Memorial
Death alters but does not destroy the bond of love and faith which exists among all the members of the Church. Orthodoxy believes that through our prayers, those “who have fallen asleep in the faith and the hope of the Resurrection” continue to have the opportunity to grow closer to God. Therefore, the Church prays constantly for her members who have died in Christ. We place our trust in the love of God and the power of mutual love and forgiveness. We pray that God will forgive the sins of the faithful departed, and that He will receive them into the company of Saints in the heavenly Kingdom.
The Orthodox Church remembers the departed in the prayers of every Divine Liturgy. Besides this, there is a Memorial Service in which the Church also remembers the dead. In addition, the Memorial Service is always offered for all the faithful departed on four “Saturdays of the Souls:” the two Saturdays preceding Great Lent; the first Saturday of Great Lent; and the Saturday before Pentecost. The Service is also offered on Memorial Day. When the Memorial Service is offered, it is customary for the family of the deceased to bring a dish of boiled wheat to the Church. The boiled wheat is placed on a table in the center of the nave during the Service. The wheat, known as kollyva, is a symbol of the Resurrection. When speaking of the Resurrection, our Lord said: “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).
Memorial services for the departed are usually conducted on the Sunday just prior to or after the fortieth day after the death, as well as on the sixth month and first, second and third anniversaries of the death. In order to arrange a Memorial Service for a loved one at the Annunciation, the Church must be contacted at least two weeks in advance in order for it to be entered into the Church calendar. The kollyva (boiled wheat) that is traditionally offered and distributed to the faithful at the conclusion of the service must be arranged independently. Finally, on the day of the Memorial Service, the family and friends of the deceased should be in Church at 10:00am for the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, and in order to sit together in the front pews. Pews are reserved until the commencement of the Divine Liturgy.
Please Note: Memorial services are not permitted on the following days: From the Saturday of Lazarus (before Palm Sunday) through the Sunday of Thomas (after Easter); Pentecost; all the Feast days of our Lord; and all the Feast days of the Theotokos. Please contact Fr. Nicholas at the Church Office for further information.
