19 June 2021 года

Holy Trinity Ancestral Saturday

On the eve of the feast of Pentecost, the Holy Orthodox Church prayerfully remembers all those faithful Orthodox Christians who died in hope of resurrection and eternal life. The ancient tradition holds it that this day of remembrance is called the Ancestral Saturday.

 

On the day of Holy Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down to instruct, sanctify, and bring all people to eternal salvation. On this day, the Holy Church calls us to remember the dead with faith and prayer so that the salvific grace of the Holy Spirit cleanses the sins of our deceased forefathers, fathers, and the loved ones.

 

We need prayers, but the person alive and in his bodily form gifted with the freedom of choice is still able to take care of the salvation of his soul. He can repent of his sins and nothing can prevent or obstruct him from going good deeds or praying to God. As for those who died, this opportunity is gone. As the word of God says, He will judge us the way we were at the moment of our death: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42). Our prayers for the dead are invaluable to them. The soul of the deceased living forever is in great need of unceasing prayer.

 

The days of remembrance of the dead are greatly beneficial for us, as well: they help us remember about death of which the Word of God speaks: “With all your words, remember the time you will die” (Wisdom of Sirach 7:36). The memory of death teaches man more than any other things about taking the responsibility for his actions as it exposes them in the light of eternal retribution.

 

On preceding Friday and on Holy Trinity Ancestral Saturday, the liturgy with the commemoration of the dead as well as panikhidas was served at each of the monastery’s three cathedrals.