|
1 members (San Nicolas),
375
guests, and
101
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums26
Topics35,514
Posts417,578
Members6,167
| |
Most Online4,112
Mar 25th, 2025
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Junior Member
|
|
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19 |
Cristos Anesti! I have a question about the 40 days memorial service, the service held 40 days after someone's death. What happens exactly? Is it a prayer ceremony said at the end of Liturgy? Or is it a special service? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,994 Likes: 10
Moderator Member
|
|
Moderator Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,994 Likes: 10 |
Dear Irlanda, Christ is Risen! TRULY He is Risen! I can only speak for my Orthodox jurisdiction. In the Greek Orthodox Church in America, memorial services are said after the Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings...(and that, coupled with 40 day baby blessings, makes for a veeeery long morning; thank goodness for coffee/agape hour in the community hall afterwards!) I am also curious to find out when it is performed in the other churches represented here. Blessings, Alice P.S. Welcome to the forum! 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 1998
Posts: 4,337 Likes: 24
Moderator Member
|
|
Moderator Member
Joined: Aug 1998
Posts: 4,337 Likes: 24 |
In the Pittsburgh Metropolia, it is most commonly a Panachida served after Divine Liturgy, which may or may not be, but often is, for the person the Panachida is being celebrated for.
Panachida
A Memorial Service For The Deceased
STAND
P. Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and forever. R. Amen.
P. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us.
R. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (2)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your Name s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.* Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven * Give us this day our daily bread, * and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, / and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
P. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
R. Amen.
TROPARIA - Tone 4
With the souls of the Just brought to perfection, * give rest, O Savior, to the souls of Your servant(s), * keeping (him, her, them) for the blessed life with You, * for You love Mankind. * In the place of rest which is Yours, O Lord, * where all Your Saints repose,* give rest to the soul(s) of Your servant(s) * for You alone love Mankind.
Glory be to the Father, * and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * You are the God Who descended into the realm of Death * and ended the sorrow of the captives; * give rest, also, to the soul(s) of Your servant(s), O Lord.
Now and ever, * and forever. Amen. * O Virgin, the only pure and immaculate, * you gave birth to God. * Intercede for the salvation of the soul(s) of your servant(s).
LITANY FOR THE DECEASED
P. Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us, and have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy. (3)
P. Let us pray for the repose of the soul(s) of the departed servant(s) of God, N(s)., and that (his, her, their) every transgression, committed deliberately or through human frailty, be forgiven (him, her, them).
R. Lord, have mercy. (3)
P. Let us also pray that the Lord God commit (his, her, their) soul(s) to the place where the Just repose.
R. Lord, have mercy. (3)
P. For the mercy of God, for the kingdom of heaven, and for the remission of (his, her, their) sins, let us beseech Christ, the Immortal King and our God.
R. Grant it, O Lord.
P. Let us pray to the Lord.
R. Lord, have mercy.
P. O God of spirits and of all flesh, You trampled Death and broke the power of Satan, and granted life to Your world. Now grant rest, O Lord, to the soul(s) of Your departed servant(s), in a place of light, joy, and peace, where there is no pain, sorrow, or mourning. As a kind and gracious God, forgive every sin committed by (him, her, them) in word, deed, or thought, since there is no person who exists and does not sin. You alone are without sin, Your justice is everlasting justice, and Your word is the truth.
For You are the resurrection, the life, and the repose of Your departed servant(s), O Christ our God, and we glorify You together with Your eternal Father, and Your all-holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
R. Amen.
DISMISSAL
P. Wisdom!
R. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who, a virgin, gave birth to God, the Word; you, truly the Mother of God, we magnify.
P. Glory be to You, O Christ our God, our hope, glory be to You!
R. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Give the blessing.
P. May Christ, our true God, risen from the dead, Who rules over the living and the dead, place the soul(s) of His departed servant(s), N(s)., in the abode of the Saints, grant them rest in the bosom of Abraham, and number them among the Just through the prayers of His most pure Mother, of the holy, glorious, and illustrious Apostles, of our venerable and God- bearing Fathers, and of all the Saints; may He have mercy on us and save us, for He is gracious and loves mankind.
R. Amen.
P. In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to the soul(s) of Your servant(s), and remember (him, her, them) forever.
R. Eternal memory. Eternal memory. Blessed repose and eternal memory.
My cromulent posts embiggen this forum.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,689 Likes: 8
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,689 Likes: 8 |
From Melkite.org: 40 Day Memorial for the Dead
In the Eastern Church it is customary to remember our departed brothers and sisters in a special way on the fortieth day after their death. We recall that after Christ our Savior rose from the dead, destroying death and conquering Hades, He appeared on many occasions to His disciples, especially to "the eleven," i.e. the holy Apostles. And on the fortieth day He called them to the holy mountain, commissioned them to Baptize all nations, and to forgive sins through the Sacrament of Confession. Then, before their very eyes, He was taken up bodily into heaven where He is "enthroned at the right had of the Father."
His last words to us were: "Behold, I am with you always - even to the end of the ages."
Recalling His glorious Resurrection and the fulfillment of His promise to remain with us through the Holy Church, the same Church calls us, after forty days, to put off mourning. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the priest leads the faithful in prayers for the forgiveness of the sins of the departed servant(s) of God, and asks the Lord to admit his or her soul into the heavenly mansions.
A special dish called kolyva (in Arabic "ameh") is blessed in remembrance of the departed, to be shared by the faithful in his or her memory. This dish is made of whole wheat berries, boiled, sweetened with honey, flavored with rose ware and spices, and decorated richly. The wheat serves as a reminder of the Good News of Christ our God regarding death - that "unless the grain die and fall to the ground, it will not bring forth new life." The rose water reminds us that Christ taught that the flowers of the field are arrayed more beautifully than the mightiest king - yet we, His little ones, are more precious than they. The sweetness reminds us of the delights of heaven awaiting all those who follow the narrow way and live the life of a faithful Christian in this world.
Our Church tradition is replete with many such customs. If we do not understand them they easily become superstitious practices, or social occasions. Understanding them, they become for us a rich treasury from which we draw strength and knowledge to deepen our commitment to Christ and His Church, our only salvation.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Junior Member
|
|
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19 |
I had asked about the blessed wheat but I see I have been amply answered so I will edit [delete?] this post.
Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,437 Likes: 1
Administrator Member
|
|
Administrator Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,437 Likes: 1 |
With exception of the wording (phrasing) this is also the common memorial service for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, which has certain changes during the period of the 40 days of Pascha. Those changes would be the abbreviation of the opening or trisagion prayers to the singing of Christ is Risen three times at the beginning and also again at the end in place of the Eternal Memory.
In the Risen Christ,
Father Anthony+
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ's own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. - Saint Gregory of Sinai
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,994 Likes: 10
Moderator Member
|
|
Moderator Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,994 Likes: 10 |
Dear Irlanda, Michael Thoma's post is very good and quite informative and I thank him for reprinting it. The 'kolyva' are prepared only for memorial services in honor of the deceased. I also thank Deacon Lance for reprinting the Panakhida/mnymosyno/memorial (take your pick of languages *wink*) service. It is a beautiful and profound service asking God for his mercy. It is so important in our tradition that tears come to my eyes with every panakhida, whether or not I knew the person--I will admit that in my mind I also insert the names of my dearly beloved together with the person being commemorated at the service. I do this because there is really no finite amount of prayer we can say for those who have passed on. In the Greek tradition, the whole congregation sings 'Eternal be his/her memory' with the priest and since it is sung in a mournful tone, all seem to get choked up a bit when singing it. In the Risen Christ, Alice P.S. I also thank Father Anthony for his clerical input. It seems that he posted while I was writing.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Junior Member
|
|
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19 |
"Ask and ye shall receive..."  Thank you all very much. Someone I know is going to attend this service for a deceased relative and they are completely unfamiliar with the Byzantine rite. I will give them this information, it will be very helpful. It is also very informative for me!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 616
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 616 |
Father Deacon Lance,
Christ is Risen!
Is it not the case that a Panachida may not be said on Sundays, the day of the Resurrection?
I recalled that in order to have a Panachida, like the one we did for +Pope John Paul II, of blessed memory, and the one we did for +Archbishop Judson, we were given specific permission from the Eparchy to have the Panachida on Sunday.
May you have a most blessed Paschal season,
Deacon El
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,885
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,885 |
In the UGCC Eparchy down here most Panachidas are on Sundays as that is in many cases the only day everyone will be together. It might replicate one held on the actual date or anniversary. No one would think of asking anyones permission to have one on a Sunday or any other day. Come to think of it the Russians do the same and for the same reason. Interesting.
ICXC XB! BB!
NIKA
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38 |
Dear Friends,
As I understand it, the Orthodox Church commemorates the name of a reposed soul in the Divine Liturgy for 40 consecutive days following the day of death.
The name is submitted to a priest and a portion of the Lamb is set aside in commemoration.
Families are asked to also pray as much from the Psalter for the soul of the reposed throughout the 40 day period as possible - especially the long Psalm 118/119 that hymns Christ Who is the only One who perfectly kept the Law of God and we beg His Mercy for the deceased for his or her sins.
According to the vision of St Macarius of Egypt, the soul is shown heaven after three days and this is why a special Divine Liturgy is held with the funeral service then.
Then a Divine Liturgy is held on the ninth day because the soul is shown the terrors of hell.
Then the soul awaits the fortieth day when God will assign a place to it and a Divine Liturgy is served on that important day as well.
In Ukraine and Russia, the Orthodox (and EC) Churches have forbidden the use of alcoholic drinks during requiem luncheons following funerals ("trizna") and recommend that a picture of the deceased be put out with candles and flowers while someone prays the Psalter, especially the above psalm, out loud for the edification of all assembled.
Alex
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 1998
Posts: 4,337 Likes: 24
Moderator Member
|
|
Moderator Member
Joined: Aug 1998
Posts: 4,337 Likes: 24 |
Indeed He is Risen!
Fr. Deacon El,
Here in Pittsburgh, it is commonplace to have them on Sundays and I have never seen an instruction from the Metropolitan saying not to have them.
Fr. Deacon Lance
My cromulent posts embiggen this forum.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 937
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 937 |
Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen! As I am currently reading "Three Byzantine Saints", I would like to share something I just read pertaining to +St. John the Almsgiver, from chapter 25: "When the plague was at one time raging in the city, the Just man (+St. John) used to go and watch the funerals for he said that this and the contemplation of graves were very edifying. Often too he would sit at the bedside of persons in their death-anguish, and would close their eyes with his own hands, wishing thereby to keep the thought of his own death in continual remembrance. He also enjoined prayers for the dying to be celebrated diligently and perpetually, and in support of this, he told the following story:
'A short time ago,' he said. 'a man was captured by the Persians, and when taken to Persia, was confined in the dungeon called Lethe. Some other prisoners who escaped and reached Cyprus were asked by his parents whether they had seen him by any chance; to which they replied: "We buried him with our own hands." But that was not really the man about whom they questioned, but another exactly like him. They also told the parents the month and the day of his death, and so the latter had prayers said three times a year for him whom they presumed to be dead.
'Four years later he escaped from the Persians and returned to Cyprus. Then his relatives said, "We heard for certain, brother, that you were dead and therefor we have held memorial services for you three times a year".
"On hearing that they did this for him three times a year he asked on what month and day the services were held, and they replied: "At Epiphany, at Easter, and on Whit-Sunday."
"Thereupon he said: "On those three feasts in the year a man in white raiment, like the sun, used to come and free me invisibly from my chains and from my cell and all that day I walked about and nobody recognized me. Yet on the morrow there I was in chains again!" '
The holy Patriarch used to say: "We learn from this story that those who have fallen asleep obtain comfort from the prayers we make on their behalf.'" Glory be to you, O Lord, Glory be to you! In Christ, Michael
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19
Junior Member
|
|
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 19 |
Another question regarding the 40 days memorial service:
Is it customary to make an offering if you are a member of the family, and if so, how much is usually given?
Thank you.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 580
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 580 |
I can only speak for my Church (Ukrainian Orthodox). The minimum fee is $50 for the priest and $25 for the Diak (Cantor). Put the money (cashI in 2 different envelopes and pay each individual.
|
|
|
|
|
