Tomorrow (03Jun23) we will celebrate a "Soul Saturday" Liturgy in the church to pray for our departed loved ones.
St. Theophan the Recluse has this to say about this day:
No one is lazy in commemorating his own departed parents, but it is also necessary to commemorate all Orthodox Christians - and not only on this day, but at all times, in every prayer. We ourselves will be there [among the reposed], and will need this prayer as a poor person needs a piece of bread and a glass of water. Remember that prayer for the reposed is strong through its communality, in that it comes from the entire Church. The Church breathes prayer. Just as it is in nature, when during pregnancy a mother breathes and the strength she receives from this breath passes on to her child, so also in a grace-filled way the Church breathes a prayer which is shared by all, and the power of the prayer passes on to the reposed, who are held in the bosom of the Church, which is made up of the living and the dead, the militant and the triumphant. Do not be slothful about zealously commemorating all of our departed loved ones whenever you pray. It will be your alms for them.
See you on Soul Saturday!
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