, believe that with the help of some special prayers or their specific uses, one can "spoil" or harm someone. An example is the opinion that if you order a forty-hour for resting on a still living person, then his death will come to an end. It should be remembered that for God all are equally alive: those who live on our sinful earth, and who have left this mortal world. Thus, if in a malicious intent (of course, a sinner) or by mistake a candle placed for health will be in a rectangular candlestick (such are meant for remembrance of the dying), then nothing terrible will happen.

About other misconceptions concerning the Forty-One

As for the prayers for the enemies, they have nothing in common with the purpose of harming them, but, on the contrary, ordering a sorokoust over them, a true believing Christian asks for their admonition, the affection of their souls and the world. This behavior is correct, Christian, it shows the desire for forgiveness and the establishment of harmony.

There is also a misconception that the sorokoust for the repose is reserved only for those who died very recently, that is, according to the newly-placed ones. There are no restrictions on this issue church canons do not provide, such services are appropriate at any time. However, it should be borne in mind that Lenturgy is only served on Saturdays and Sundays, therefore it is better to just write individual notes that will be read in the altar.

Why you need to order sorokousty

Having learned that such sorokoust for the repose, grieving it is easier to transfer a grief.

Those who have abandoned us for ever are far more in need of our prayerful intercession than in lavish ceremonies, plentiful memorial lunches and large-scale monuments that serve more to confirm earthly vanity than to true memory and eternal life.

In addition to the funeral sorokoust, there are other types of commemorations. These include perpetual, annual, semi-annual and ordinary memorial notes.