Visiting a cemetery is associated with some traditions and superstitions. It is believed that this land belongs to the dead, and they have their own laws that should be observed by the living. How to behave in a cemetery? What can be done and what is strictly prohibited?
Visiting graves
Visiting the graves of relatives, friends, acquaintances is a tradition that exists in every religion. But the rules for visiting the deceased may vary. According to Orthodox belief, the cemetery is a sacred place. The cross on the grave of the deceased is located at the feet, and the image of the crucifix on it is facing the face of the deceased.
The Orthodox Church draws the attention of Christians to the fact that living relatives watch the graves of their deceased loved ones. The fence and the cross must be painted in time. The well-groomed grave, fresh flowers on it symbolize the memory of the deceased.
How to behave in a cemetery? Is it possible to leave cookies, sweets on the grave of the deceased? Orthodox traditions of visiting the cemetery have in this regardstrict restrictions.
Orthodox customs of visiting a cemetery
The Holy Fathers recommend lighting candles on the grave of a loved one, praying for him, asking for forgiveness of his sins. How to behave in the Orthodox cemetery? What prayers can be said?
Prayers are read at will. However, there are special prayers for the dead:
- About the departed Christian.
- Widower's prayer.
- The Widow's Prayer.
- About deceased children.
- Prayer for deceased parents.
- Akathist about the one who died.
- Akathist for the repose of the dead.
Priests warn that it is forbidden to drink alcohol on the graves of Orthodox Christians. Visiting a cemetery is not a fun holiday.
In no case should you pour alcohol on a grave mound or sprinkle crumbs on it. Such actions offend the deceased. It is better to tidy up the grave, be silent, remembering the deceased. It is forbidden to bring artificial flowers. But you can plant fresh flowers or other plants - they are a symbol of eternal life.
Parents days
Parental days - this is how the Universal Parental Saturdays are called. These days it is customary to come to the cemetery, to visit the graves of deceased relatives. There are no specific days of the month that Parental Saturdays fall on. This is due to the fact that the Lent-Easter cycle is a transitional one.
- Parental Saturdays. These are Saturdays in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th week of Great Lent.
- Trinity parentSaturday. This is the day before the feast of the Holy Trinity.
- Meatless Saturday. Her time is 8 days before Lent.
- Dmitrievskaya Saturday. This is the Saturday before November 8th. On this day, killed soldiers are commemorated.
Besides Parents' Saturdays, there are other days of remembrance:
- Radonitsa. It is Tuesday of the 2nd week after Easter.
- Commemoration of the dead warriors - May 9.
How to behave in a cemetery?
When visiting a cemetery, one should behave respectfully towards the deceased. Emotional excesses will not lead to good. It is forbidden to speak loudly, sing, shout, have fun, sob. You can not walk on the grave hills - for this there are special paths, paths.
There are columns, wells or taps with water on the territory of the cemetery. It is intended only for cleaning on the graves. It is forbidden to use the cemetery water for drinking. Drinking water must be brought from home or bought on the way.
How to behave in a cemetery? Is it possible to leave the things of the deceased on the grave? The deceased's favorite cup, watch, or other items that they liked can be left on the grave.
It is forbidden to take foreign objects home from the cemetery or grave. They are saturated with "dead" energy. If any thing is taken from the grave, it should be replaced with another. For example, a flower vase broke - you need to put a new one.
Wipe a monument or a fence from dirt, dust should only be used with unnecessary rags. Afteruse, it is thrown into special garbage containers on the territory of the cemetery. Never use the things of the living to put the grave in order.
Restrictions on visiting the cemetery
How to behave in the cemetery on parental day? Who can visit the grave? Since ancient times, cemeteries have been used by dark sorcerers to perform rituals or collect the necessary ingredients. The priests assure that a true believer cannot be affected by magical power.
Despite these assurances, there is a category of people who should not visit a cemetery or a chapel on its territory. Neither during the funeral, nor on Parental Saturday, you should not come to the churchyard:
- pregnant women;
- nursing mothers;
- women with small (or infant) children.
Pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, children under 7 are sensitive to negative energy. Therefore, it is better for them to avoid the territory of the cemetery. According to legend, the magician can exchange the life of a seriously ill person for the life of a small child or an unborn baby using a special ritual.
How to behave at a funeral?
The funeral of an Orthodox begins with the funeral service in the house or in the temple. For this ceremony, women traditionally cover their heads with a scarf. Wear a dress (skirt) to the knees or below. T-shirts, shorts, any frivolous clothes are prohibited. For men - a formal suit or trousers with a shirt (sweater).
How to behave onburial in a cemetery? During the funeral, some relatives stay at home to prepare the memorial dinner. Attending a funeral is voluntary. If there is no desire or if you feel unwell, you can not go to the cemetery.
During the funeral, strong emotions should also be avoided - loud crying, inappropriate actions leave a painful impression. During the funeral, relatives walk behind the coffin. Blood relatives do not wash the floor in the house of the deceased - it is better to do this to good friends, colleagues.
At the cemetery, after parting, they kiss the crown on the forehead and the hand of the deceased. The icon and fresh flowers should be taken from the coffin. Then the face of the deceased is covered with a shroud, the coffin is closed. The towels on which the coffin was lowered into the ground remain in the grave. The men who carried the deceased are given new towels as a keepsake. Women are given new handkerchiefs. After the cemetery, relatives invite everyone to a memorial dinner.
You can invite a priest to an Orthodox funeral. Burying with music is not Christian.
How to behave in the cemetery on parent's day?
The Holy Fathers warn that on Parents' Day you should not cry and kill yourself. Prayers, almsgiving, ordering a memorial service - this is how the Orthodox commemorate the dead. Arriving at the cemetery on Parental Saturdays should be in the morning.
How to behave in the cemetery on parental day? The Orthodox Church allows a funeral dinner at the cemetery. Before and after the meal, a prayer should be read. As already mentioned, it is forbiddendrink alcohol in the cemetery.
If there is food left from the funeral dinner, you can not leave it on the grave of the “dead”. It is better to give it to the poor, with a request to remember the deceased in prayers.
The words "kind", "joy" became the basis for the name "radonitsa" How to behave in the cemetery in Radonitsa? Since ancient times, it has been customary to come to the cemetery on this day with the whole family. Go around the graves of your deceased relatives, remember their good deeds and deeds.
Radonitsa is celebrated on the 9th day after Easter. Its essence is to share your joy with the departed about the resurrection of the Savior. On this holiday, it is customary not to grieve for deceased relatives, but to rejoice at their transition to eternal life.
Appearance
Having figured out how to behave in a cemetery, you should think about the right clothes for visiting it. Usually the color scheme is selected dark, soft. No cheerful flowers and frivolous peas. Strict, comfortable clothing for the weather without shorts and mini. Legs and arms should be covered as much as possible.
Shoes should follow the same principle. Closed shoes in muted tones are ideal for visiting a cemetery. High heels or flip-flops are not allowed on the churchyard.
Cemetery signs
You should only come to the cemetery with your head covered. Otherwise, the fallen hair (or other biomaterial of a living person) can be used in black rituals.
All disposable items (cups, napkins, plates) after visiting the grave are thrown intodumpster in the cemetery. Or at home they are washed with running water.
Things of the living cannot be left in the cemetery. Or take something home from the grave.
If during a visit to the cemetery a thing fell to the ground, it is better to leave it there, it already belongs to the dead. If it is a necessary thing (for example, keys) - rinse it with running water.
Leaving the cemetery follows the same path as you came. Even if the purpose of the visit was several graves and there is an opportunity to exit from the other side of the cemetery, you should not do this.
