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On All Souls’ Day Orthodox Christians honor the memory of their dearly departed

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Today, on All Souls’ Day-Meatfare Saturday, Orthodox Christians honor the memory of their dearly departed. All Souls’ Day always takes place before the start of the Great Lent. On this day, after the Saturday service, Orthodox Christians pay tribute to the dead by attending a common memorial ceremony in the temples at which bread, wine and wheat are laid out, as well as the favourite food of the deceased. 

The priests thurify the food with incense and say the names of the departed. After the prayer the food is handed out. On Friday before Meatfare Saturday, the relatives of the deceased go to their graves to clean them, plant flowers and pray for their souls. They hand out food with the words: God rest their souls.




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