Prayer for the repose of parents. Prayers for the forgiveness of the sins of the deceased

Children's prayer for deceased parents

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping.

I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent (my mother), (name) (or: with my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) - , and his soul (or: her, or: them), as having gone (or: gone) to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, accept into Your Kingdom of Heaven.

I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away (or: taken away, or: taken away) from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the unforgettable deceased (unforgettable deceased) for me Thy servant (Thy servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his sins ( her) voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him (her) and eternal save me from torment.

You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, to never cease to remember my deceased parent (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order him in a bright place, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints, from nowhere all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled.

Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught (taught) me first of all to lead You, my Lord, in reverently pray to You, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom.

For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Symbol of faith

Prayers for the departed

By praying for those who have gone to another world, the living take a holy part in the salvation of their souls. By praying for them, the living move the All-Good God to show mercy to the dead, for this mercy, due to the fact that the souls of the dead are no longer able to appease God with their actions, is given to them at the request of the living. Prayers for the dead bring salvation to the living, because they attune the soul to heavenly things and distract it from the temporary, vain, fill it with the memory of death and therefore deviate from evil; They give strength to abstain from arbitrary sins and impart generous and joyful patience in days of sorrow, which are weakened by hope for a future that is not earthly. Prayers for the dead dispose the souls of the living to fulfill the commandment of Christ - to prepare for the exodus at every hour. Our departed also pray for us. We receive special help through the prayers of the deceased, who have found bliss in eternity.

Health is commemorated for those who have Christian names, and repose is remembered only for those baptized in the Orthodox Church.

Notes can be submitted at the liturgy:

For proskomedia - the first part of the liturgy, when for each name indicated in the note, particles are taken out of special prosphoras, which are subsequently dipped into the Blood of Christ with a prayer for the forgiveness of sins

Of course, it is difficult to count on salvation for those who led a dissolute life and, being a baptized Christian, lived outside the Church and excommunicated themselves from it by their behavior. The prayer of the Church will not be able to save someone who during his lifetime did not make any effort at all for this. Therefore, during life, it is necessary to do for ourselves what we hope others will do about us after death. In the words of St. Gregory the Great, “it is better to exodus free than to seek freedom while being in chains.”

If a person during his life strived to be a good Christian and died in peace with God, although he was a sinner, and only the Lord is without sin, then the prayer of the Church and good deeds in memory of him incline the All-Merciful God to forgive the sins of this Christian soul. In a certain sense, we can say that the prayer of the Church and individual Christians for the deceased is a certain result of the life of this person. If relatives pray for lawless people in the first days after death, fulfilling the prescribed Orthodox customs, then after commemorating the fortieth day, these prayers, as a rule, fade away. The memory of a pious Christian, who during his lifetime did many good deeds both for the Church and for loved ones, inspires us to constantly pray for him, instilling hope for the salvation of the soul of the deceased.

There are enough examples in Orthodox literature about the benefits of prayers for the dead. Let us give at least two such cases.

The magazine “Wanderer” for May 1862 contains a revelation conveyed to Father Seraphim of the Svyatogorsk by one of the Athonite schema-monks. “The reason for my entry into monasticism was a vision in a dream of the afterlife fate of sinners. After a two-month illness, I became very exhausted. In this state I see two young men entering me; they took my hands and said, “Follow us”! I, not feeling sick, got up, looked back at my bed and saw that my body was lying calmly: then I realized that I had left earthly life and must appear in the afterlife. I recognized the Angels in the young men, with whom I went. I was shown fiery places of torment, I heard the cries of the sufferers there. The angels, showing me which sin was responsible for which fiery place, added: “If you do not give up your habits of a sinful life, then this is your place of punishment.” After that, one of the Angels pulled one man out of the flames, who was black as coal, completely burned and bound from head to toe in chains. Then both Angels approached the sufferer, removed his shackles, and his blackness disappeared along with the chains, the man became pure and bright, like an Angel; then the Angels clothed him in a shining robe like light.

What does this change in man mean? - I decided to ask the Angels.

This sinful soul, answered the Angels, excommunicated from God for its sins, had to burn forever in this flame; Meanwhile, the parents of this soul gave a lot of alms, made many commemorations at liturgies, held funeral services, and so, for the sake of the parental prayers and the prayers of the Church, God was appeased, and perfect forgiveness was granted to the sinful soul. She is delivered from eternal torment and will now appear before the face of her Lord and will rejoice with all the Saints.

When the vision ended, I came to my senses, and what did I see: they stood around me and cried, preparing my body for burial.”

The journal “Description of Signs and Healings in 1863 from the Athos Shrine in Russia” contains a letter addressed to Hieromonk Arseny with the following content: “We grieved a lot about the death of our brother, Prince M. N. Chegodaev, which followed in 1861 in Samara. And they were all the more sad that his death was sudden, without repentance and the parting words of the Holy Sacraments. But then I saw a dream that my late brother and I were walking together through a beautiful area. We approach a new, seemingly recently built village, at the entrance to which there is a new high wooden cross, and at the exit from the village stands a wonderfully beautiful house, also new. Approaching him, my brother said to me with a joyful look:

This is a rich village that I recently bought, and I am very, very indebted to my wife Tashenka for this purchase; I need to write to her and thank her for the kindness she has done for me.

The meaning of this dream was soon explained. I received a letter from Tatyana Nikiforovna, in which she informed me that the Lord had helped her to arrange eternal remembrance for her husband, my brother, in Holy Athos.”

Prayers for them are so important for the souls of the departed, especially during the Divine Liturgy, that by God’s will, sometimes the souls of the departed appear to the living with a request to pray for them. Here is one such modern case. The deceased husband began to appear to one woman in a dream asking her to give her two rubles. These appearances with the same request were repeated several nights in a row, which caused anxiety and anxiety in the widow. On the advice of friends, she went to church to submit a registered note for the liturgy with the name of the deceased. When asked how much it would cost to submit this note, she was told: “two rubles.” It is quite natural that the appearances of the late husband have since ceased, since his request was fulfilled. Let this incident always remind us that it is necessary to take care of our departed loved ones, pray for them and hope that when our time comes to depart to another world, they will pray for us too.

The everlasting psalter

The indefatigable Psalter is read not only about health, but also about peace. Since ancient times, ordering a commemoration on the Everlasting Psalter has been considered a great alms for a departed soul.

It is also good to order the Indestructible Psalter for yourself; you will feel the support. And one more important point, but far from the least important,

There is eternal remembrance on the Indestructible Psalter. It seems expensive, but the result is more than millions of times more than the money spent. If this is still not possible, then you can order for a shorter period. It's also good to read for yourself.

If you find out that your deceased relative was not buried according to the Orthodox rite, then, regardless of when he died, you must definitely order a funeral service, unless, of course, there are church obstacles to this, for example, he was non-Orthodox or committed suicide. You can also order a church commemoration for six months or a year. Monasteries can accept requests for commemoration for longer periods. Numerous testimonies confirm how important the ritual of church funerals is for the souls of the departed. Here is one such testimony, told by priest Valentin Biryukov, who lives in the city of Berdsk, Novosibirsk region:

“This incident occurred in 1980, when I was the rector of a temple in one of the cities of Central Asia. One elderly parishioner once came up to me and said:

Father, help. My son is completely exhausted and has no more strength.

Knowing that she lives alone, I was surprised and asked:

Yes, who died in 1943 at the front. I dream about it almost every night, but the dreams are the same: as if he was sitting in the middle of the mud, and his dear one was being beaten with sticks from all sides, and they were throwing this mud at him. And my son looks at me pitifully, as if asking for something.

Is your son inveterate? - I ask.

Yes, God knows. Maybe they had a funeral service for them at the front, maybe not.

I wrote down the name of the killed warrior and performed the required funeral service. Literally the next day a joyful parishioner came running to me and said:

My son dreamed again, but in a different way - as if he was walking along a hard road, all joyful and holding a paper in his hands, and he said to me: “Thank you, mom, for getting me a pass. With this pass, the road is open to me everywhere.”

I showed her the letter of permission that is read at the funeral service:

Was this paper with your son?

This amazing incident should motivate us to take care of the funeral service for our deceased loved ones. If you do not know whether your relative is inveterate or not, and there are doubts, then you need to turn to the priest for a blessing.

Widower's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart, I pray to You: rest, O Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), in Your heavenly Kingdom. Lord Almighty! You favored the marital union of husband and wife, when you said: it is not good for man to be alone; let us create for him a helper for him. You have sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, Lord, and confess that You have blessed me to unite me in this holy union with one of Your handmaids. By your good and wise will you deigned to take away from me this servant of yours, whom you have given to me as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before Your will, and I pray to You with all my heart, accept my prayer for Your servant (name), and forgive her if you sin in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; Love earthly things more than heavenly things; Even if you care more about the clothing and decoration of your body than about the enlightenment of the clothing of your soul; or even careless about your children; if you upset anyone by word or deed; If there is a grudge in your heart against your neighbor or condemn someone or anything else you have done from such evil people. Forgive her all this, for she is good and philanthropic; for there is no man who will live and not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, as Thy creation, do not condemn her to eternal torment for her sin, but have mercy and mercy according to Thy great mercy. I pray and ask You, Lord, to grant me the strength throughout the days of my life to not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even until the end of my life to ask her from You, the Judge of the whole world, for forgiveness of her sins. Yes, because You, God, have placed on her head a crown from an honest stone, eternal here on earth; Thus crown me with Thy eternal glory in Thy heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints who rejoice there, and together with them may eternally sing Thy all-holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Widow's Prayer

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are the consolation of the weeping, the intercession of the orphans and widows. You said: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow, I run to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Master of all, have blessed me to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was Your good and wise will that you would take this servant of Yours away from me and leave me alone. I bow before Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend. Even if you took him away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites for a widow, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not deliver him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, weaken and forgive all his sins and commit them with Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and to place him in the heavenly abodes that You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Orthodox even until your last breath of confession; His faith, even in Thee, is imputed to him instead of works: for there is no man who will live and not sin. You are One besides sin, and Your truth is truth forever. I believe, Lord, and I confess that You have heard my prayer and have not turned Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; thus, having compassion, calmed down my sorrow. For Thou didst open to Thy servant Theophilus, who went to Thee, the doors of Thy mercy and forgave him his sins through the prayers of Thy holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to Thee, accept my prayer for Thy servant, and bring him in to eternal life. For You are our hope, You are God, to have mercy and to save, and to You we send glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!

Children's prayer for deceased parents

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping. I come running to You, orphaned, groaning, and... crying, and I pray to You: hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from the one who gave birth and raised me, my parent (name); accept his soul, as if it had gone to You with true faith in You and firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, into Your Heavenly Kingdom. I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away Your mercy and mercy from him. We know, Lord, that You, the Judge of this world, punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment your deceased servant, unforgettable for me, my parent (name), but forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him in his life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him and deliver him from eternal torment. You, merciful Father of fathers and children! grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , from here all illness, sorrow and sighing have escaped. Merciful Lord! accept this day for Thy servant (name), my warm prayer and give him Thy reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He who taught me first of all to lead You, My Lord, in reverence to pray to You, in You alone to trust in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of the prayer he brought for me before You and for all the gifts he asked me from You, reward him with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal kingdom. For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer of parents for deceased 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 departed servant, my child (name), and create for him an eternal memory. You, Lord of life and death, gave me this child, but by your good and wise will you deigned 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 too, so that they may not remain on our children: we know that we have committed many things before You, many have not kept them, we have not done as Thou hast 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, giving up vigil, fasting and prayer 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 things in life family Christ Jesus! You raised the daughter of Jairus through the faith and prayer of her father, You healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman 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, whoever lives and does 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 to You we send glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for the suddenly deceased

Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of life and death, Thou hast declared in Thy holy Gospel: watch, for thou knowest not when the Son of Man shall come, at that hour do not think, the Son of Man shall come. But we, earthlings and sinners, having given ourselves over to the sorrows and pleasures of this life, consign the hour of our death to oblivion, and thus we call to You, Judge of heaven and earth, suddenly, at the hour, not in anticipation and not in anticipation. Thus, Your deceased servant, our brother (name), was suddenly called to You. Unsearchable and incomprehensible are the ways of Your wondrous glance at us, O Lord the Savior! I humbly bow my head before these Thy paths, Lord Master, and I pray to Thee with my zealous faith, look down from the height of Thy holy dwelling and cover me with Thy Grace, that my prayer may be corrected before Thee, like a fragrant censer. Most merciful Lord, hear my prayer for Thy servant, who, according to Thy inscrutable destinies, was suddenly stolen from us by death; have mercy and have mercy on his trembling soul, called to Thy impartial judgment at an hour of no other time. Let me not reprove you with Your wrath, let me punish you with Your wrath; but have mercy and have mercy on her, for the sake of Your merits on the cross and prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all Your saints, forgive her all sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word, in deed, in knowledge and ignorance. Even if Thy servant (name) was caught up, but rather in this life, faith in Thee and confession of Thee, the God and Savior of the world, Christ, and having trust in Thee: this faith and this hope instead of works of imputation. Merciful Lord! You do not want the death of a sinner, but you graciously accept from him and for him everything that is done towards conversion and salvation, and you yourself arrange his path so that he may live. I pray to You, deign to remember all the works of mercy and all the prayers done here on earth for Your departed servant, deign to accept my prayer for him together with the prayers of the clergy of Your Holy Church, and forgive his soul all the sins, pacify his troubled heart, spare him from eternal torment and rest him in a brighter place. For it is Yours to have mercy and save us, Christ our Savior, and to You alone befits ineffable goodness and eternal glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for the deceased

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the life of Thy eternally departed servant, our brother (name), as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, You are glorified God in the Trinity, faith, and the Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and have faith in You instead of deeds, and rest with Your saints as You are Generous: for there is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer for all departed Christians

God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly ecclesiastical and monastic ranks; the creators of this holy temple, the Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for the faith and fatherland, the faithful who were killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen to death, torn to pieces by beasts, suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in the frenzy of the mind of those who committed suicide, those for whom we were commanded and asked to pray, for whom there is no one to pray and the faithful, Christian burial deprived of (name) in a bright place, in a green place, in a place of peace, from where illness, sadness and sighing escaped. Every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Lover of mankind, God forgives, as if there is no man who will live and not sin. For You are the only one besides sin, Your righteousness is truth forever, and Your word is truth.

For Thou art the Resurrection, and the Life and Repose of the departed Thy servant (name), Christ our God, and to Thee we send glory with Thy beginningless Father, and Thy Most Holy, and Good, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Church services in Orthodox churches in Jerusalem

Sorokoust about repose

The everlasting psalter

Church note

Prayer for health

Sorokoust about health

Temples and monasteries where services are held

Miraculous words: prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased for up to 40 days, read at home in full description from all the sources we found.

Customs associated with funerals

If a misfortune happens in your life and someone close to you dies, then you should bury him according to all customs so that the soul of your relative finds peace in the next world. As soon as the body has given up its last spirit, it is necessary to cover all the mirrors in the house with large towels or blankets.

Setting the table for the funeral

After this, everyone sits down at the table and remembers the deceased. No one is invited to the funeral; everyone comes on their own. It’s also impossible to drive people away from the table; you can only give a cultural hint to the guests that it’s time to be honored if they stay up late.

Prayer read up to 40 days

It is believed that for up to 40 days the soul of the deceased will be between heaven and earth and sometimes it will come to the house where the deceased lived. And in order for his soul to calm down and find its place, relatives should read this prayer daily:

Already read: 21970

Paid consultation with a professional astrologer

Prayer for the repose of the soul for 40 days

If it so happens that a loved one has passed away, do not rush to throw yourself into bitter lamentations and endless grief. Remember that he doesn’t need your tears; you won’t help with tears. Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased up to 40 days - today we are discussing precisely this issue. Think about what useful things you can do for him? Prayer is the best help for him.

No matter how hard it may be for you after the loss of a loved one, do not forget to pray for the repose of his soul.

Why do you need to read prayers for the repose?

After death, the soul remains in a state of shock for 2-3 days and does not leave the body, then it awaits ordeal and judgment.

The ordeal of the soul is the torment of it by evil spirits who remember all sins and demand to answer for them.

Sometimes sins not committed in earthly life are attributed to evil spirits. In total, the soul goes through 20 ordeals, these are:

Celebration. Useless conversations, indecent songs, loud laughter, stupid laughter.
Lies. Insincere confession of sins, empty mention of the name of God.
Judging others, slander. Those who condemn others are equated with the opponents of Christ, who imagine themselves to have the right to judge.
Uncontrolled gluttony.
Laziness. Those who do not work, or take payment but do not do the assigned work.
Theft.
Stinginess.
Unfair acquisition. Usury, bribery.
Not true. Judges who, for a fee, acquit the guilty and condemn the innocent; people who do not pay wages to mercenaries.
Envy.
Pride.
Uncontrollable anger.
Grudge. Feeding malice towards people.
Murder.
Appeal to magic, appeal to the demon.
Fornication. Prodigal dreams, thoughts, mental pleasure in that, vicious touch, passionate touches.
Adultery. Adultery, violence.
Sins of Sodom. Incest, fornication, unnatural sins
Unrighteous discussions about faith, changing the Christian religion to another.
Not mercy and cruelty. Refusal of alms, lack of compassion for those in need.

How to survive the death of a loved one - through prayer. Pray for the soul of the deceased

Prayer “For the repose of the soul” No. 1

Remember, Lord God, Your newly departed servant (name).

You are generous, you bestow blessings on us.

You are a lover of humanity, we rely on you alone.

We pray to you for forgiveness of sins, weaken your anger, leave and forgive him his sinful acts, have mercy on him, save him from eternal torment and the fire of hell.

We pray that you grant him communion, grant him eternal enjoyment of your blessings.

We bend our knees in prayer, we glorify Your greatness, we confess the Christian faith until our last breath.

The soul of Your deceased servant (name) comes to Your judgment.

Have mercy and don’t be strict with him.

We glorify Your righteousness, Your mercy, Your mercies.

We praise Your love for mankind.

We ask you for our deceased, to forgive him all his sins.

We trust in Your mercy. Amen.

How to behave after the death of a loved one

At this moment, prayers read by relatives help the soul to be cleansed of sins and to endure ordeals more easily.

The fortieth day after death is an important date for the soul. On this day, she is sentenced and a decision is made about where she will go - to hell or heaven. And since the soul will no longer be able to change anything on its own, to repent, relatives can do this for it with their prayers to God. The fortieth day is the last day of the soul on earth, the day when it says goodbye to all the places that were dear to it. Until 40 days, you should not allow yourself to lament or cry, because... the soul will hear all this and experience severe torment. It is better to pick up the Holy Scriptures and read aloud what will happen to the soul next, so that it hears what awaits it next and stops being afraid of the unknown.

Prayer “For the deceased For the repose of the soul” No. 2

Lord Jesus, accept the soul of your servant (name of the deceased),

Forgive him all his sins, small and large, and accept him into heaven.

How he suffered in his life, how tired he was of suffering and sorrow on this earth,

So now let him rest in peace and sleep eternal sleep.

Protect him from the fire of hell, do not allow him to fall to the demons and to the devil to be torn to pieces.

In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God.

Satisfy my heartfelt grief for the deceased slave (state the name of the deceased).

Help me cope with a difficult loss and give me strength to withstand grief.

And on the fortieth day of grief, accept the soul of the deceased (again call the name of the deceased) into the Heavenly Kingdom.

Let it be so now, and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

As was written earlier, prayers on the fortieth day after death are of great importance. They support the soul of the deceased, give him relief and the opportunity to receive a better fate than what could have been. Don't neglect your prayers. Instead of paying enormous attention to the commemoration and the monument, it is better to spend more time for prayers, go to the temple, order a magpie, light a candle for the repose, make a donation to the temple, give alms. When giving alms, there is no need to name the name of the person for whom it is being given; the Lord will understand everything from your thoughts.

And remember the main thing, no matter how difficult it is, do not plunge headlong into suffering; if a loved one died, it means it was better for him. Physical death does not mean spiritual death. Perhaps the soul of your loved one will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, where it will find happiness and peace. Sooner or later, everyone will die, which means that you will definitely meet again.

Peter and Fevronia

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Prayer for a deceased relative, read at home for up to 40 days

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A loved one or loved one who has passed away plunges everyone into grief, melancholy and despondency. People's tears can only ease their pain, without affecting the soul of the deceased in any way. The soul of the deceased is unlikely to be affected by a solid monument, a magnificent and beautiful funeral service, or a prestigious place in the cemetery. Because everything is material. It does not affect God’s spiritual world in any way. The deceased is helped by a memorial prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

In such prayer, the living take a holy part in the salvation of the soul of the deceased. People pray “Rest, O Lord, the soul of your departed servant” and promote God to the mercy of the soul of the deceased. Such mercy is given only at the request of the living. Prayer for deceased relatives also brings salvation to the living.

The whole point is that when praying for the dead, people also attune their souls to a heavenly mood. All this distracts from the fussy and temporary living world and fills people’s memory of death and turns their souls away from evil. Also, such prayer helps the living to hope for an unearthly future, and to refrain from arbitrary sins.

Prayers for deceased relatives also help to dispose the soul of a believing peasant to fulfill the main commandment of Christ - to prepare for exodus at any hour. Remember that the departed also pray for us. And we can receive special help from prayers that have shown their Divine power and found bliss in eternity.

Basic rules for prayer requests for the dead

Funeral prayers for a deceased relative are considered the duty of any Orthodox believer. According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, it is necessary to pray especially diligently during the first forty days after death. The Christian Church commands a widow to offer a prayer for her deceased husband, children, parents, or just a loved one every day.

The Orthodox Church also commands that names be read according to a special memorial. This is a small book in which the names of deceased and living relatives are preserved. There is even a pious custom according to which family memorials are offered. By reading the names of all recorded relatives, Orthodox believers can remember many generations of relatives who died a long time ago.

Remember that prayers read at home before 40 days for the deceased have a much better effect than after 40 days. In addition, it is worth considering that you can read all the prayers at home. Even those that cannot be mentioned at church services. For example, in church it is forbidden to read a prayer for the unbaptized deceased or for suicides. The main thing is to accurately reproduce the entire text of the prayer book, maintain all intentions and concentration. And under no circumstances should you be distracted by anything.

Worship in the temple

It is necessary to remember a deceased person in the Church as often as possible. This should be done not only on memorial days, but also on any other day.

The main prayer is a short prayer for the departed Orthodox Christians at the Divine Liturgy. During this process, a bloodless sacrifice is made to God.
The liturgy is followed by a memorial service. This ritual is served before the eve - a special table with several candlesticks and an image of the crucifixion. During this process, an offering should be left in memory of the deceased for the needs of the church.
It is very important for the soul of a deceased person to order a magpie in the church. This is a liturgical rite that lasts from the day of a person’s death to 40 days. At the end of the fortieth day, it can be ordered again. Long term commemorations can be ordered for six months or a year. And the simplest sacrifice for the deceased is considered to be a candle, which is lit for the repose of a person.

What prayers to read for the deceased at home

Remember that the greatest thing you can do in memory of the deceased is to order a liturgy. But still, we should not forget that you can also perform acts of mercy and pray for them at home.

Praying for the salvation of the soul of the deceased is a sacred duty that is assigned to living relatives. Remember that only by praying for deceased loved ones can you give them the only good they expect. This good will be the remembrance of the Lord.

The Church commands children to say words of prayer for their deceased parents until 40 days after their death. This must be done every day during this period. To do this, just read the following short prayer every morning:

“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.”

At the cemetery

A cemetery is a holy place where the bodies of the deceased rest until their future general resurrection. Even during pagan times, tombs were considered inviolable and sacred.

Remember that the grave of a deceased person should always be kept perfectly clean. The cross on the grave is considered a silent preacher of resurrection and immortality. It must be placed at the feet of the deceased so that his face is turned towards the Crucifixion.

Arriving at the cemetery, you need to light a candle and pray. There is no need to eat or drink in the cemetery. It is especially unacceptable to pour vodka on a grave mound. After all, this desecrates the memory of the deceased. Also, the custom of leaving a piece of bread and a glass of vodka on the grave should not be observed. This is a relic of paganism.

The most effective funeral prayers

Next we’ll talk about what prayers to read for the deceased so that the Lord will hear them. After all, prayers for the dead with a load of sins can greatly improve the afterlife of our relatives. And the Lord has always heard very well those who pray not only for themselves, but also for other people.

The widows turn to the Lord with the following memorial prayer:

You, Lord, Master of all, have blessed me to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was Your good and wise will that you would take this servant of Yours away from me and leave me alone. I bow before Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend.

Even if you took him away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites for a widow, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not deliver him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, weaken and forgive all his sins and commit them with Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.

I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and to place him in the heavenly abodes that You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Orthodox even until your last breath of confession; His faith, even in Thee, is imputed to him instead of works: for there is no man who will live and not sin.

You are One besides sin, and Your truth is truth forever. I believe, Lord, and I confess that You have heard my prayer and have not turned Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; thus, having compassion, calmed down my sorrow.

For Thou didst open to Thy servant Theophilus, who went to Thee, the doors of Thy mercy and forgave him his sins through the prayers of Thy holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to Thee, accept my prayer for Thy servant, and bring him in to eternal life. For You are our hope, You are God, to have mercy and to save, and to You we send glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"

Children's prayers for their deceased parents:

« Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping. I come running to You, orphaned, groaning, and... crying, and I pray to You: hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes.

I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from the one who gave birth and raised me, my parent (name); accept his soul, as if it had gone to You with true faith in You and firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, into Your Heavenly Kingdom.

I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away Your mercy and mercy from him. We know, Lord, that You, the Judge of this world, punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment your deceased servant, unforgettable for me, my parent (name), but forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him in his life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him and deliver him from eternal torment.

You, merciful Father of fathers and children! grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , from here all illness, sorrow and sighing have escaped. Merciful Lord!

accept this day for Thy servant (name), my warm prayer and give him Thy reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He who taught me first of all to lead You, My Lord, in reverence to pray to You, in You alone to trust in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments;

for his concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of the prayer he brought for me before You and for all the gifts he asked me from You, reward him with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal kingdom.

Orthodox prayers ☦

Prayers for the departed

Prayer for one who died up to 40 days

(Read from the day of death 40 days and before the anniversary 40 days before the day of death daily)

“Remember, O Lord our God, in faith and hope the eternal life of the one who passed away * Your servant, our brother ( Name), and as the Good One and the Lover of Mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forgive and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him from eternal torment and the fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Thy eternal good things, prepared for those who love Thee: otherwise and sin, but do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, God glorify You in the Trinity, faith, and the Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until your last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and the faith that is in You, instead of deeds, and rest with Your saints, as you are Generous: for there is no man who will live and not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin, and Your truth is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercy and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

* Until the 40th day after death, it is necessary to read “newly deceased”, and subsequently - “deceased”.

Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased for 9 days

“God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, your eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly, ecclesiastical and monastic ranks; the creators of this holy temple, the Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for the faith and fatherland, the faithful, who were killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen to death, torn to pieces by beasts, suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in a frenzy of mind, those who committed suicide, those for whom we were commanded and asked to pray, for whom there is no one to pray and the faithful, deprived of a Christian burial ( Name) in a brighter place, in a greener place, in a calm place, from where illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Lover of mankind, God forgives, as if there is no man who will live and not sin. For You are the only one besides sin, Your righteousness is truth forever, and Your word is truth.

For Thou art the Resurrection, and the Life and Peace of Thy servants who have fallen asleep ( Name), Christ our God, and to You we send glory with Your beginningless Father, and Your Most Holy, and Good, and Your Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."

Prayer for the newly deceased

“Remember, O Lord our God, in faith and hope, the eternal life of Your newly departed servant (or Your servant), ( Name) , and as he is good and a lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming iniquities, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, raising him up at Thy holy second coming to partake of Thy eternal blessings, for the sake of which there is only faith in Thee, the true God and Lover of Mankind. For You are the resurrection and life and rest for Your servant, ( Name), Christ our God. And we send glory to You, with Your beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, amen.”

Prayers for a deceased spouse

Widow's prayer for her deceased husband

“Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are the consolation of the weeping, the intercession of the orphans and widows. You said: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow, I run to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Master of all, have deigned to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was Your good and wise will that you would take this servant of Yours away from me and leave me alone. I bow before Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend. Even if you took him away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites from widows, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (Name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not subject him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your bounties, weaken and forgive all his sins and Do it with Your saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and place him in the Heavenly abodes, which You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even to your last breath of confession; impute to him the same faith, even in You, instead of works: for there is no man who will live and not sin, You are the only one besides sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever. I believe, Lord, and confess that You will hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; How did You open to Your servant Theophilus, who went to You, the doors of Your mercy and forgave him for his sins through the prayers of Your Holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to You, accept my prayer for Your servant and bring him into eternal life. For You are our hope. You are God, the hedgehog to have mercy and save, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Prayer for a deceased wife

(A widower’s prayer for his deceased wife)

“Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart I pray to You: rest, O Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (Name), in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Lord Almighty! You blessed the marital union of husband and wife, when you said: it is not good for man to be alone, let us create for him a helper for him. You have sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, Lord, and confess that You have blessed me to unite me in this holy union with one of Your handmaids. By your good and wise will you deigned to take away from me this servant of yours, whom you have given to me as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before Your will, and I pray to You with all my heart, accept this prayer for Your servant ( Name), and forgive her if you sin in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; Love earthly things more than heavenly things; Even if you care more about the clothing and decoration of your body than about the enlightenment of the clothing of your soul; or even careless about your children; if you upset anyone by word or deed; If there is a grudge in your heart against your neighbor or condemn someone or anything else you have done from such evil people. Forgive her all this, for she is good and philanthropic; for there is no man who will live and not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, as Thy creation, do not condemn her to eternal torment for her sin, but have mercy and mercy according to Thy great mercy. I pray and ask You, Lord, to grant me strength throughout the days of my life, without ceasing to pray for Your departed servant, and even until the end of my life to ask her from You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive her sins. Yes, as if You, God, placed a crown of stone on her head, crowning her here on earth; Thus crown me with Thy eternal glory in Thy Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints who rejoice there, so that together with them He may forever sing Thy all-holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Children's prayers for deceased parents

Prayer for the deceased mother

I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my mother who gave birth to and raised me, (Name) - But accept her soul, as if it has gone to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, into Your Heavenly Kingdom.

I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away Your mercy and mercy from her. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment Your deceased servant, unforgettable for me, my mother. (Name), but forgive her all her sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by her in her life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on her and save her from eternal torment.

You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my departed mother in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order me in a bright place, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , from here all illness, sorrow and sighing have escaped.

Merciful Lord! Receive today for Your servant (Name) this warm prayer of mine and reward it with Your reward for the labors and care of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as you taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, to pray to You in reverence, to trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and to keep the commandments Yours; for her concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of her prayer for me before You and for all the gifts she asked me from You, reward her with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom.

Prayer for a deceased father

“Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping.

I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent who gave birth to and raised me, (Name) , accept his soul, as if it had gone to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, into Your Heavenly Kingdom.

I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away Your mercy and mercy from him. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to You, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment Your deceased servant, my parent, who is unforgettable for me. (Name), but forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him in his life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him and deliver him from eternal torment.

You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent in my prayers, and to beg You, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a cool place and in a place of peace, with all the saints , from here all illness, sorrow and sighing have escaped.

Merciful Lord! Receive today for Your servant (Name) this warm prayer of mine and give him Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, to pray to You in reverence, to trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and to keep the commandments Yours; for his concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of the prayer he brings for me before You and for all the gifts he asked me from You, reward him with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom.

Prayers of parents for deceased children

Prayer for a deceased daughter

“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 fallen servant, my child, (Name),

Prayer for a deceased son

“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 departed servant, my child (Name), and create eternal memory for her. 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."

Prayer for unbaptized and stillborn babies

Prayer for unbaptized infants from the Synodikon of His Eminence Gregory, Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg.

“Remember, O Lord who loves mankind, the souls of Your departed servants, the babies who in the womb of their Orthodox mothers died accidentally from unknown actions, or from a difficult birth, or from some carelessness; baptize them, O Lord, in the sea of Your bounties, and save them with Your ineffable goodness.”

Mother's prayer for stillborn and unbaptized children given by Hieromonk Arseny of Athos:

“Lord, have mercy on my children who died in my womb! For my faith and tears, for the sake of Thy mercy, Lord, do not deprive them of Thy Divine light!”

Complete collection and description: a short prayer for the repose of the soul for the spiritual life of a believer.

After the death of our relatives, loved ones and friends, relationships with them do not end. Only visible communication is interrupted, because in the Kingdom of Christ there is no death. It is only an invisible transition from temporary, earthly life to eternal life.

Why do you need to pray for the dead?

Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased is a continuation of our invisible connection. Orthodox Christians believe that the Merciful Lord grants forgiveness to their souls through prayer.

While a person is alive, he can repent of his sins at any time and receive forgiveness from God. But after death, the soul no longer has the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and intercede for itself. And we, living people, come to the Creator to help with prayers for them.

Advice! It is necessary to pray as often as possible.

After the death of a person, the location of his newly departed soul depends on how the deceased spent his earthly life, whether he believed in Christ, and whether he kept His commandments. Therefore, by fervently praying for dead people, we, the living, can accomplish for them the only and long-awaited good - eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Texts of prayers

Receive this day for Thy servant (name), my warm prayer and give him Thy reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He who taught me first of all to lead You, My Lord, to pray in reverence to You, in You alone to trust in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments;

For his concern for my spiritual success, for the warmth of his prayers for me before You and for all the gifts he asked me from You, reward him with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal kingdom.

Read from the day of death 40 days and before the anniversary 40 days before the day of death daily.

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your departed * servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming iniquities, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your glorified God in the Trinity, Faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is Orthodox even until its last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and the faith that is in You, instead of deeds, and rest with Your saints, as you are Generous: for there is no man who will live and not sin, but You are the only One besides all sin, and Your truth is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercy and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, your eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly, ecclesiastical and monastic ranks; the creators of this holy temple, the Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for the faith and fatherland, the faithful, who were killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen to death, torn to pieces by beasts, suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in the frenzy of the mind of those who committed suicide, those for whom we were commanded and asked to pray, for whom there is no one to pray and the faithful, Christian burial deprived of (name) in a bright place, in a green place, in a place of peace, from where illness, sadness and sighing escaped. Every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Lover of mankind, God forgives, as if there is no man who will live and not sin. For You are the only one besides sin, Your righteousness is truth forever, and Your word is truth.

Remember, O Lord our God, in faith and hope the life of Thy eternal newly departed servant (or Thy servant), (name), and as a good and loving man, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, exonerating him at Thy holy second coming into the communion of Thy eternal blessings, for the sake of which in Thee is the only faith, the true God and Lover of mankind. For Thou art the resurrection and life and rest of Thy servant, (name), Christ our God. And we send glory to You, with Your beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages, Amen.

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.

What do 3, 9, 40 days and anniversary mean?

Few of the deceased were honored before death with confession and Holy Communion, many die unexpectedly, and some suffer a violent death.

The deceased especially needs prayer support within 40 days of death. It is at this time that his fate in the other world is decided, “placement” in hell or in heavenly villages.

For the sake of the good memory of the deceased, relatives and close people are obliged to perform the feat of prayer:

do merciful deeds and deeds;
forgive ill-wishers;
tame personal hypocrisy;
regularly repent of sins and take Communion;
comfort the mourners;
give alms to the needy.

Day three

Commemoration on the 3rd day after death is performed in memory of the Resurrection of Christ. The soul is present on earth for 2 days. She is constantly accompanied by an angel. She visits places dear to her during her life, “visits” her favorite people.

Important! On the 3rd day the soul ascends to worship the Creator. It is on this day that prayers for her repose and forgiveness of sins are a particularly timely event.

From days 3 to 6, the soul, accompanied by an angel, beholds the beauty of heavenly villages. Gradually the grief that was felt when parting with the body is forgotten. The sinful soul grieves and reproaches itself for the carelessness of earthly life.

Day nine

On day 9, the Almighty again commands the soul to appear to Him. A memorial service on this day is held in memory of the nine angelic ranks. It is they who intercede for salvation and mercy for the newly deceased.

Day of the fortieth

On the 40th day, the soul again ascends to Christ to resolve its fate - the Almighty determines its location until His Second Coming to earth and the Last Judgment. It is at this moment that prayer and remembrance are considered especially opportune for the sake of placing the deceased soul in paradise with the saints.

It is the 40th day that is significant in the history of the Church:

the prophet Moses talked with the Creator on Mount Sinai and received the tablets of the Law after a 40-day fast;
the Israelites, after a 40-year journey, reached Judea;
The Savior ascended on the 40th day after the Resurrection.

Anniversary of remembrance

The commemoration of the deceased on the anniversary of death is determined by the liturgical cycle - the annual circle. At its end, all church events are repeated again. And the anniversary of a person’s repose is his birthday for eternity.

The Orthodox Church keeps many examples of how the deceased expect prayers for them from living people: they come to us in dream visions, perform certain signs indicating the need for prayerful remembrance.

Christian love is eternal, and the dead are not dead, but are alive and love us, because the human soul is immortal. Few of the righteous go to heavenly abodes and enjoy the joy of communication with the Heavenly Father. This is why prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased is so important.

Important! An equally effective way to commemorate the dead is to offer the Bloodless Sacrifice for them during the Divine Liturgy.

Orthodox prayers for the remembrance of the dead

Prayers for the deceased are considered an important church ritual that helps the soul of the deceased find peace. What prayer to read for the deceased up to 40 days every day, what prayer for the repose of the soul up to 1 year for parents, relatives, husbands, wives should be read in order to correctly remember a newly deceased (recently departed to another world) loved one, a long-dead father, mother?

For up to 40 days, the souls of the departed need prayer. Prayers for the deceased, as a rule, are read by relatives at home or in church; the texts of the prayers can be short or long; on memorial days, prayers spoken in one’s own words are suitable.

For the first 3 days after death, according to the narration of the Holy Fathers, the soul is near the body. After 3 days, the soul of the newly departed deceased passes from earthly life to the spiritual world, where each soul has the opportunity to bear responsibility for the earthly deeds committed, to answer for the sins committed. On the 40th day, God's Judgment ends, and the soul moves to heaven or hell. The first 40 days are very important for the souls of the departed; prayers are especially necessary during these days.

Razgadamus considers it educational. The most important prayers for Orthodox Christians are prayers for the departed; an Orthodox prayer is read at the Liturgy in the church during the service, during the memorial service by the priests. At home, in addition to prayer, you can read the Psalter - this is the sacred book of psalms, which is read collectively, individually in church or at home in front of icons. Psalms for the departed can be read on the anniversary of the death of parents, husband, wife, or on any other day; they should be read correctly at home with a burning candle or lamp.

How to pray on the days of remembrance, what prayers for the departed should Orthodox Christians have? We offer the most powerful Orthodox prayers of remembrance, which can be read on Parental Memorial Saturdays, after the death of parents (father, mother) for up to 40 days, or of a deceased wife, husband, relative every day. After Easter, according to the Orthodox church calendar, every year Orthodox Christians celebrate the holiday of Radonitsa or Parents' Day (in 2017 the date is April 25); We hope that the accessible texts published in this article will be used by many believers on the approaching day of remembrance.

Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased

Prayer for deceased parents

Prayer for the deceased up to 40 days

A short prayer for the dead

Most of all, I believe in the power of clear text. I read a short prayer today, I liked it, I think the souls of mom and dad heard me.

It is imperative to touch on mourning topics so as not to forget about those who died, even if they died a long time ago, but need our help - prayer for the repose!

As far as I know, the canons of Orthodoxy for the newly deceased in the church, first of all, they order a memorial service so that the Lord will have mercy on his soul; prayer, if it is strong, helps both the deceased and the relatives mourning a loved one

I’m ashamed to say, I didn’t even know that there are special texts for the repose that can be read in a cemetery, etc. and have you never noticed that anyone prayed at the graves?

It is important not where to pray for the dead (at home, in a cemetery, in church), how to do it - consciously or as some people read the text automatically, memorizing it without delving into the meaning.

after my parents died I prayed until 40 days and after 40 days from the date of death. First, my father died, and then my mother died 3 months later. I understood from the priest’s story that it is better to read for the newly deceased in church during a memorial service, and at home of course.

The souls of the dead require prayer for up to 40 days, both as newly appointed ones and after passing through purgatory. We need to remember and not forget about those who have already passed into another world constantly, they feel our care - we mean souls.

If I correctly understood the meaning of the text of the prayer, can it be read about the repose and pardon of the soul of a deceased person?

This is why funeral prayers are read, so that the Lord will have mercy on the soul of the newly deceased and give him the Kingdom of Heaven.

I chose for myself a short prayer for the departed, REST IN THE LORD. I read it on Radonitsa, Parents' Saturdays on memorial days of remembrance from the day of death or on the birthday of parents. The text of the prayer is focused and intelligible, and tears well up when you read it.

I asked at the church and they said that you can remember the deceased on any day. It is better to order a prayer service more often, especially for those who have recently died under 1 year of age.

It is best to regularly order a prayer service for the dead in church. Reading a prayer once a year is not enough.

Some people say once a year. You need to remember the dead with prayer every time you come to the cemetery, and TWO times: first immediately upon arrival, then before leaving.

I didn’t know that the prayer for repose in the cemetery is read twice?! I'll find out - thanks for the tip.

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Prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased

According to religious canons, the living need to pray for the repose of the dead in order to give them the opportunity to be in peace, enjoying the other world. The deceased will no longer be able to appease the Lord with daily deeds, nor will he be able to offer him a prayer, therefore it is necessary to pray for his soul to those remaining in this world.

Prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased are also useful to the living, for they calm their souls from worldly and vain things, filling them with the memory of the Heavenly world. The prayer service forces one to remember the need to abstain from sins, weakening the flow of righteous sorrow.

When we pray, we remember that the departed also grieve for us, helping us in our worldly life.

Of course, the souls of sinners who reject the canons of God during their lifetime, who live outside the church, even after being baptized, cannot count on salvation and mercy. In order to avoid becoming like them, it is necessary to constantly remember salvation in the other world.

When the servant of God lives his earthly life in accordance with the laws of our Father, daily turning to the angels and the Lord God, good things await him in earthly and heavenly life.

By offering a prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the living take a direct part in asking for Paradise for them in Heaven. The Lord will certainly show mercy to the deceased who lived a good life and remained loved by living relatives, relatives, friends and acquaintances.

It is also believed that the Orthodox prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased does not just help. Thanks to the fact that you ask for the dead, being alive, the dead will help you, being your messenger in the Next World, and this, you see, is definitely not out of place for us sinful souls.

Popular prayers for the deceased

Prayers for the benefit of the departed

It is possible to remember the deceased on any day. According to customs, Saturday is called the day of remembrance of all Saints and the dead. The dead are remembered on the third, ninth and fortieth day after death, then on parental Saturdays, on the anniversary of death, Angel Day and Birthday.

There are many prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Here are a few particularly common ones:

In all the presented prayers for the repose, a request is made to the Lord to grant forgiveness of sins to the deceased, providing peace in another world.

Pray if you want to

Remember that no one is obliged to remember a deceased person. If you want to remember a deceased loved one, only then lift up the holy word, for only with a pure heart is it necessary to turn to God.

A prayer for repose coming from the heart can work miracles. Even scientists who are skeptical about everything that cannot be explained from a scientific point of view note the power of the holy word.

According to scientific statements, the holy texts of prayers contain a special combination of sounds, designed to bestow a certain internal emotional state on the one who reads and hears it, granting physical healing to the body, as well as simply peace.

If the prayer was pronounced correctly, you will feel like a certain weight is falling off your shoulders, giving you a feeling of special, grace-filled freedom, as well as peace. By praying, you diminish the pain of loss that torments your heart.

Prayer to the Lord God

Remember, Lord, the souls of Your departed servants, my parents (names), and all relatives according to the flesh; and forgive them all their sins, voluntary and involuntary, giving them the Kingdom and the communion of Your eternal good things and Your endless and blissful life of pleasure.

Remember, Lord, and all in the hope of resurrection and eternal life, the departed, our fathers and brothers and sisters, and those who lie here and everywhere, Orthodox Christians, and with Your saints, who are present The light of Thy countenance shines, and have mercy on us, for He is Good and Lover of Humanity. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE DECEASED CHRISTIAN

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your departed servant, our brother (name), and as Good and Lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming untruths, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, deliver him eternal torment and fire of Gehenna, and grant him the communion and enjoyment of Your eternal good things, prepared for those who love You: even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Your glorified God in the Trinity, Faith, and Unity in the Trinity and the Trinity in Unity, Orthodox even until his last breath of confession. Be merciful to him, and faith, even in You instead of deeds, and with Your saints, as You give generous rest: for there is no man who will live and not sin. But You are the One besides all sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and You are the One God of mercies and generosity, and love for mankind, and to You we send glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen

WIDOWER'S PRAYER

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! In contrition and tenderness of my heart, I pray to You: rest, O Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), in Your Heavenly Kingdom. Lord Almighty! You blessed the marital union of husband and wife, when you said: it is not good for man to be alone, let us create for him a helper for him. You have sanctified this union in the image of the spiritual union of Christ with the Church. I believe, Lord, and confess that You have blessed me to unite me in this holy union with one of Your handmaids. By your good and wise will you deigned to take away from me this servant of yours, whom you have given to me as a helper and companion of my life. I bow before Your will, and I pray to You with all my heart, accept my prayer for Your servant (name), and forgive her if you sin in word, deed, thought, knowledge and ignorance; Love earthly things more than heavenly things; Even if you care more about the clothing and decoration of your body than about the enlightenment of the clothing of your soul; or even careless about your children; if you upset anyone by word or deed; If there is a grudge in your heart against your neighbor or condemn someone or anything else you have done from such evil people.
Forgive her all this, for she is good and philanthropic; for there is no man who will live and not sin. Do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, as Thy creation, do not condemn her to eternal torment for her sin, but have mercy and mercy according to Thy great mercy. I pray and ask You, Lord, to grant me strength throughout the days of my life, without ceasing to pray for Your departed servant, and even until the end of my life to ask her from You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive her sins. Yes, as if You, God, placed a crown of stone on her head, crowning her here on earth; Thus crown me with Thy eternal glory in Thy Heavenly Kingdom, with all the saints who rejoice there, so that together with them He may forever sing Thy all-holy name with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

WIDOW'S PRAYER

Christ Jesus, Lord and Almighty! You are the consolation of the weeping, the intercession of the orphans and widows. You said: call on Me in the day of your sorrow, and I will destroy you. In the days of my sorrow, I run to You and pray to You: do not turn Your face away from me and hear my prayer brought to You with tears. You, Lord, Master of all, have deigned to unite me with one of Your servants, so that we may be one body and one spirit; You gave me this servant as a companion and protector. It was Your good and wise will that you would take this servant of Yours away from me and leave me alone. I bow before Your will and I resort to You in the days of my sorrow: quench my sorrow about separation from Your servant, my friend. Even if you took him away from me, do not take your mercy away from me. Just as you once accepted two mites from widows, so accept this prayer of mine. Remember, Lord, the soul of Your departed servant (name), forgive him all his sins, voluntary and involuntary, whether in word, or in deed, or in knowledge and ignorance, do not destroy him with his iniquities and do not consign him to eternal torment, but according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, weaken and forgive all his sins and commit them with Thy saints, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life. I pray and ask You, Lord, grant that all the days of my life I will not cease to pray for Your departed servant, and even before my departure, ask You, the Judge of the whole world, to forgive all his sins and place him in the Heavenly abodes, which You have prepared for those who love Cha. For even if you sin, do not depart from You, and undoubtedly the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are Orthodox even to your last breath of confession; impute to him the same faith, even in You, instead of works: for there is no man who will live and not sin, You are the only one besides sin, and Your righteousness is righteousness forever. I believe, Lord, and confess that You will hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from me. Seeing a widow weeping green, you were merciful, and you brought her son to the grave, carrying her to the grave; How did You open to Your servant Theophilus, who went to You, the doors of Your mercy and forgave him for his sins through the prayers of Your Holy Church, heeding the prayers and alms of his wife: here and I pray to You, accept my prayer for Your servant and bring him into eternal life. For You are our hope. You are God, the hedgehog to have mercy and save, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

PARENTS' PRAYER FOR DECEASED 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.

CHILDREN'S PRAYER FOR DECEASED PARENTS

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping. I come running to you, an orphan, groaning and crying, and I pray to you: hear my prayer and do not turn your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent (my mother), (name) (or: with my parents who gave birth and raised me, their names) - , and his soul (or: her, or: them), as having gone (or: gone) to You with true faith in You and with firm hope in Your love for mankind and mercy, accept into Your Kingdom of Heaven. I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away (or: taken away, or: taken away) from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (or: from her, or: from them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You are the Judge of this world, you punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the unforgettable deceased (unforgettable deceased) for me Thy servant (Thy servant), my parent (my mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his sins ( her) voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, created by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and all the saints, have mercy on him (her) and eternal save me from torment. You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent (my deceased mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him in a place of light, in a place of coolness and in a place of peace, with all the saints, from nowhere all sickness, sorrow and sighing have fled. Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as He taught (taught) me first of all to lead You, my Lord, in reverently pray to You, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual progress, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy. Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom. For You are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind, You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen

Prayer for those who have died due to sudden (sudden) death

Inscrutable are Your destinies, Lord! Thy ways are unsearchable! Give breath to every creature and bring everything from those that do not exist into being, You send the Angel of death to him on a Day he does not know, and at an hour he does not expect; You snatch him from the hand of death, granting him life with his last breath; Be long-suffering to the new one and give him time for repentance; You cut it like a grain with the sword of death in one hour, in the twinkling of an eye; You strike him with thunder and lightning, you burn him with flame, and you betray him as food for wild beasts; You command them to be swallowed up by the waves and abysses of the sea and the abysses of the earth; You kidnap them with a destructive ulcer, where death, like a reaper, reaps and separates father or mother from their children, brother from brother, husband from wife, tears the baby from the mother’s womb, casts lifeless the mighty of the earth, the rich and the poor. What the hell is this? Your look is wondrous and perplexing to us, O God! But Lord, Lord! You are only One, knowing everything, weighing why this happens and why it should be, as if Your servant (Your servant) (name) was consumed in the blink of an eye by the gap of death. If you are punishing him (her) for his (her) many, grave sins, we pray to You, O All-Merciful and All-Merciful Lord, do not reprove him (her) with Your wrath and punish him (her) completely, but, according to Your goodness and according to Your unconditional mercy, show him (her) great Your mercy is in the forgiveness and forgiveness of sins. What if your deceased servant (thy servant), in this life thinking about the Day of Judgment, recognized his own repentance and desired to bring you fruits worthy of repentance, but not having achieved this, was called by you to be on the day of his not knowing, and at an hour for which I was not expecting, for this sake we pray to Thee even more, Most Gracious and Most Merciful Lord, to correct, arrange, complete the unfinished work of saving him (her), the unfinished repentance, which Thy eyes have seen, with Thy ineffable goodness and love for mankind; The imams have only one hope in Your endless mercy: You have judgment and punishment, You have truth and inexhaustible mercy; You punish, but at the same time you are merciful; beeshi, and at the same time you are acceptable; We diligently pray to Thee, O Lord our God, do not punish the one suddenly called to You with Thy Last Judgment, but have mercy, have mercy on him (them) and do not cast him away from Thy presence. Oh, it is terrible to suddenly fall into Thy hands, O Lord, and to appear before Thy impartial judgment! It is terrible to come to You without gracious guidance, without Repentance and communion of Your Holy, terrible and life-giving Mysteries, Lord! If the suddenly departed Thy servant (Thy servant) who is remembered by us is so much a sinner, so much guilty of condemnation at Your righteous court, we pray to You, have mercy on him (her), not condemn him (s) to eternal torment, to eternal death; Be patient with us, give us the length of our days, pray to You all the days for Your departed servant (s), until you hear us and accept by Your mercy the one who suddenly departed to You; and grant us, Master, to wash away his (her) sins with tears of contrition and our sighs before You, so that Your servant (Your servant) (name) may not be brought down by his sin to a place of torment (name), but may he dwell in a place of rest . You Yourself, Lord, command to strike at the door of Your mercy, we pray to You, O Most Generous King, and we will not cease to beg Your mercy and cry out with the repentant David: have mercy, have mercy on Your servant, O God, according to Your great mercy. If You are dissatisfied with our words, with this little prayer of ours, we beseech You, Lord, with faith in Your saving merits, with trust in the redemptive and miraculous power of Your sacrifice, offered by You for the sins of the whole world; We pray to Thee, O Sweetest Jesus! You are the Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, you were crucified for our salvation! We pray to Thee, as our Savior and Redeemer, save and have mercy and deliver eternal torment from the soul of Thy servant (Thy servant) (name) who has suddenly died, so often remembered by us, and do not leave him to perish forever, but make you worthy to reach Your quiet refuge and rest there, where all Your saints rest. Together we pray to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ our God, by Thy mercy accept all Thy servants (names) who suddenly came to Thee, who were covered by water, who were embraced by the coward, who were killed by murderers, who were hit by fire, hail, snow, frost, hunger and the spirit of the storm, who were killed , thunder and lightning struck, struck a destructive ulcer, or died by some other guilt, by Your will and permission, we pray to You, accept them under Your mercy and resurrect them into eternal, holy and blessed life. Amen.

The death of loved ones is a real tragedy that every person is forced to go through at some point in life. No words about the immortality of the soul and the end of earthly torment can console a grieving person in his loss. But tears cannot help grief, but words can heal. Prayers for the repose of the dead will bring benefit to the soul moving to a new level of existence, and to the person experiencing loss - it’s so nice to know that you are doing something good for your dear heart.

In this article

Church about death

The Christian Church adheres to a common opinion on issues of death, which is presented in the form of 3 postulates.

The destinies of God are incomprehensible - death can take any form and comes regardless of a person’s merits at any time known only to God. You should not blame the universe for the injustice of your loss - this is a direct insult to God. A church building collapsed on St. Athanasius of Athos, but he did not grumble and found himself near his Lord.

Saints who were martyred

Human life is the will of God, God’s providence, although not always understandable, controls people and sets everything up in their favor. The Monk Leo wrote that everyone who has been baptized must believe that life on earth is not the end of existence, but the beginning of True joy.

The Church says that under no circumstances should one grieve excessively for the dead - this is displeasing to God and contrary to his plans and orders.

The memory of death will teach you to understand yourself - thinking about death is normal and necessary, this helps you analyze your earthly path and act in accordance with the word of God. Elder Macarius wrote about life as a small drop before eternity, opening after the death of the physical body.

All the subtleties of church teaching on death are covered in the program “The Hour of Orthodoxy”; priest Dionisy Beloglazov answers key questions:

The church clearly speaks positively about funeral prayers: this action brings reassurance to the relatives of the newly deceased.

Where did this tradition come from and why is it needed?

The tradition of praying for the dead dates back to ancient times - even pagans recognized the need to support the soul with special words after its transition to the other side of life. In the light of different cultures, this custom is refracted from different angles, but its essence remains the same: after a diagnosed death, perform a special ritual to alleviate the fate of the soul of the deceased.

Sins do not allow one to soar to the kingdom of eternal bliss - they weigh down the soul and pull it down. Sincerely spoken words of prayers for peace remove part of the burden.

After death, it is undesirable to cry for a person: the grief of relatives will be burdened by extraterrestrial existence. Hysteria and tears carry a charge of destructive energy and can lead to irreversible consequences.

If they grieve excessively for the deceased, there is a possibility that his soul will not find the desired peace. Having been subjected to tearful lamentations about a painful loss on the part of loved ones, the soul begins to rush about and does not get to the place assigned to it by the Higher Powers, getting stuck somewhere halfway.

When to read

Prayer is a powerful weapon for people on earth who want to help deceased relatives or simply close souls. It is considered an important part of the memorial service and ignoring this ritual will have negative consequences. God, seeing the lack of support from the outside, will not show much mercy to the etheric body of an untimely departed person.

You can pray right away - the words offered to God in the temple will certainly be heard. You need to come to perform the ceremony 5-10 minutes before the start of the service, be sure to leave a note near the altar (any words, but from the heart) and take communion.

The ideal time to attend a service is considered to be the time of proskomedia - a sacrament involving the acceptance of the prosphora - the body of Christ. If you get there, in the name of the deceased, they will take part of the liturgical bread and place it in the Chalice of the Sacred Gifts. This ritual carries with it purification from sins.

On certain days of the year, the church honors all the dead (with the exception of suicides):

8 days before Lent - on Meat Saturday.
Parental Saturdays – 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Lent.
Saturday before the day of the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Radonitsa - second week after Easter, on Tuesday.
November 8 is the day of Dmitry Solunsky.
May 9 is the day of remembrance of deceased soldiers.

Prayer for the newly deceased

Immediately after death, the Sequence for the separation of the soul from the body is read over the person, and then the psalter. Before the burial, you can also order memorial services in the church. It is very important to pray for the newly deceased in the first 40 days, since it is at this time that the fate of the soul is decided. Prayers support us on the path to the Last Judgment.

Prayer for the deceased can influence his future fate and even change the decision of the Last Judgment.

There is a known case when a monk was buried in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery without absolution. All the residents saw his face blackened from hellish torment one night. And then they began to pray together for the servant of God, in new visions his face became more and more peaceful, God forgave him his earthly sins and gave him the Kingdom of Heaven.

Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Your newly departed servant (Your servant), (name), and as he is good and a lover of mankind, forgiving sins and consuming iniquities, weaken, forsake and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary sins, exonerating him at Thy holy second coming into the communion of Thy eternal blessings, for the sake of the One who has faith in Thee, the true God and Lover of mankind. For Thou art the resurrection and life and rest of Thy servant, (name), Christ our God. And we send glory to You, with Your beginningless Father and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen

Prayer for day 3

The first 3 days after the death of the physical body, the soul prepares to depart to another world. It is on the 3rd day that the body is buried, and the spirit loses all connection with the physical world. The task of the relatives of the newly deceased is to ease the transition through prayer.

Rest, O Lord, to the soul of Thy departed servant (Thy departed servant, the soul of Thy departed servant) (name) (bow), and as much as man has sinned in this life (humans have sinned), Thou, as the Lover of Mankind, forgive him (u, them) and have mercy (bow), deliver eternal torment (bow), give to the heavenly Kingdom a partaker (participant, partakers) (bow), and do good for our souls (bow)

Prayer for day 9

The ninth day is key for the soul, then the “tour” of Paradise ends, after which the torments of hell are shown, so the newly departed must be remembered with a special meal and a prayer must be read.

God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, your eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly, ecclesiastical and monastic ranks

Prayer for 40 days

This is the day of the Last Judgment. On this day, prayer should be especially passionate and sincere - eternity is at stake, which the soul can spend in Paradise or in Fiery Gehenna. They read it exactly 40 times - for every earthly day lived without the deceased.

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

Prayer for a funeral candle

For greater support for the tormenting soul, the relatives and friends of the deceased go to the temple - light a memorial candle and read a prayer.

Remember, Lord, the souls of your departed servants, my parents (names) and all relatives in the flesh. And forgive all sins, voluntary and involuntary, grant them the Kingdom and the communion of your eternal good things and your endless and blissful life of pleasure (bow).

Remember, Lord, the souls of the departed and all in the hope of resurrection to eternal life, our departed fathers and brothers and sisters, and Orthodox Christians lying here and everywhere, and with Thy Saints, where the light of Thy face is present, have mercy on us all, for He is good and a lover of mankind, Amen (bow).

Grant, Lord, remission of sins to all our fathers, brothers and sisters who have previously departed in faith and hope on Sunday, and create for them eternal memory, eternal memory, eternal memory. (bow) Amen.

Prayer for suicides

Suicide is a mortal sin; the church does not perform funeral services for such dead people and does not allow them to be buried within the walls of a cemetery. Mentally ill people, those who were in a state of passion and those who killed themselves through negligence can receive relief. Funeral services in special cases are possible with the permission of the ruling bishop and a full set of medical evidence of the person’s condition. In any case, you can pray for those who committed suicide at home yourself.

A suicide needs the prayers of family and friends - only they can save a lost soul.

Master, Lord, Merciful and Lover of Mankind, we cry to You: we have sinned and committed lawlessness before You, we have transgressed Your saving commandments and the love of the Gospel has not been revealed to our despairing brother (our despairing sister). But do not reprove us with Your wrath, punish us with Your wrath, O Lord of humanity, weaken, heal our heartfelt sorrow, may the multitude of Your bounties overcome the abyss of our sins, and may Your countless goodness cover the abyss of our bitter tears.

To her, Sweetest Jesus, we still pray, grant to Your servant, your relative who died without permission, consolation in their sorrow and firm hope in Your mercy.

For You are a Merciful and Lover of Mankind, and we send glory to You with Your Beginning Father and Your Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

How to pray for the deceased at home

In addition to special days of remembrance, it is customary to pray for the departed daily at home: for this you will need a psalter. Read in the first half of the day.

The main rule is to say it sincerely and without tears, in a state of peace, remembering pleasant moments from the life of the newly deceased.

Father Arkady will tell you how to pray correctly:

What prayers should be read at home for the deceased?

In addition to standard prayers, special divine texts are read.

About deceased priests:

Lord Jesus Christ our God, who has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers for the perfection of the Saints, for the work of service, for the building up of Your Body! We pray to Thee, O Most Merciful Master, hear our prayerful voice and remember in Thy Kingdom those Thy servants who have passed from this earthly world to the heavenly world: Orthodox Patriarchs, metropolitans (names), archbishops and bishops (names), archimandrites, abbots, hieromonks, priests (names) ), hierodeacons and deacons (names); place them, Lord, in the heavenly shelters of eternal rest. For those who have served for the glory of Thy Most Holy Name and for the glory of Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, for the edification and salvation of Her children; Remember everyone in the monastic rank and church clergy who served You. We pray to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ our God, we pray as the Chief Shepherd, accept by Thy mercy the souls of Thy departed servants, as chosen servants and builders of Thy Mysteries, who stood before Thy terrible throne, performed bloodless sacred rites and gave us Thy Holy and Life-giving Gifts - Thy Honest Body and Your honorable Blood, for the remission of sins and eternal life; For this reason, we pray to Thee, our God, to make them also partakers of the gracious gifts of Thy Holy Spirit in Thy Kingdom. God! Thou hast given them the power in Thy name to forgive and forgive us our sins, to bind and resolve, we diligently pray to Thee: forgive, forgive them their sins and do not remember their sins; save and have mercy on them according to Your great mercy; look upon them with Thy mercy and accept them, O Christ, under Thy compassion, as Thou hast taught us to guard all that Thou hast commanded us; rest with the saints in Thy house, as stewards who humbly labored in planting and strengthening the Orthodox Faith and piety in our hearts; make them worthy to appear before You at Your judgment without condemnation, as before the Chief Shepherd, and place them in Your heavenly heliport, like an olive planting. Bring them, Light-Giver Lord, to the unevening light of Your Kingdom, as if you enlightened us with the light of the Gospel, instill them in Your Holy City, as if you instilled in us the spirit of wisdom and reason, the spirit of advice and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety, the spirit of Your fear, - and grant them to enjoy the fatness of Thy house, as they nourished and enjoyed our souls from Thy divine Table. We pray to Thee, the King, with the prayers of the apostles and prophets, saints and teachers and all the saints, glorify them as servants of the word in Thy Holy Church, militant on earth, glorify them in the Church triumphant in Heaven, and number them with the face of Thy holy apostles, saints and teachers of the Church who served and pleased You in word and deed. Amen.

Prayer of parents for deceased children:

Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death. Comforter of the Sorrowful! With a contrite and tender heart I run to You and pray to You: remember, Lord, in Your Kingdom your departed servant (Thy servant), my child ( Name ) , and create eternal memory for him (her). 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, 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 indulged in sweets worldly, and not more so in contrition for one’s sins, and in intemperance having given up vigil, fasting and prayer to oblivion, I earnestly pray to Thee, forgive the most good Father, my child, all such sins of him, forgive and weaken, even if he has 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 all eternity, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life: like there is no man who will live and not sin. You are One except for sin: so that when you judge the world, my child will hear Your most beloved voice: come, blessing 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 to You we send glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

About deceased parents:

Lord Jesus Christ our God! You are the keeper of the orphans, the refuge of the grieving and the comforter of the weeping. I, an orphan, come running to You, groaning and crying, and I pray to You: hear my prayer and do not turn Your face away from the sighs of my heart and from the tears of my eyes. I pray to You, merciful Lord, satisfy my grief over separation from my parent (matter) (name), and his soul (her), as if she has gone to You with true faith in You and firm hope in Yours accept philanthropy and mercy into Your Heavenly Kingdom. I bow before Your holy will, which was taken away from me, and I ask You not to take away from him (her or them) Your mercy and mercy. We know, Lord, that You, the Judge of this world, punish the sins and wickedness of the fathers in children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, even to the third and fourth generation: but you also have mercy on the fathers for the prayers and virtues of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. With contrition and tenderness of heart, I pray to Thee, merciful Judge, do not punish with eternal punishment the deceased, unforgettable for me, Your servant (s), my parent (mother) (name), but forgive him (her) all his (her) sins, voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, knowledge and ignorance, committed by him (her) in his (her) life here on earth, and according to Your mercy and love for mankind, prayers for the sake of the Most Pure Mother of God and All saints, have mercy on him (you) and deliver him from eternal torment. You, merciful Father of fathers and children! Grant me, all the days of my life, until my last breath, not to cease to remember my deceased parent (mother) in my prayers, and to beg Thee, the righteous Judge, to order him (s) in a place of light, in a place cool and in a calm place, with all the saints, from where all illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Merciful Lord! Accept this day for Thy servant (Your) (name) my warm prayer and give him (her) Your reward for the labors and cares of my upbringing in faith and Christian piety, as having taught me first of all to lead You, my Lord, pray to You in reverence, trust in You alone in troubles, sorrows and illnesses and keep Your Commandments; for his (her) concern for my spiritual progress, for the warmth of his (her) prayer for me before You and for all the gifts he (she) asked me from You, reward him (her) with Your mercy, Your heavenly blessings and joys in Your eternal Kingdom. For you are the God of mercies and generosity and love for mankind. You are the peace and joy of Your faithful servants, and we send glory to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

About those who died without repentance:

Passion winner, helper for souls, prayer book for all, intercessor and mentor for everyone’s salvation, sighing from the depths of our hearts, we earnestly and fervently pray to you, Reverend Paisius! Hear and help us, do not reject or despise us, but rather hear in humility the hearts of those who flow to you. You, reverend, diligently strived for the salvation of your neighbors and led many sinners to the light of salvation. He considered excessive exploits to be a tranquility in itself, extremely wonderful, and, always burning with love for the Lord, you were vouchsafed the appearance of Christ the Savior, and you imitated Him for the people who died, imitating love, and for those who renounced Christ. Hear us, O most praiseworthy Pais, for we are unworthy to pray for the granting of the great mercy of the Lord to us, since we are sinners, and we have defiled lips and burdened hearts, and we suffer under the burden of sins, and our prayer does not reach the Lord. For this sake, pray for us with your strong and God-pleasing prayer, Saint Paisios, so that our relatives, our neighbors and those we know, who have died without repentance, will be delivered from eternal torment, and our Savior will accept your prayer in good will and give them His mercy instead of good deeds, free them , we believe, from suffering and will dwell in the villages of the righteous, and will merit us to die in repentance, so that together we may glorify the All-Holy and magnificent name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for those who died unbaptized

If the soul of the newly deceased did not have time to receive baptism, you can still pray for it, but only at home on your own. At the Divine Liturgy, you cannot mention the name of an unbaptized person - this will anger the Lord.

Have mercy, O Lord, on the soul of Your servant (name), who passed into eternal life without Holy Baptism. Your destinies are unsearchable. Do not make this my prayer a sin for me. But Thy holy will be done.

And in conclusion

No matter who the deceased was during life, the prayer of loved ones can make his existence in the afterlife easier. It will free the soul from the burden of earthly sins and allow it to settle near God in Paradise. It doesn’t matter whether a person knows how to pray or not, what matters is the feeling with which he does it. Everyone is equal before the face of God, so you shouldn’t be afraid if something doesn’t work out.