The Saturday before the Feast of Pentecost
On the Saturday before Pentecost we commemorate all departed pious Christians, with the idea that the occasion of the coming of the Holy Spirit not only consists of the economy of the salvation of man, but that the departed also participate in this salvation.
Saturday Before Meatfare Sunday by Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos
On the same day, the most Divine Fathers appointed a commemoration of all those who, from ages past, have piously fallen asleep, in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal.
The Holy Memorial Services
The subject of this paper is, “The Holy Memorial Services”, that is, the intercessions of the Church on behalf of our departed brothers and sisters. We shall attempt a review of the tradition regarding memorial services and the practice of the Church from the beginning until the liturgical practice became established. This reference to history, […]
The Saturday of Souls
The Saturday before Meat-Fare Sunday: The Saturday of Souls. Through the Apostolic Constitutions (Book VIII, ch.42), the Church of Christ has received the custom to make commemorations for the departed on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after their repose. Since many throughout the ages, because of an untimely death in a faraway place, or […]