Prayers for the dead: what it is and why you need it

In Church practice is often found such a thing as prayers for the dead. What is it and why the need for this ritual? So the question often asked by believers, not sufficiently aware of the prayers. Answer you need to know all Orthodox Christians, to special periods of life to ask for help to God through the priest.

Prayers for the dead: history

The Number of "forty" is special in Orthodoxy. So, this is the number of years the people of Israel under the leadership of Moses wandered in the wilderness before he set foot on the promised land. The same prophet prayed and fasted for forty days in order that the Lord gave him his commandments. Same time it took the Son of God to spend in the desert before entering public service. Forty days – so much has passed since the resurrection of Christ until his ascension. No wonder the disciples of the Lord set the same time to commemorate the souls of the newly deceased person. Later this tradition was passed in relation to living people. Often it is used to petition for the seriously ill.

Prayers for the dead: what it is

This ceremony is a daily prayer for a specific person for forty days. Often, immediately after the death of the person ordered prayers for the dead. What it is, seen from the most specific understanding of corporal death in Christianity. It is believed that the soul of the departed for forty days is on the ground, and only in the last of this number, day appears to the Court of God. In this case, people associate the ritual with zamylivanie the sins of the deceased before God in order to get to heaven. Optional order prayers for the newly deceased. You can take these prayers at any time after death. In addition, the condition of death is also not required. Practiced as a performing this ritual in relation to living people to solve their problems, the remission of sins, guidance to the right path. Often for prayers for the sick prayers for the dead order. What is it? Such a supplication is a request to God for healing from sickness of a specified person. Prayers for the dead is performed by the priest before the Liturgy, or during it, when reading the Psalms and in the prayers. While the offertory takes place, a specific procedure – from the communion bread is taken out a piece for each of the people who have ordered prayers for the dead. Then the Liturgy all the pieces are immersed in the Blood of Christ, while the priest says a special prayer, which asks God to let the sins of these people. Thus, there is a constant strong prayer for a specific person. Restrictions of this Ordinance no. It can participate in only baptized people.

How to order prayers for the dead

Perform This action in each and every Orthodox Church. So if you want to order prayers needed to visit there. To perform this ritual requires only the name of the person it is intended. How much is a book prayers for the dead, can be found only in a certain Church, and not set a single price for the rite. The estimated amount of money in Russia – 350 rubles.