tradition of the Orthodox Church, as opposed to Protestant denominations, recognize the legitimacy of prayers for the dead.Therefore, the presence of calendar days designated prayerful remembrance of deceased ancestors - not by chance within the orthodox tradition.As a rule, they are tied to the Sabbath and therefore are called SATURDAY.Altogether there are seven plus one day of the ninth of May, which has no binding neither Saturday nor any other part of the week.One of these days, which will be discussed below, called Demetrius Saturday.
History establishing Demetrius Saturday
Not all the days of memory of deceased were established at a time.Some of them are much older than the other.Demetrius memorial Saturday, for example, the reason for its establishment was the notorious Battle of Kulikovo.For the first time in this day and only remembered those killed in the battle of warriors.But over time, the memory of the fallen defenders of the fatherland began eroding, eventually began to remember all of the dead Orthodox.
As such Demetrius Saturday was established by Prince Dmitry Donskoy, on behalf of which it got its name.It happened, of course, not once, not for a certain official order to rule.The process of development of this tradition took place gradually.But the starting point is 1380, when the army was broken Mamaia.With a prayer of thanksgiving for the victory of Dmitry Donskoy visited the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which previously received the blessing of this battle from the founder and abbot of the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh.At the thanksgiving service in memory of murdered comrades had committed the memorial service, which has become a tradition repeated each year.This scale Demetrius Saturday acquired not by chance - on the field of battle, tens of thousands of soldiers perished in the fight only on the Russian side, which compared with the level of the population at that time is a very large number.Many families have lost loved ones - fathers, husbands, brothers.Therefore, the joy of victory in this battle inherently merged in Russia bitterly losses.
date for this memorial day was elected Saturday before October 26, Old Style, or 8 November and the new, that is, before the feast of the martyr Demetrius (the saint - the patron saint of Prince Dmitry Donskoy).Thus, last year marked Demetrius SATURDAY November 1, and this year it falls on the number 7.Soon, a new tradition was supported in all the dioceses of the Russian Church, and it is firmly established in the liturgical tradition.
Customs commemoration
Like any memorial day, Demetrius Saturday celebrated the commission mourning, prayers for the dead, visiting cemeteries and special memorial meal.In the folk tradition of Demetrius Saturday imprinted and the former pre-Christian Slavic traditions associated with the cult of ancestors.For example, in addition to religious prayers for the dead, on the eve of the Sabbath was made to leave the bath in clean water and new brooms for the souls of the dead.Similarly, the night on the table left lunch specially prepared to come ancestors were able to get enough.Treats for deceased applies to the cemetery.Generally very scope and scale of marking this day in Russia shows the confluence of two traditions - the pagan festival of ancestors and the Christian All Souls' Day.
Church commemoration
Regarding purely ecclesiastical ritual, Demetrius Saturday memorial nothing special.The day before, on Friday night in the churches is the so-called parastas - memorial evening service.And in the very Saturday morning performed funeral liturgy with dirge.As donations to this day to the temple includes products, with the exception of liquor and meat.
Private commemoration
Talking about what Demetrius SATURDAY, preaching church also draws attention to the need for personal and not just a temple of All Souls.In particular this applies to the nearest dead relatives.Actually, therefore, called funeral Saturday parent - they especially pray for the repose of their parents (if they died) and other loved ones.To do this, to help the faithful in the church rite prayer books offer special prayers for the dead.
