Parents' Day (Radonitsa) for the Orthodox

We believe in the resurrection of our dear Orthodox Christians and therefore we call them deceased, not dead. They are sleeping, but on the right day they will be resurrected, and everyone will be rewarded according to their faith. That is why the solemn day of remembrance of the deceased is called Radonitsa, from the word “joy”. We need to rejoice for our ancestors, they are already on their way to eternal life. And to make it easier to survive the sadness of a temporary separation, the church has appointed a special day of remembrance while the Easter holiday continues. This is the second Tuesday after Easter Sunday. In common parlance it is called parent's day. The holiday is ancient, the roots of its name go back to another word, Rod. According to the tradition prescribed by the church on this day, immediately after the evening service a full funeral service was performed. It was necessary to go to the cemetery, pray for the deceased relatives (from Rod), visit the resting places, and remember the departed. This was done through a simple meal; believers brought colored eggs and other Easter dishes to the graves. Thus, the unity of the living with the departed was recreated. From Old Church Slavonic, the prefix “pre-” in this case has the same meaning as “re-”. And it is correct to use the form “to repose before the Lord,” that is, to make a rearrangement, a step closer. Because after earthly death, the deceased do not cease to be part of the Church. They had to share with them the same meal that the living eat. But under no circumstances should you leave food in the cemetery or pour alcohol on the grave. However, during the Soviet era, due to the total eradication of customs and due to the fact that there was no one to be the keeper and bearer of traditions, confusion occurred. Someone remembered that as a child they carried Easter dishes to the graves of their ancestors. And he came to the conclusion that it is imperative to go to the churchyard on the very holiday of Easter Sunday. A new custom was born, upsetting for the very foundations of Orthodoxy. On the day on which one should rejoice at the Resurrection of the Savior, perform rituals corresponding to this event and participate in festive services, people often go to the cemetery, where they leave colored eggs, alcohol and black bread. This is a big misconception, a mistake. The Church specifically designated the ninth day after Easter. Just as on the ninth day it is customary to remember the newly deceased. And on Radonitsa it is imperative to remember the departed with the thought of the victory over death accomplished by Christ and expected for all true believing Christians. At the same time, there should be no place for mournful and sad thoughts, because the Easter holiday continues. We must remember that the grave is the place where the future resurrection will take place. It must be looked after, kept in order, kept clean, tidy and tidy. So that at any moment, whenever the moment of reunion comes, the grave mound would be ready for this event. Upon arrival, it is customary to bring and light a candle, say a prayer, try to immerse yourself in it and thereby remember the deceased. Thus, the custom of the ancient Slavs, supported and reinforced by the Russian Orthodox Church and expressed in the holiday of Radonitsa, will be completed.