Death is nothing but a transition to another world, the time when the soul leaves the body. In order to facilitate her parting with the physical shell, there are funeral rites. By violating or not observing them, we doom the soul of the deceased to unimaginable torments. Restless, she stays between heaven and earth, often "visiting" her living relatives …
On the road …
A necrotic connection can be established when relatives grieve greatly, constantly mourning the deceased. They pull his soul to the ground, do not let her go, dooming him to great suffering. This can also happen when the last will of the deceased or his wish to be buried in a certain place is not fulfilled. There are cases when the dead were "disturbed" until they changed the place of their eternal sleep. When a person breathes his last breath, it is customary to put a bowl of holy water and a bowl of kutya (boiled cereal with honey) on the window. After washing the deceased with warm water, he is dressed in clean, always new, light-colored clothes. There are times when the dead "come" (more often in a dream), if they were dressed in old or inappropriate clothes. Often they "ask" to send a new one to a certain address. It's amazingbut when the relatives of the deceased appear at the indicated coordinates with an update for him, they go … to the funeral. In this case, things must be put in the coffin of the deceased, thus transferring a message with him to his deceased relative.
The deceased is wrapped in a shroud or blanket. The Orthodox are covered with a sheet with a crucifixion (they are sold in the church). This indicates that the deceased is under the protection of Christ.
In Orthodoxy, it is customary to admonish the deceased with the sacraments of repentance, communion and blessing of oil (this also facilitates the soul's transition to another world). In moments of separation of the soul from the body, a prayer for the departure is read - the Canon for the departure of the soul. After leaving the body, she meets the guardian angel given to her at baptism (he supports the soul in her "new" life). It is customary in Orthodoxy to put a pillow of cotton wool or dry grass under the head of the deceased (it is best to fill it with willow branches consecrated in the Church on Palm Sunday or birch leaves taken in the church on Trinity). Up to the funeral, the psalter is read over the coffin day and night (any pious person can do this, it is better to stand). The Psalter reproduces the variety of movements of the soul, gives it consolation (for the first 2 days it is on the ground - next to the body).
The coffin is upholstered with cloth or painted: for the elderly - in red with a black border, for a child - in pink with a black border, for young people - in white with a black border. They put it in the middle of the room, around it there are four candles (in the head, at the legs and on the sides), which symbolizes the cross and the transition of the deceased to the Kingdom of the true matchmaker.
When there is a deceased in the house, one should not laugh, speak loudly and excitedly, so as not to disturb the soul of the deceased. We need to remove the cat. There is an opinion that the dead hear and feel everything, so they do not speak badly about them.
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Why do they cover mirrors
When there is a deceased in the house, be sure to close all the mirrors. The mirror is considered the entrance to the other world, and it is curtained so that the soul of the deceased does not accidentally wander where it should not, but ascends to heaven.
The funeral
Black clothes are required as a sign of mourning. People come to the funeral with wreaths or flowers (an even number), which are placed around the coffin. During parting, relatives and friends are to the right of the headboard, and the rest are to the left. To prevent the deceased from “going” to his family, you can touch his feet covered with sheets and say: “Forgive me, goodbye”. Those who stay with the deceased for the night need to eat noodles for dinner: then everything will go without incident.
Those accompanying the funeral procession are holding candles. For women, their heads should be covered with a scarf, for men they should be naked (if it is very cold, then the hats are removed only before lowering the coffin).
A memorial service is ordered for the Orthodox in the church. The people carrying the coffin and the lid are wearing black bandages on the sleeves. A portrait, wreaths, awards on pillows (if any), a lid, then a coffin are brought out to the sound of funeral music. (It would be nice to put the deceased's favorite thing in it)
To prevent the deceased from “coming”, one of his family members during the funeral must pick up any twig lying on the road along which the procession passes, and, breaking it into three parts, throw it onto the threshold, from where the deceased was taken out. In this case, one should say: "As the deceased moved across this branch for the last time, so you (name) will cross this threshold for the last time."
In order not to bring death into their home, during the funeral they say in a whisper: “Lord, do not give such grief. Amen!”, And after the burial they warm their hands near the stove (or near the oven).
If the house has a stove, then upon returning from the cemetery, persuade the person who buried the loved one to kneel in front of her and look into the blower. At the same time, say three times: "Do not grieve, do not grieve." It doesn't matter if the stove is fired or not.
Funeral
The commemoration of the departed is soul-saving not only for the deceased, but also for his relatives and friends. You cannot come to the commemoration without an invitation. Dark clothing is required. At the table, one place is left unoccupied (for the deceased) and one free appliance (the fork is placed on a plate). The custom of leaving a glass of vodka and a piece of bread for the deceased is a relic and has its roots in paganism.
You cannot drink at the commemoration, since wine is a symbol of earthly joy. The main dish on the table is kutia sprinkled with holy water (boiled cereals, rice, millet with honey). Prayers for the salvation of the soul of the deceased, memories of him are obligatory (they say only good things).
Wake is held on the third, ninth, fortieth day and on the anniversary of death. These are important moments in the life of the soul of the deceased. On the third day, an angel brings her to God for worship. From this moment until the ninth day, the soul travels with the angel through paradise. On the ninth day - her second worship before the Lord. Then the soul, together with the angel, descends into hell, visits its native places on earth, where the main moments of its existence took place, fully recalls the events - everything good and bad that was done. And on the fortieth day, she again appears before God for judgment, where she deserves a place for a new life in another world.
After the funeral, relatives hold mourning in memory of the deceased. Deep mourning (the dress is completely black) is worn by a widow (up to a year), a widower (up to six months), children (up to six months), grandmothers, grandfathers, brothers and sisters (up to three months). Then comes ordinary mourning (black is worn only on top): it is kept for three months, and then for another three months - half mourning (elements of black, white and gray are allowed in clothes). If at this mournful time there is a wedding of any of the relatives, then the mourning is removed for the celebration, and the next day they put on all black again. In summer, during the half-mourning period, light suits with a black ribbon are allowed.
Mourning is reverence for the memory of the deceased, the time for a person to deepen into himself and reflect on the meaning of life.
The main memorial days (according to Orthodox tradition) are Easter day, Trinity, Dmitrov and Pokrovskaya Saturdays, Saturday before the meat week (before Maslenitsa), Saturday before the second, third and fourth weeks of Great Lent, the day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, Tuesday and Monday of Thomas week. At this time, alms are distributed with a request to pray for the deceased. It is advisable to submit a note in the church with the name of the deceased for commemoration (for the liturgy), light candles, order a service for the repose. All this helps the deceased in another world. Author: M. Morozova
Source: “Interesting newspaper. Magic and mysticism"