Everything about nine days after death: what this period means, what customs are and what the relatives of the deceased should do. Based on beliefs and religious scriptures, non-compliance with traditions will deprive the deceased of heavenly life after death, and the relatives will suffer grave sin.

In the article:

9 days after death - the meaning of the date in Orthodoxy

Orthodox Christians usually designate the third, ninth and fortieth day after the death of a person. There is an anniversary, or in some regions, six months, of the death. These are the days of a person’s post-death, each one has a sacred meaning. Relatives should know and observe the traditions and customs associated with commemoration.

The ordeal of the soul of Blessed Fedora, a fragment of a painting in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra

In nine days, the soul completes the path begun during life, seeks its way to new world. If the third day is considered the beginning of the afterlife, and the fortieth the end, the ninth is the only important stage of the posthumous journey.

Number 9 is one of the sacred numbers. There are nine orders of angels in the angelic hierarchy. The ninth day after death is celebrated in honor of the deceased, and in their honor - angels will be protectors on Heavenly Court. They act as lawyers, asking God for mercy for each person.

After death and until the third day, the soul of the deceased is not far from the living. She is accompanied by a guardian angel. On the fourth day, an angel escorts the deceased through the gates of heaven. Until the ninth day, the deceased is busy exploring Paradise. Not yet knowing the verdict that God will pronounce on the fortieth day, the soul learns what awaits it in Heaven or Hell. In Eden, a person will find rest from the pain that was in earthly life and the torments of conscience for the sins committed.

On the ninth day, the Lord commands the angels to bring the deceased to his throne. This is the day on which a person first appears before the Almighty with fear and trembling. After a conversation with God, the spirit will go to Hell - until the fortieth day. After completing the journey through the afterlife, the soul awaits the Heavenly Court.

From the ninth to the fortieth day, the ordeal of the soul occurs. Together with the guardian angel, the spirit overcomes trials that represent sinful temptations. If the soul passes the tests, the good half will overcome the evil one, and all lifetime sins will be forgiven at the Heavenly Court.

Nine days after death - meaning for the deceased

Souls contain everything that is in heaven. (Balmont K.D.)

The meaning of tithing after death is important for the soul of the deceased. At this time, the spirit is busy searching for a path to follow. Some believe in . Judging by the literature about reincarnation, in the period from the third day to the fortieth, the soul is busy reviewing and analyzing life’s mistakes. There is a theory that the soul itself makes a decision about what its subsequent incarnation will be.

If we are guided by Christian sources, the righteous are destined for Paradise, and sinners are destined for torment in Hell. The soul of the deceased on the ninth day is still busy searching for a continuation of the path. At this time, the relatives of the deceased should try to release him. It is impossible to completely forget about pain and suffering - any loss is saturated with these feelings. But calming the souls of the living will bring meaning to the deceased: it is better to bring benefit through prayers, not tears. The person will find peace, stop worrying about the living and go where he belongs.

IN Orthodox tradition They believe that from the fourth to the ninth days the soul is shown Heaven, and then, from the ninth to the fortieth days, Hell. On nine days, the deceased completely forgets about all the sorrow that he felt during earthly life, and does not remember physical pain. Sinful souls at this time begin to experience true repentance. The prayers of family and friends are important at this moment - the deceased will need the support of relatives.

At this time, the spirit appears before God for the first time. It is customary to order prayer services, arrange funeral services, read prayers, and help the deceased pass afterlife tests in other ways. During church services, you should ask for your soul to join the ranks of the angels. A relative can become a personal guardian angel. Pagans believe that deceased ancestors are nearby and ready to help.

The custom of commemoration on the 9th day after death

An obligatory component of any funeral - kutya, a traditional ritual dish without which holidays are incomplete. For a funeral meal, the food is supposed to be prepared from wheat and sugar or honey. Kutya is made from rice. This is not just a sweet dish for a feast, but with sacred meaning.

Seeds signify the birth of a new life, symbolize the resurrection of a person in the afterlife, possibly in the next incarnation. Sugar, honey or jam symbolize the sweetness of life after death. The finished dish should be blessed in the church, if possible. It is considered sufficient to sprinkle the kutya with holy water.

Mandatory drink at the funeral table - compote or jelly, sometimes kvass is served. They serve any porridge except kutya. Pancakes are prepared for funerals, and less often there are pies with sweet filling. Fish dishes not prohibited: sandwiches with sprats, pies, herring, cold appetizers. Roast and noodles with poultry, cutlets are found on funeral tables. The first dish is borscht.

The wake on the 9th day after death is uninvited. It is not customary to invite guests; people come to remember the deceased themselves. Any person who wishes to remember the deceased can come. According to tradition, relatives must be present, the people who washed the deceased, made the coffin and dug the grave. In the old days, this was done by neighbors, family friends and colleagues, but now people from the funeral home do it, so the tradition has lost its meaning.

The feast on a sad occasion begins with the reading of the “Our Father” prayer. You can read aloud, repeating after the relatives of the deceased, pray in a whisper or silently. After the prayer, the first dish is served - kutia.

Regarding foods and drinks that need to be placed on the table: there are few rules, but they are easy to remember. Alcohol is prohibited: vodka is served at most wakes, but this should not be done. Drunkenness is a crime, and at a wake, indulging in sin can seriously harm the soul of the deceased. Signs about cemeteries do not advise bringing alcohol to graves.

You can't overdo it with dishes. 9 days after the death of a person - preparation for the Heavenly Court and consideration of the lifetime sins of the deceased. Gluttony is one of the offenses, so do not sin in honor of the deceased - this will negatively affect his posthumous existence. The table should be modest, without frills. The fact of eating does not matter. It is important that people gathered to remember the deceased and support relatives.

Despite the desire to rid the funeral table of luxury, it is difficult to calculate the number of products so that nothing remains. It’s impossible to predict the number of guests at Deviny - people come uninvited, at will. If there are any food left after the funeral feast, they are distributed to the poor: they cannot be thrown away.

It is forbidden to laugh, have fun, or have choral singing at the table. You cannot remember bad deeds, negative addictions and habits, or character traits of the deceased. Before the fortieth day, a decision will be made whether the soul will be in Heaven or Hell. Negative memories expressed out loud will tip the scales towards a terrible verdict.

It has great importance appearance people who are going to honor the memory of the deceased. Women are supposed to cover their heads with scarves when collecting their hair. Men are not allowed to wear hats in the memorial room; they must be removed upon entry. Nowadays, relatives cover their heads during funerals with black mourning scarves.

What do the relatives of the deceased do for 9 days after death?

What they do with destinies after death is the work of relatives, which will benefit the deceased in the afterlife. It is not only his actions that determine where the soul of the deceased will end up - in Heaven or Hell. What does the ninth day after death mean? During this period, people and angels unite to help the deceased get to Paradise. You cannot treat memorial days as a formality: this is the time when the living are able to help the soul in the afterlife.

For a believer, going to church on the 9th day after the death of a loved one is mandatory. You need to order a prayer service and light a candle for the repose. Be sure to pray near the icons for the mercy of God and the help of angels at the Heavenly Court. You can ask for a relative of the deceased at home, but a funeral service is ordered with a trip to church.

Prayers for the repose of the soul, so that God will be merciful and allow one to be in Paradise, can be read by everyone. How more people pray for the soul of the deceased, the higher the likelihood of a positive verdict at the Heavenly Court. You can turn to God, and to angels, and to Saints.

Closer to noon, you need to visit the grave: clean up the mess, remove the trash, bring flowers and wreaths, light a candle in the lamp. You can invite a priest to lithium- a service held over the grave. If this is not possible, you can read the prayer yourself. You must refrain from talking about extraneous topics. When visiting a grave, it is better to remember the deceased - out loud or mentally.

It is forbidden to hold a wake in a cemetery - it is prohibited by ancient superstitions about funerals. Priests do not recommend doing this either. It is forbidden to leave alcohol in a glass near the grave; you cannot pour alcohol on the mound. You can leave “lunch” - sweets and other treats. Most often they bring what is given at the wake. Sweets and baked goods are distributed to strangers at the cemetery to remember the deceased.

X good or nothing

At wakes and in conversations one is supposed to remember good actions deceased. During this period, God is attentive to all the bad deeds of the deceased and must hear that the living have a positive opinion of this person. A bad word spoken at the wrong time or negative memory will ruin everything.

On this day you need to give alms to the poor, but money or food does not matter.

In the house, as in the cemetery, you should light a lamp in honor of the deceased, put a glass of water and bread. These signs of attention are located near the portrait of the deceased with a black mourning ribbon. On the ninth day, you can remove the curtains from the mirrors in all rooms except the bedroom.

How is nine counted after death?

By medical statistics, most deaths occurred between 3 and 4 am. This time is called time "between the wolf and the fox".

In countries where long and strong Christian traditions have historically developed, everyone knows that after the death of a person, the third day after the sad event, the ninth day and the fortieth day are of particular importance. Almost everyone knows, but many cannot say for what reasons these dates - 3 days, 9 days and 40 days - are so important. What happens, according to traditional ideas, to a person’s soul until the ninth day after his departure from earthly life?

Path of the soul
Christian ideas about the posthumous path of the human soul may vary depending on a particular denomination. And if in the Orthodox and Catholic picture the afterlife and there are still few differences in the fate of the soul, but in various Protestant movements the range of opinions is very large - from almost complete identity with Catholicism to moving far from tradition, up to a complete denial of the existence of hell as a place of eternal torment for the souls of sinners. Therefore more interesting Orthodox version what happens to the soul in the first nine days after the beginning of another, afterlife.

Patristic tradition (that is, the recognized corpus of works of the Fathers of the Church) says that after the death of a person, for almost three days his soul has almost complete freedom.

She not only has all the “baggage” from earthly life, that is, hopes, attachments, fullness of memory, fears, shame, the desire to complete some unfinished business, and so on, but she is also capable of being anywhere. It is generally accepted that on these three days the soul is either next to the body, or, if a person died away from home and family, next to his loved ones, or in those places that for some reason were especially dear or noteworthy for this person. On the third tribute, the soul loses complete freedom of its behavior and is taken by angels to Heaven to worship the Lord there. That is why on the third day, according to tradition, it is necessary to hold a memorial service and thus finally say goodbye to the soul of the deceased.

Having worshiped God, the soul goes on a kind of “tour” through paradise: it is shown the Kingdom of Heaven, it gets an idea of ​​what paradise is, it sees the unity of righteous souls with the Lord, which is the goal of human existence, it meets the souls of saints, and the like. This “survey” journey of the soul through paradise lasts six days. And here, if you believe the Fathers of the Church, the first torment of the soul begins: seeing the heavenly pleasure of the saints, she understands that, due to her sins, she is unworthy to share their fate and is tormented by doubts and fear that she will not go to heaven. On the ninth day, the angels again take the soul to God so that it can glorify His Love for the saints, which it has just been able to observe in person.

What is important these days for the living?
However, according to the Orthodox worldview, one should not perceive the nine days after death as an exclusively otherworldly matter, which does not seem to concern the surviving relatives of the deceased. On the contrary, it is precisely forty days after the death of a person that for his family and friends is the time of greatest rapprochement between the earthly world and the Kingdom of Heaven. Because it is precisely during this period that the living can and must make every effort to contribute to the best possible fate of the soul of the deceased, that is, its salvation. To do this, you need to constantly pray, hoping for God’s mercy and forgiveness of your soul’s sins. This is important from the point of view of determining the fate of a person’s soul, that is, where it will await the Last Judgment, in heaven or hell. At the Last Judgment, the fate of each soul will be decided finally, so those of them who were placed in hell have hope that prayers for it will be heard, it will be forgiven (if they pray for a person, even though he committed many sins, which means there was something good in him) and will be awarded a place in heaven.

The ninth day after the death of a person is, no matter how strange it may sound, almost a holiday in Orthodoxy. People believe that for the last six days the soul of the deceased has been in heaven, albeit as a guest, and can now adequately praise the Creator.

Moreover, it is believed that if a person led a righteous life and his good deeds If he has won the favor of the Lord through love for his neighbors and repentance for his own sins, then his posthumous fate can be decided after nine days. Therefore, on this day a person’s loved ones should, firstly, pray especially earnestly for his soul, and secondly, hold a memorial meal. The wake on the ninth day, from the point of view of tradition, should be “uninvited” - that is, no one needs to be specially invited to it. Those who wish the soul of the deceased all the best should come without reminders themselves.

However, in reality, funerals are almost always invited in a special way, and if more people are expected than the home can accommodate, then they are held in restaurants or similar establishments. The wake on the ninth day is a calm remembrance of the deceased, which should not turn into either an ordinary party or mourning gatherings. It is noteworthy that the Christian concept of the special significance of three, nine and forty days after the death of a person has been adopted by modern occult teachings. But they gave these dates a different meaning: according to one version, the ninth day is designated by the fact that during this period the body supposedly decomposes; according to another, at this point, the body dies, after the physical, mental and astral, which can appear as a ghost.

The Christian Church has traditionally accepted the commemoration of the dead on the third, ninth, fortieth day and anniversary. She also gave an interpretation of these terms in Christian categories and images.

According to the teachings of the church, for two days the soul is somewhere near the body it loves, near its home, wandering, accompanied by angels, through earthly places dear to it. And on the third day she must worship the Lord. In the next six days - until nine days - the soul is shown the heavenly abodes. And in the next thirty - different sections of the underworld. After this, the Lord places her in heaven or hell.

For the first two days, the soul of the deceased is still on earth, passing along with the Angel accompanying it through those places that attract it with memories of earthly joys and sorrows, evil and good deeds. The soul that loves the body sometimes wanders around the house in which the body is placed, and thus spends two days like a bird looking for a nest.

From the 39th to the 40th day the soul comes last time look at loved ones. At this time, the phantom, giving its last energy to the soul, ceases to exist, merging with it. During spiritualism, people communicate not with the soul and not with a double, but with the egregor, which was laid down by the deceased person. But at this moment people feed the double, regardless of in the Isosphere or already under again born person it is located. If at the time of death the energy-informational component is not completely separated, then the soul freezes and can wander among relatives and friends for up to 13 days. Moreover, the soul leaves for the Noosphere only at night.

For forty days, the soul goes to the filters, where the energy-information accumulation blocks are pressurized. When she goes depends on her readiness. This is hampered by low energy levels and loss of information luggage.

Please tell me what happens to the soul of the deceased on the 3rd, 9th and 40th day? What should relatives do so that the soul of the deceased finds peace and finds its place in the Kingdom of Heaven? Thank you very much for your answer.

Brief summary of Orthodox teaching on the posthumous fate of the soul

In the first nine chapters of this book we have attempted to set out some basic aspects of Orthodox Christian view on life after death, contrasting them with the widespread modern view, as well as views emerging in the West, which in some respects departed from ancient Christian teaching. In the West, the true Christian teaching about Angels, the aerial kingdom of fallen spirits, the nature of human communication with spirits, heaven and hell has been lost or distorted, with the result that the “post-mortem” experiences currently taking place are completely misinterpreted. The only satisfactory answer to This false interpretation is Orthodox Christian teaching.

9 days after death

For Orthodox Christians, commemoration of the dead occurs on the ninth and fortieth days after death. Why?

In these very first 9 days after death, the deceased can observe the people around them, see and hear them. Thus, the soul forever says goodbye to life in this world, to life on earth, gradually losing these opportunities and thereby moving away from the world of the living. Therefore, it is no coincidence that memorial services are ordered on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days. These days represent special milestones that every soul passes when leaving our world.

You can find out in detail where a person’s soul is for up to 40 days by carefully studying Orthodox texts. You can also understand from them why it is necessary to remember the deceased on the 3rd, 9th, and also 40th day.

In Orthodoxy, it is believed that the soul of a deceased person, having separated from the physical shell, goes to judgment carried out by God. It is then that her future fate is determined. However, the trial does not occur immediately after death. Within the prescribed 40 days, the soul must prepare for this event.

So, from the 1st to the 3rd day after death, the soul remains in the place where the person died. Starting from the 3rd day, the soul inspects the heavenly tabernacles. From the 9th day to the 40th day, she watches the torment of sinners in hellfire.

A soul that has just left the body experiences grief over its earthly life during the first 3 days. Therefore, until the 3rd day, she is most often in the house where her body remains or near this place.

Please explain what the 3rd, 9th and 40th days after the death of a person mean. What is the soul of the deceased experiencing and where is it these days?

Serge St. Petersburg Oracle (87547) 7 years ago It is believed that for up to 9 days the soul remains in the place where a person lived, for up to 40 days the period of adaptation is shown to it by all worlds, then it returns to say goodbye and finally leaves

Other answers

Danko from Marvelous Bereznik Oracle (68541) 7 years ago

After 9 days, the soul of the deceased leaves the Earth and temporarily enters the World of the Higher Mind, rests and waits for distribution there, and after 40 days it is given new role in a new body of a person, or an animal, or in another dimension, on another planet, in another world... or in the belly of a woman in labor at some month of pregnancy... Otherwise, where do new souls come from, since God created us once?

Priest Afanasy Gumerov, resident of the Sretensky Monastery, answers:

Our earthly existence is a preparation for the future life: “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Post-mortem experiences indicate that, freed from bodily fatness, the soul becomes more active. The tests that she undergoes immediately after separation from the body are of a spiritual and moral nature. Everything she did, good and bad, remains. Therefore, for the soul, from the very beginning of the afterlife (even before the Judgment), joys or suffering begin, depending on how it lived on earth.

A special place in Orthodox rites occupies the remembrance of the dead. The most important days are considered to be from 1 to 40 days, 9 days after death have eigenvalue. What do relatives need to do, what does this date mean?

A worthy send-off

The passing of a loved one is always a shock, even if he was old, had been ill for a long time and was preparing to move on to another world. Faced with the fact that only a motionless shell remains of a loved one, many think that they themselves are mortal. Existence beyond the border seems frightening. After all, on this side we can only guess about what awaits us there. But thanks to the teachings of the Church, we are still in general outline we know what happens on the 9th day after death. On this day the air ordeals begin.

What it is? It is believed that the soul goes through all the sins committed during life. It is especially important in the period from 9 to 40 days after death to support a loved one with intense prayer.

Find out why people are buried on the 3rd day after death and what traditions and superstitions are associated with this date. The third day is one of memorial days, like the ninth, fortieth, year and sometimes six months.

Why are they buried 3 days after death - funeral traditions

Because of the spiritual relationship between Christ and the human soul, the third day is considered suitable for funerals. It is on the third day after death that all connections between the soul and the body are finally broken. The intangible component of a person goes into Heavenly Kingdom accompanied by a guardian angel. The day before and on the day of death, the soul is still in the world of the living. She should not see her funeral - this is a lot of stress for a recently deceased person.

In addition, the third day after death is identified with the Trinity. The third day is always a memorial day. Funeral services are usually held after the burial of a person's body. Tretiny is thus combined with the day of the funeral.

Hello Father Sergius!!

Recently, my young man died, it happened on April 23, 2011, the day before Easter. It was an accident, he burned down. Many people say that if they die on Easter they immediately go to Heaven, and if they burn they also immediately go to Heaven. Is it true? And before the 9th day, I had a dream about how I got to Paradise, found him and he said that everything was fine with him, that he had found friends, and that we wouldn’t worry and that he was waiting for us. What could this mean? or is it just self-hypnosis?

Sincerely, Victoria

Yes, please accept our condolences, Victoria.
For believers, dying on Easter has always been considered a good sign, if you will, even a reward from the Lord, which not all righteous people could be awarded. Even the funeral service on Easter is joyful and solemn.
But we must understand that God’s attitude towards each person is personal and individual. The Lord does not care where and when a person was born or died.

Many who have lost loved ones are familiar with the feelings that loss causes. Emptiness, melancholy and wild pain in the soul. Grieving for departed loved ones is one of the most painful psychological conditions.

However, there is a lot of information that the living receive messages from the subtle world.

Let’s not take into account researchers who purposefully study the possibilities of two-way communication with the other world. There are a considerable number of people who claim that they do not make any effort to see the souls of the departed. Visions occur, in their opinion, involuntarily.

From this article you will learn how the souls of the dead communicate with the living.

Stuck Between Worlds

People often get scared when footsteps are clearly heard in their homes where no one is walking. Water taps and light switches turn on by themselves, and things can fall off shelves with enviable regularity. In other words, poltergeist activity is observed. But what's really going on?

Funeral service for 9 days after death, what is prepared and how to conduct it

9 days after death

Funeral service for 9 days after death, what is prepared and how to conduct it? For Orthodox Christians, commemoration of the dead occurs on the ninth and fortieth days after death. Why?

The clergy answer this question in detail. According to church canons, the time from the moment of repose directly to the ninth is called the design of the “body of eternity.” During this period, the deceased is taken to “special places” in heaven. And in the world of the living, relatives and clergy conduct various funeral ceremonies.

What happens in the first 9 days after death?

In these very first 9 days after death, the deceased can observe the people around them, see and hear them. Thus, the soul forever says goodbye to life in this world, to life on earth, gradually losing these opportunities and thereby moving away from the world of the living.

How to cope with grief when a loved one dies?

– The grief of separation from the deceased can be satisfied only by prayer for him. Christians believe that life does not end with death, that the death of the body is not the death of the soul, that the soul is immortal. Therefore, it is necessary to accompany the soul of the deceased in quiet prayer.

“Do not give up your heart to sorrow; move her away from you, remembering the end. Do not forget this, for there is no return; and you will not benefit him, but will harm yourself. With the repose of the deceased, calm the memory of him, and you will be comforted about him after the departure of his soul” (Sir.38:20, 21, 23).

Is it necessary to cover the mirror if one of your relatives dies?

– The custom of hanging mirrors in a house where a death has occurred partly stems from the belief that whoever sees his reflection in the mirror of this house will also soon die. There are many “mirror” superstitions, some of them are associated with fortune telling on mirrors. And where there is magic and witchcraft, fear and superstition inevitably appear.

The first nine days are very important both for the soul of the deceased and for the living. We will tell you what path a person’s soul takes, what it experiences, and whether the relatives of the deceased can alleviate its fate.

When a person dies, his soul overcomes certain boundaries. And this happens after 3, 9, 40 days after death. Despite the fact that everyone knows that these days it is necessary to organize funeral meals, order services in churches and pray intensely, few people understand why. In this article we will tell you about what happens on the 9th day to a person’s soul, why this day is so important and how the living can help the soul of the deceased.

According to Orthodox tradition, a person is buried on the third day. In the first days after death, the soul has enormous freedom. She is not yet fully aware of the fact of death, so she carries all the “baggage of life knowledge” with her. All the hopes, attachments, fears and aspirations of the soul pull it towards certain places and people.

When close person has not yet crossed the threshold of eternity, his relatives are trying in every possible way to show signs of attention and offer all possible help. This reveals the duty of fulfilling love for one’s neighbor, which is a mandatory responsibility in the Christian faith. But man is not eternal. There comes a moment for everyone. However, this transition from one state of personality to another should not be marked by leaving behind the memory of. A person is alive as long as he is remembered. It is a religious duty to organize memorial dinners in memory of all who knew the latter during his lifetime.

The semantic meaning of 9 days after the death of a person

According to Orthodox doctrine, the human soul is immortal. This is confirmed by practice in Christian tradition. Church Tradition teaches that for the first three days after death, the soul remains on earth in those places that were especially loved by it. Then she ascends to God. The Lord shows the soul the heavenly abodes in which the righteous are blissful.

The personal self-consciousness of the soul is touched, it marvels at what it sees, and the bitterness from leaving the earth is no longer so strong. This happens over six days. Then the angels ascend the soul again to worship God. It turns out that this is the ninth day, on which the soul sees its Creator for the second time. In memory of this, the Church establishes a wake, at which it is customary to gather in a narrow family circle. Commemoration is ordered in churches, prayers are offered to God for the pardon of the deceased. There is a statement that there is no one who has lived and not. Also, the semantic meaning of the number nine is the memory of the Church about the corresponding number of angelic ranks. It is the angels who accompany the soul, showing it all the beauties of paradise.

The fortieth day is the time of private judgment of the soul

After nine days, the soul is shown the hellish abodes. She observes all the horror of incorrigible sinners, feels fear and awe of what she sees. Then for a day he again ascends to God for worship, only this time a private judgment of the soul also takes place. This date is always considered the most important in the afterlife of the deceased. There is no tradition of transfer, no matter what day they fall on.

The soul is judged for all the deeds a person has done during his lifetime. And after this, the place of her stay until the second coming of Christ is determined. It is especially important these days to pray and give alms in memory of a relative or friend who has left this world. A person asks God for mercy, the opportunity to grant a blessed fate to a deceased person.

The number 40 has its own meaning. Also in Old Testament it was prescribed to preserve the memory of the deceased for 40 days. In New Testament times, semantic analogies can be drawn with the Ascension of Christ. So, it was on the 40th day after His resurrection that the Lord ascended to heaven. This date is also a memory of what human soul after death he goes again to his Heavenly Father.

In general, holding a wake is an act of mercy towards living people. Lunch is offered as alms in memory of, and other rituals are performed that testify to a person’s faith in the immortality of the soul. This is also the hope for the salvation of each individual person.

Orthodox Christians take funerals, as well as celebrations during life, very seriously. In this case, it is important to do everything according to the rules. Since it is during this period that the soul of the deceased needs prayer and remembrance. In Christian books it is mentioned more than once that through the prayers of the living, there will be help for the dead and vice versa. It is also believed that the soul sees both heaven and hell until the fortieth day, and only after that its fate is determined by its deeds.

IN modern world The customs have faded a bit and quite often the funeral dinner, which should take place strictly on the ninth day after the funeral, is held on the second day. This is explained by the fact that in cities people constantly do not have enough time, so all customs began to be “compressed”, which is fundamentally wrong. Just like 9 days for the deceased, so 40 and a year must be spent strictly at the established time, because it is on these days that the fate of the soul of the deceased is decided, and it most needs support and protection.

There are many misconceptions and myths about the wake on the ninth day that have nothing to do with Christian faith Dont Have. Often, young people ask a question to the older generation, in the hope that they probably know the rules for holding a wake, although they, in turn, may miss a lot. This is how misconceptions and “grandmother’s advice” are born, which greatly alienate the true traditions from the invented ones. If a person does not know something, or doubts the correctness of the actions being taken, it is best to ask the clergy directly, and not a neighbor. Only in this way will everyone receive the correct and edifying answer and conduct the wake according to all the rules.

Here we will describe how to properly conduct a wake for nine days, what needs to be prepared and what prayers are read for the deceased during this period

9 days after death: the meaning of funerals at this time

The first funeral service, which is held after the burial of a person, occurs precisely on the ninth day after death. It is during this period from the day of death that the soul of the deceased, accompanied by angels, walks through paradise and sees all the blessings and joys of the holy fathers. After which, on the 9th day, the angels lift the soul to the throne of God so that it can worship and magnify the name of God. After which the soul is also sent on an introductory “excursion” to hell. But if a person was righteous during his lifetime and led strictly Christian life, then his fate may be decided precisely on the ninth day after burial. Therefore, it is on this day that the relatives and friends of the deceased need to offer especially fervent prayers and think as much as possible about the soul of the deceased and his mortal paths.

Until the fortieth day, the soul of the deceased goes through all the circles of hell, where they try to win it from the angels, showing all its sins. In contrast, angels show all the good deeds of a person during life, and if there were more of them than bad, the person’s soul ascends to heaven and awaits the Last Judgment there, and if there were more bad ones, then demons take it away and also torture it until the Judgment.

It happens that there are almost equal numbers of good and bad deeds, and then the fate of the deceased is decided through the prayers of his loved ones on earth. If prayers are offered for the deceased for 40 days, notes for repose are given and memorial services are held, then his soul is saved, but if not, then he remains in hell.

That is why it is so important to spend exactly 9 days and 40 according to all the rules of the Christian world in order to help the soul of the deceased ascend to heaven, and not descend to the underworld.

Why do funerals take place on the 9th day?

It is believed that the rank of nine angels falls on the 9th day. It is they, together with the soul of the deceased, who ask the throne of the Lord for mercy and leniency towards the sinful soul of man. If it is possible to appease the Lord, then the soul remains in heaven without going through the ordeal in hell, which lasts until the fortieth day. If the soul was not righteous, it is sent to hell to undergo trials.

If the soul can go through all the circles of hell without obstacles, then it will again appear before the Throne, and will remain in heaven, rewarding thanksgiving prayers and magnification to the Lord. It is also believed that the soul, which, through the prayers of its neighbors on earth, has gone to heaven, in turn offers prayers to God for its relatives on earth. She can also appear during difficult periods of life and warn relatives and friends about danger.

Why are the dead remembered on the 9th day?

What rules must be followed for holding a wake on day 9?

In the Christian world there are a number of rules that were established by our forefathers and described in detail in religious literature. These rules must be strictly observed and ensured that they are carried out without changes:

• It is necessary to create an appropriate atmosphere in the place where the funeral dinner is planned. You also need to monitor this at home. As a rule, a glass of water and a slice of bread are placed in home walls. Also, a lamp is lit in front of the photograph of the deceased. But you can also light a lamp in front of an icon. In churches, relatives and friends of the deceased order a memorial prayer service, light candles in specially designated places for the repose and read a prayer for the acceptance of the soul of the deceased to the Lord God;
• 9 days is not a dinner party, so no one is specifically invited to this wake. Most often, relatives, close friends and colleagues of the deceased gather. It is worth remembering that for these particular commemorations, everyone should ask where and when they will take place;
• Women should wear scarves on their heads to cover their hair, which should not escape from under the scarf. Men, on the contrary, must free their heads from any clothing and sit at the table with their heads uncovered;
• The question is often asked: what should you bring to a funeral for 9 days? Most often these are flowers that need to be placed on the grave of the deceased. It is necessary to put red wine on the table, because this is how the deceased are remembered, as well as sweets and cookies;
• On the table in mandatory There should be various compotes, kutya and other porridge. You can also often see that those dishes that the deceased loved during his lifetime are often placed on the funeral table or placed on an empty plate. Each region may have its own customs and traditions of the funeral table for 9 days, but everyone should have the same basis;
• It is necessary to remember the deceased with red wine and most often this is three glasses. During such a period, the presence of strong alcoholic drinks on the table. Also, you should not “stay too long” at the table, so as not to turn the funeral dinner into a feast.
• If the funeral meal falls during fasting, then it is necessary to completely exclude all meat dishes, replacing them with fish and lighter snacks. At the same time, compote and kutya remain unchanged on the funeral table;
• At the funeral table you need not just to dine, but also to remember (remember) the person, telling some moments of the deceased, remembering him positive sides and on the good side, tell about him to those who may not have been so closely acquainted with the deceased. Most often, at such moments, certain truths are revealed that prompt soul-saving thoughts among those gathered.

What needs to be prepared for the funeral table within 9 days?

A standard menu for a nine-day funeral might look like this:

1. Kissel, kutya, kanun (can also be called kolovo);
2. Pancakes with with different fillings, most often it is cottage cheese, poppy seeds and apples, sometimes liver;
3. Sandwiches with sprats and other cold fish appetizers;
4. Sweet pies (most often with poppy seed or apple filling);
5. There must be at least one hot dish, for example borscht with poultry;
6. Porridge, roast;
7. Cutlets and cabbage rolls;
8. Salads, especially vegetable ones (vinaigrette, Korean carrots, etc.);
9. Stuffed peppers;
10. Boiled potatoes with mushrooms;
11. Kvass and compote;
12. Cookies and sweets that people themselves brought to the funeral dinner are also served on the table.

It is customary to prepare those dishes that the deceased loved during his lifetime. This is also a kind of reference to the deceased. If you are fasting for 9 days, you need to replace all meat dishes with their fish counterparts, and cabbage rolls can be made vegetable by replacing meat with mushrooms.

It is very important on this day to give out alms and feed the needy, and you need to ask to remember the deceased.

What prayers should be read at the funeral for 9 days

On the day of death and before burial in the house, the entire psalter and certain prayers are usually read in front of the icon. Only the person who has received a blessing from the priest can read them. If there is no such person, you should read before the icon prayer rule and ask for God's blessing yourself.

On the ninth day, prayers are also read, which can be said both in church and within home walls near the icons. If the funeral dinner was scheduled in a cafe, as is often the case now, stands in front of funeral meal read special prayers for the deceased and only after that start dinner.

Litiya for the deceased for 9 days

Before the funeral meal, it is necessary to read the rite of lithium for the deceased, which is performed at home or in the cemetery, immediately in front of the grave:

Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be it your name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Lord have mercy. (12 times)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. (Bow)

Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)

Psalm 90

Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my intercessor, and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap and from rebellious words, His blanket will overshadow you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak and demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you: behold your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not come close to your body. As His angel commanded you, keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot against a stone. Tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver; I will cover and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him; I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him and glorify him; I will fill him with long days, and show him My salvation.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (Thrice)

Troparion, tone 4:

From the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, rest the soul of Your servant, O Savior, preserving it in the blessed life that belongs to You, O Lover of Mankind.

In Thy chamber, O Lord, where all Thy saints rest, rest also the soul of Thy servant, for Thou art the only Lover of mankind.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Thou art God, who descended into hell, and loosed the bonds of the bound, and give rest to Thy servant Himself and the soul.

And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray for his soul to be saved.

Sedalen, voice 5th:

Rest, our Savior, with the righteous of Thy servant, and this one is lodged in Thy courts, as it is written, despising, as Good, his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and all those in knowledge and not in knowledge, Lover of mankind.

Kontakion, tone 8:

With the saints, rest, O Christ, the soul of Your servant, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.

Ikos

Thou art the One Immortal One, who created and created man, on earth we were created from the earth, and to the other earth we will go, as you commanded, Who created me and gave me: as you are the earth, and you will go to the earth, and even all men will go, a funeral lament creating a song : alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.