Parental days are the last of the year. Parental Saturdays and Days of Special Remembrance for the Dead

AT Orthodox calendar many dates and memorable events, which cannot be attributed to holidays, but, nevertheless, believers, paying tribute to traditions, strictly observe them.

These dates include parental Saturdays - the days when it is supposed to visit the graves of deceased relatives, pray at home or in the temple and light a candle for the repose of their souls. Moreover, the term “parental” does not always mean that only parents should be honored. It can be any relatives, members of the family, and even, alas, children who have died untimely.

Almost all parental Saturdays are not tied to any specific date, because everything except Dmitrievskaya and Victory Day depend on Easter, and Easter is a moving holiday. That's why everything memorial days must be compared with church calendar because they are different every year. And only May 9 is the only commemoration day with a fixed non-transferable date. Of course, this is not always Saturday, but memorial services are always held in churches on this day in honor of fallen soldiers, officers and civilians.

Dates of Parents' Saturdays and Memorial Days

2018

The dead are commemorated three times during Lent. So in 2018 it was

• February 10 - meat-fare parental Saturday

Saturdays of Great Lent

• March, 3rd
• 10th of March
• March 17

Other memorial days

• May 9 (set date)
• April 17 (also not Saturday, but the day of remembrance on Radonitsa)
• May 26 - Trinity Saturday
• November 3 - Dimitreiv Saturday

2019

• March 4

Saturdays of Great Lent

• March 23
• March 30
• April 6

Other memorial days

• May 7 - Radonitsa
• May 9 - non-transferable date
• June 15 - Trinity Saturday (Ecumenical Saturday)
• November 2 - Demetrius Saturday

2020

• February 24 - Ecumenical Meat-Feast Saturday

Days of Remembrance for Great Lent

• March 14th
• 21 March
• March 28

Other Parent Saturdays

1. April 28 - Radonitsa (Ecumenical Saturday)
2. May 9 - the traditional day of remembrance with a specific date
3. June 6 - Trinity Saturday
4. October 31 - Dimitriev parental Saturday

Why are they commemorated on Saturdays?

By old testament Saturday was a day of festive rest, according to the New Testament - from the day of earthly rest, Saturday began to personify the day of joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the day when sins are forgiven and forgiven, and therefore it was Saturday that became the most suitable for commemorating the departed. Of course, these are not all Saturdays in a row, but only those that are associated with some historical events that took place in the annals.

Characteristics of all parent Saturdays

The tradition of "Saturday" commemorations has evolved over the centuries. Each of them has a historical background. Myasopustnaya and Trinity are called Ecumenical, and the rest are commemoration days. Their difference lies in the historical basis. On Ecumenical Saturdays, not only relatives are commemorated, but also all the deceased Christians who died in different eras.

Meatless Saturday

It falls on the 1st century of the Christian era, when still persecuted Christians commemorated their brothers who suffered for their faith - tortured, executed and not buried as it should be. Meatless Saturday falls before Sunday, when the Orthodox are reminded of and falls a week before the start of Lent. According to legend on the Last Judgment every Christian will be rewarded for his earthly deeds, both those who are now living and those who have already died, and the Church on this day patronizes all the dead and prays for the salvation of their souls.

Trinity Saturday

It is also a rather ancient custom that arose in the era of very early Christianity - in the apostolic age. They commemorated all the departed children of God. Trinity Saturday falls on the eve of the Descent of the Holy Spirit to earth. It is believed that the house-building of a person, in which the deceased also participate, has ended. This is perhaps the most revered Saturday in all Orthodox history. Many legends and superstitions are associated with it, and they all agree on one thing - we pray for the repose of the souls of the dead, and they help us, guide and protect us.

Dimitrievskaya Saturday

This is the last memorial day of the year and was established in the middle of the 16th century. Popular rumor firmly connected this day with the victory in the Battle of Kulikovo, conferring the merit of a memorial day on the right-believing Prince Dmitry Donskoy, as if he had asked Sergius of Radonezh to hold a memorial service for the fallen soldiers.

Whether it is true or not is a moot point, but on this day all the soldiers who have ever died on the battlefields, all those who died for other reasons, are commemorated. In addition, it was set on the eve of the day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica, which became another reason to call the autumn parental Saturday Demetrius.

Radonitsa

This is not Saturday, but Tuesday and is celebrated after Easter week. It turns out that on the 9th day. Easter is a holiday of the living, and it is not supposed to go to the cemetery, but it was necessary for the dead to inform about the resurrection of the Son of God. Therefore, on the 9th day, people went to the cemetery with good news - hence the name - Radonitsa. The funeral service on Radonitsa is not held.

May 9 Victory Day

It's already recent history and the day of commemoration of the fallen soldiers became quite recently, in 1994. The only day with a fixed non-moving date, regardless of what day of the week it falls on. Litia for the dead are always held in temples.

Parental Saturdays of Great Lent

These memorial days are not ecumenical. The usual daily commemorations are not performed, but the dead are given salvation on the second, third and fourth Saturdays of Great Lent.

This time is not only abstinence from fast food, but also the purification of the soul, thoughts, the time when you need to pray even harder, the time of repentance and doing good. Right now, during the period of spiritual achievement, it is very important to be filled with love not only for those who are now alive, but also for those who have left this world.

So certain days gradually developed, on which it was necessary to remember the dead with prayer.

The Deep Meaning of Parental Saturdays

Worthy to remember those who have gone to another world - this is an expression of love and respect for loved ones. After all, we do not stop loving them even after death, this is the whole essence of Christian teaching - love for one's neighbor - and first of all - for parents.

Respect for father and mother is formed from an early age, and an adult and mature person comes to understand and realize the fifth commandment - "Honor your father and mother."

In other words - respect, honor and love your parents, and your children will also respect and love you. Therefore, first of all, one should remember the deceased parents, and then all the relatives and friends who went to the Kingdom of Heaven.

On ecumenical Saturdays, all the dead are commemorated - acquaintances, strangers, those who died on the battlefields or as a result of the elements or an accident, killed and even missing.

What to do on Parents' Saturdays

It is believed that first of all you need to visit the cemetery - this is not entirely correct. First of all, you need to visit the church, defend the service, read a prayer, put a candle.

And for the souls of the dead, this is much more important than visiting their last earthly refuge. But, of course, it is impossible to completely exclude visiting the cemetery - you need to put the grave in order, sweep or weed, clean the fence and remember a loved one with a kind word.

The meal should be very modest, lean, and it is better to refuse alcohol. In the temples, it is impossible to arrange snacks, and even more so, it is impossible to drink any alcohol. The temple is a place of prayer and reunion with God.

If you can’t visit either the church or the cemetery, then you need to pray at home in front of the icon and photograph of the deceased, but the main thing here is not the surroundings, but the sincerity of the prayer.

How to visit the temple on parental Saturdays

If you want to commemorate deceased relatives, then before the service, you must submit notes to the priest with the names of the deceased. The names are written by those that were given at baptism, always full and in the genitive case. If this is your first time coming to such a service, then just ask how and what to do, and either parishioners or ministers will definitely help you.

By church traditions the day starts from the evening before, therefore, before the parental Saturday, a memorial service is held in the evening, and in the morning - a liturgy for the repose. It is considered right to bring any lenten products to the temple - bread, cereals, wine. Of course, they should not be spoiled or open.

Products are a kind of bloodless sacrifice that should be presented. After the service, the consecrated products are distributed to all who need them. When leaving the service, you can give alms to the poor or donate money for the needs of the temple. It is possible and beneficial to give away unwanted clothes and shoes to the poor. And this is good not only for them, but also for you, your soul and your well-being.

Parental Saturdays - days special commemoration deceased.
These days, at the Liturgy, prayers are read for the dead Orthodox Christians, funeral services are performed. Since almost all such days are associated with the Easter celebration calendar, the dates parental days change from year to year.

The memory of those who left our world, prayers for the departed, addressed to God, are an important component Orthodox faith. For the Lord, everyone is alive, and remembering departed friends, relatives and acquaintances is a charitable deed. That is why there are more than a dozen memorial days in the Orthodox calendar.

Parental Saturdays in 2018

Several times a year you can hear such a phrase: "Today is parental Saturday." What does this mean and why parental. There are several days a year when the dead are commemorated in a special way. They got their name due to the fact that in appeals to the Lord, people first of all mentioned their dead relatives. Saturdays, which are called parental, 7, their dates change from year to year, as they depend on the dates of others church holidays. The rest of the days of commemoration of the dead, except for Semik, are not moving holidays, their dates are fixed.

Orthodox calendar of parental Saturdays for 2018

Universal Parental (Meatfare) Saturday in 2018

This day in 2018 falls on February 10 (7 days before the start of Lent). Why is this Memorial Saturday called universal. The point is that on this day Orthodox churches clergy read prayers for the glory of absolutely all Christians who lived on Earth and underwent the rite of baptism. There are only two ecumenical parental Saturdays in a year - Myasopustnaya and Trinity.

According to Slavic customs, the housewives baked pancakes on the winter memorial Saturday, the first of which was placed on the goddess (a shelf with arranged icons), the second on the windowsill. The rest of the pancakes were taken to the graves of relatives, distributed to nuns, beggars, and children. At the same time, they definitely asked people to eat pancakes in the name of the repose of the souls of specific deceased. The house is cleaned, a funeral dinner is held in the evening, putting a lot of dishes on the table, their number should be odd.

Parental Saturdays in Lent 2018

In 2018, memorial days fall on the 3rd, 10th and 17th of March. Liturgies are always held in Orthodox churches, praying for the dead on Saturdays, which fall on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Lent. All believers have the opportunity not only to light candles, submit repose notes by writing the appropriate names on them, or order a magpie, but also attend the Liturgy in person.

Another remarkable fact lies in the fact that throughout Great Lent, funeral Liturgies are never held in Orthodox churches, except for the three specified Saturdays. After the funeral service, it is customary to go to the cemetery to honor the memory of their deceased relatives and friends in the places of their last refuge. Although the clergy say that after participating in the funeral services, it is not necessary to go to churchyards, since not the bodies, but the souls of the deceased need much more attention.

Radonitsa in 2018 falls on April 17

They take Easter cakes, krashenka, sweets (most often sweets) and other food consecrated in the church with them to the churchyard. Part of the food is distributed to the poor and children, part is placed on the graves, part is eaten by themselves. However, priests do not recommend arranging grandiose feasts near the graves, because such behavior indicates disrespect for world of the dead and in particular to their deceased relatives. Otherwise, they rejoice on Radonitsa and organize a traditional funeral dinner.

Trinity parental Saturday in 2018

In 2018, Trinity Saturday, which is also Ecumenical, falls on May 26th. On this day, they attend funeral services held in churches, put candles for the repose of deceased relatives, and go to the cemetery. On Trinity Saturday, it is customary to decorate the graves with fresh greenery, because at this time nature finally wakes up, young foliage and grass appear, early flowers bloom.

Since Saturday is universal, not only relatives are commemorated on this day, but also all Christians who once lived on Earth and left for another world. Some believers who visit churchyards voluntarily decorate unfamiliar graves with green branches and grass. It is also worth noting that it is the Trinity Ecumenical Saturday that is the main day when the memory of all the dead people of the Orthodox faith is honored.

Dmitrievskaya parental Saturday in 2018 - November 3

November 3 (the eve of the day of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica) is another day of commemoration of deceased relatives. Special memorial services are held in temples. People pray for the repose of the souls of the departed, asking God to forgive their sinful deeds and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven. Many historians associate the appearance of this Saturday with the Battle of Kulikovo. Dmitry Donskoy, after the victory, suggested that Orthodox dignitaries establish a day of commemoration of their souls in honor of the soldiers who fell in battle. The clergy agreed, naming Saturday in honor of Prince Dmitry.

In ancient times, Dmitriev's Saturday was considered the day when you need to say goodbye to autumn and meet winter. If before the onset of the Intercession they did not have time to thoroughly prepare for severe frosts, it was Dmitriev's Saturday that was considered the final stage of preparation for winter. On this memorial day, a general cleaning of residential premises and household plots was carried out. In the morning they attended a funeral service, in the afternoon they went to the churchyard to visit their deceased relatives. In the evening they had dinner. The tables were covered with new white linen tablecloths. They exhibited traditional funeral dishes (pies, kutya, pancakes with various fillings, uzvar).

Partner news

Doctrine Orthodox Church about the soul says that death is not the end of earthly life, but only a transition to another world. With God, everyone is alive - that is why the Church constantly prays not only for its living members, but also for all the deceased. To show how important the role of memorial prayers is, we list the main points of their presence in worship:

1) prayers for repose are performed in the Church daily(at the liturgy, during memorial services);

2) by church charter each of the seven days of the week is dedicated to a specific event and has its own characteristics of worship. Saturday is dedicated to the memory of the saints and all deceased Christians;

3) private commemoration of the dead is performed on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after death, as well as on the anniversary. Every year memorial services for relatives are ordered for a name day or on the birthday of the deceased;

4) the days of general church commemoration are called parent Saturdays. Two of the six parent Saturdays (Myasopustnaya and Trinity) are called ecumenical, as they are completely devoted to prayer for the deceased at all times and have an exceptional liturgical order.

During the year, the number of funeral prayers varies from the smallest to pre-holiday and holidays to the greatest extent on the ecumenical parental Saturdays, which almost entirely consist of prayers for the dead.

What are Parents' Saturdays?

The days of special commemoration in the Orthodox Church are called Parental Saturdays. This name is explained by the fact that on these days Christians pray for the repose of their parents (this word should be understood more broadly - grandfathers, great-grandfathers and all ancestors of their kind (grandparents)), as well as all the deceased Orthodox Christians. People these days visit cemeteries, take care of graves, order requiem services in temples, or perform divine services over graves on their own - in a secular rite (reading lithium).

Universal Parent Saturdays

The Saturdays before Maslenitsa and the Spiritual Day (Pentecost) are the days when all Orthodox Christians are called to intense prayer for the departed members of the Church—familiar and unfamiliar, far and near.

Meatless Saturday precedes the Week (Sunday), in which the Church remembers the Last Judgment and prays purely for all the dead. This is a commemoration of all the dead Orthodox people speaks of the unity of the Church, whose body is made up of the souls not only of the living, but also of the dead, united in Christ.

Trinity Saturday is associated with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection of Christ. This event is one of the key to understanding the doctrine of salvation. The Holy Spirit that descended on the apostles is for all mankind a testimony of the presence of God next to people, a promise of salvation. It is believed that the Apostolic Church was formed on the day of Pentecost.

The rite of worship of the two ecumenical Saturdays is composed in a special, exceptional way: some prayers said on this day are not present in any other services. If the memory of the saints falls on this day, then it is transferred to the next day. If a patronal or twelfth feast falls, the funeral service is performed in a separate part of the church - the tomb, or passes to the previous Saturday or Thursday.

It should be noted that, first of all, during the ecumenical Saturdays, all Orthodox Christians who have died from the century are commemorated, and already in the second place, directly our relatives. However, in order to enable people to pray more personally and zealously for their relatives, in addition to commemoration at Matins and Vespers, a great memorial service is also performed. What is the difference between these memorials? If Matins and Vespers are performed according to an exceptional order specially drawn up for these two days and is comprehensive, then during the memorial service, prayers are said that are more general in content and are also used in other circumstances (for example, the canon from ordinary Sabbath funeral services). Another important difference is that in the morning the commemoration is performed without specifying specific names, but for all "forefathers, father and brothers ...", and at the memorial service it takes place according to church synodics and personal commemoration books.

Saturdays of Great Lent

Deliberate (special) commemoration of the dead is also performed on Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Great Lent. These Sabbaths are a kind of replenishment of the fact that there is practically no liturgical commemoration during Lent. The listed Saturdays are also called parent Saturdays, but their rites are not as special as in the case of Trinity and Meat-Feast Saturdays, therefore the parental Saturdays of Great Lent are not called ecumenical.

Another difference is that on ecumenical Saturdays, the commemoration of all the dead in all the ages of human existence comes to the fore, and on Lenten Saturdays the main role still given to prayers for deceased relatives (performed during matins and vespers). A separate ecumenical memorial service is not served on this day. Parental Saturdays of Great Lent are also distinguished from ecumenical ones by the fact that the glorification of the saints is not canceled on these days, and if Saturday coincides with the Annunciation, a patronal feast or a polyeleos, then the funeral service is not transferred to another day, but simply omitted.

Private parenting days

Some days of commemoration are found only in the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church. These include Demetrius Saturday, Radonitsa, May 9 (the memory of those who died in the Great Patriotic War) and September 11 (the day of memory of Orthodox soldiers, established by decree of Empress Catherine II, takes place irregularly).

Dimitrievskaya Saturday

According to legend, this day was approved by the Right-Believing Prince Dimitry Donskoy on Saturday before the day of memory of his patron saint, the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (October 26) - in the year of the Battle of Kulikovo (1380). Then the prince for the first time ordered to serve in the monastery St. Sergius Radonezhsky funeral service in memory of the soldiers who fell on the Kulikovo field.

Over time, the connection of this day with its historical origin has weakened, and today Dimitrievskaya Saturday is a memorial parental Saturday, without a particular correlation with the events of 700 years ago.

Radonitsa

Radonitsa is perhaps the most famous (even in non-church circles) day of commemoration of the dead. On this day, a state holiday is always declared so that all people (both believers and secular) have the opportunity to visit their native graves.

The date of the Radonitsa is a rolling one - depending on the date of Easter. Most often, it is scheduled for Tuesday (if it does not coincide with important holidays) of St. Thomas Week (the second week after Easter).

The establishment of such a special day of remembrance is associated with Great Lent. The fact is that during Lenten weeks very often a deliberate commemoration of the dead (which is always performed on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days) cannot be performed due to the peculiarities of the Lenten liturgical charter. Therefore, by the end of Lent, a lot of unserved requiems accumulate, which are transferred to the first day, when you can perform a full liturgy and memorial service. Such a day is Radonitsa.

Since Radonitsa always coincides with the afterfeast, there are no special prayers for the dead on this day either at the liturgy, or at matins and vespers. Memorial prayers are present only at Midnight Office, and a great memorial service is also served after Vespers.

Superstitions related to death and commemoration

Surprisingly, but true: in the world of victorious science, where people often question all world religions, the so-called folk omens or superstition.

The etymology of the word "superstition" speaks for itself: vain faith, faith in something empty, non-existent.

Since death for any person is a topic surrounded by many secrets and questions, the same number of various superstitions are attracted to it, like a magnet. Thus, numerous prejudices associated with the organization of commemorations are very common. Often a real feast is arranged for the deceased with a large number of various dishes and alcohol. However church people must understand that the commemoration is organized mainly in order to show mercy to the people who were present at the funeral service. The living need food, but the soul of the deceased needs prayers.

Absolutely meaningless and all the signs associated directly with the funeral meal. Some especially superstitious people believe that wake food should not be taken home because it "possesses negative energy." This statement is an unfounded superstition. The food was prepared in order to feed people, and if it remains, it can and should be distributed.

A lot of superstitions are associated with the preparation for the funeral. Often one has to observe how mirrors are hung in the house (so as not to accidentally see the dead person in them), the chairs on which the coffin stood are turned over (so that the living do not sit on them) and many similar things. As believing Christians, we must in every possible way eradicate such pagan prejudices in the surrounding society, explain to people the complete senselessness of such actions.

Absurd and at the same time ineradicable is the tradition of bringing food or sweets to the cemetery, as well as leaving a glass of vodka “for the dead”. Is it worth talking about all the absurdity of such customs? The soul, which no longer has a material shell, does not need anything material, including food. To honor the memory of our loved ones, we can take care of their graves, keeping them clean and tidy. We can bring flowers and wreaths to the cemetery. But the most important thing we can do is to minister over the grave of a lithium, to ask the Lord to remember the deceased.

There is no place for magic in Christianity. The purpose of the Christian life is to cleanse own soul. The purpose of his death is to unite with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. Unlike everyday superstitions and prejudices, every religious action has a lofty purpose. We must firmly remember this and distinguish one from the other.

Dates of Parental Saturdays and Days of Remembrance for the Dead in 2019

Ecology of Consciousness: Life. "Parental" Saturdays began to be called, because Christians prayerfully commemorated, first of all, their deceased parents.

9 days of special remembrance for the dead in 2018

Parental Saturdays are days of special commemoration of the departed. These days, at the Liturgy, prayers are read for the dead Orthodox Christians, funeral services are performed. Since almost all such days are associated with the Easter calendar, the dates of parental days change from year to year.

9 days of special remembrance for the dead in 2018:

Universal Parent Saturdays

These days the Church prayerfully commemorates all the dead Christians. A special, ecumenical memorial service is served in the temple.

A week before Lent, on the Saturday before the Week of the Last Judgment. On the day preceding the remembrance of the Last Judgment, Christians pray to the Righteous Judge to show His mercy to all the departed Christians.

2. Trinity Saturday - Saturday before the feast of the Holy Trinity - May 26

With God, everyone is alive. In the Church, we feel connected to all the dead Christians. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. On the eve of this day, the Church prays for Christians who have crossed the threshold of earthly life.

Parental Saturdays of Great Lent

"Parental" Saturdays began to be called, because Christians prayerfully commemorated, first of all, their deceased parents. These days in the temple, after the Liturgy, a special funeral service is performed - a memorial service.

Throughout Great Lent, there are very few days when it is possible to celebrate the full Liturgy, and hence the main church prayer about the dead. In order not to deprive the dead of prayer intercession during this period, the Church has established three special days for prayer for them.

Private parenting days

These days of commemoration of the departed exist in the liturgical practice only of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1. Commemoration day for all those who died during the Great Patriotic War - May 9

After the liturgy, a thanksgiving service is performed for the gift of victory and a funeral litia.

2. Radonitsa - 9th day after Easter, Tuesday of St. Thomas' week - April 17

From that day on, the Charter of the Church again, after a long break for great post and Paschal days, allows the church-wide commemoration of the dead.

3. Day of Remembrance of Orthodox soldiers, for the Faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland on the battlefield of those killed - September 11

The commemoration was established by decree of Catherine II during the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). In modern liturgical practice, it is often omitted.

4. Dimitriev parental Saturday - November 3. (October 28, 2017. Postponed due to the celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God)

On the Saturday preceding the day of memory of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica (November 8). Installed by the right-believing prince Dmitry Donskoy after returning to Moscow from the battle on the Kulikovo field (1380).published If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project

From this article you will find out what date Orthodox parental Saturdays will be in 2019. You will also learn about the meaning of this Ecumenical worship.

Parental Saturdays in 2019

Often these special days the commemoration of the dead is called "ecumenical parental Saturdays." This is not true. There are two ecumenical commemorative Saturdays: Meat-Feast (on the Saturday preceding the Week of the Last Judgment) and Trinity (on the Saturday preceding the feast of Pentecost, or also called the feast of the Most Holy Trinity - the birthday of the Church of Christ).

The main meaning of these “ecumenical” (common for the entire Orthodox Church) funeral services is in prayer for all the Orthodox who have died, regardless of their personal closeness to us. This is a matter of love, not dividing the world into friends and foes. The main focus these days is on all those who are united with us by the highest kinship - kinship in Christ, and especially those who have no one to remember.

Parental Saturdays in 2019 fall on the following dates:

• — March 2, 2019.
• Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent - March 23, 2019.
• Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent - March 30, 2019.
• On Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent - April 6, 2019 - the pre-feast of the Annunciation, therefore, the funeral service is not performed.
• Commemoration of the dead warriors— May 9, 2019.
• Radonitsa— May 7, 2019.
• — June 15, 2019.
• — November 2, 2019.

• Parental Saturdays in 2020 fall on the following dates:

  • Universal parental Saturday (meatless)- February 22, 2020.
  • Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent - March 14, 2020.
  • Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent - March 21, 2020.
  • Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent - March 28, 2020.
  • Commemoration of the dead warriors- May 9, 2020.
  • Radonitsa- April 28, 2020.
  • - June 6, 2020.
  • — October 31, 2020.

• Parental Saturdays in 2021 fall on the following dates:

  • Universal parental Saturday (meatless)— March 8, 2021.
  • Saturday of the 2nd week of Great Lent - March 27, 2021.
  • Saturday of the 3rd week of Great Lent - April 3, 2021.
  • Saturday of the 4th week of Great Lent - April 10, 2021.
  • Commemoration of the dead warriors— May 9, 2021.
  • Radonitsa— May 11, 2021.
  • - June 19, 2021.
  • — November 6, 2021.

For preferential commemoration personally to us dear people there are other parent Saturdays. First of all, these are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of Great Lent, and besides them, the parental Saturday established in the Russian Orthodox Church, which was originally intended to commemorate the soldiers who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo, but gradually became a common memorial day .

This memorial service falls on the Saturday preceding the memory of St. vmch. Demetrius of Thessalonica - patron saint of Prince. Dmitry Donskoy, at whose suggestion, after the Battle of Kulikovo, an annual commemoration of the soldiers was established. But over time, the memory of the soldiers-liberators was supplanted in the public mind, which is very regrettable, and Dimitri's memorial Saturday turned into one of the "parents' days."

Why "parental"? After all, we commemorate not only our parents, but also other people, often not connected with us by any family ties? For different reasons. First of all, not even because parents, as a rule, leave this world ahead of their children (and therefore, too, but this is not the main thing), but because in general our primary prayer duty is for our parents: of all people whose temporary earthly life is over, we first of all owe to those through whom we received this gift of life - our parents and grandparents.