Saturday of Souls

The Orthodox view of the dead is somewhat different than that of the Protestant.  I think we would all agree with Hebrews and it's mention of the "great cloud of witnesses."  I would say Orthodoxy takes that verse very literally.  When a faithful Christian dies, they do not cease to be part of the Kingdom or active in His Church.   They are just serving in a different role.

We have memorial services as a church for our dead family members quite often.  It is typical to have a service on the 3rd, 9th, 40th and annual anniversaries.  Typically this service is performed at the end of a Sunday Divine Liturgy.   We pray to God for their souls and for their family left behind. 

Alexandar Schmemann puts it well in his book Great Lent,

"Praying for them we meet them in Christ who is Love and who, because He is Love, overcomes death which is the ultimate victory of separation and lovelessness.  In Christ there is no difference between the living and dead because all are alive in Him." 

During the Triodion period (those times preparing and including Lent) there are several services called "Saturday of Souls." Instead of honoring someone who has passed recently or on an anniversary, we take time before and during Lent to remember all of those who have passed.  This Saturday was the first.  We had a Liturgy service in which our chanting and songs included lots of thoughts on those who had passed on.  At the end of the Liturgy we had the memorial service.

 



This is our Priest, Deacon and Subdeacon standing around the Kollyva, saying prayers.

 



Here the Priest is praying specifically for the reposed.  In his booklet he has list after list of names that have been submitted to be prayed for.  You can see the Kollyva better in this picture.  The picture looks blurry because of all the incense :)

 



 

 

After the service we all went to the Parish Hall to eat our Kollyva, which is a type of cake made out of boiled wheat berries. 

 

 

It was so sweet in the car after services.  I was taking some time to explain to the girls exactly what our service was about.  Luckily they have picked up on the meaning with all of the memorial services that we have had in our time as Orthodox Christians.  Makayla shared how John (our godfather) had talked with her about how to pray for the dead. Then she also mentioned that when Father was praying for each person, that she prayed for her great-grandpa too!  She's never even met him!  But she knew he was family and wanted him to be prayed for.  It still amazes me how much my kiddos pick up without me knowing it!