When a loved one has not yet crossed the threshold of eternity, his relatives try in every possible way to show signs of attention and offer all possible help. This reveals the duty of fulfilling love for one’s neighbor, which is a mandatory responsibility in the Christian faith. But man is not eternal. There comes a moment for everyone. However, this transition from one state of personality to another should not be marked by leaving behind the memory of. A person is alive as long as he is remembered. It is a religious duty to organize memorial dinners in memory of all who knew the latter during his lifetime.
The semantic meaning of 9 days after the death of a person
According to Orthodox doctrine, the human soul is immortal. This is confirmed by practice in the Christian tradition. Church Tradition teaches that for the first three days after death, the soul remains on earth in those places that were especially loved by it. Then she ascends to God. The Lord shows the soul the heavenly abodes in which the righteous are blissful.
The personal self-consciousness of the soul is touched, it marvels at what it sees, and the bitterness from leaving the earth is no longer so strong. This happens over six days. Then the angels ascend the soul again to worship God. It turns out that this is the ninth day, on which the soul sees its Creator for the second time. In memory of this, the Church establishes a wake, at which it is customary to gather in a narrow family circle. Commemoration is ordered in churches, prayers are offered to God for the pardon of the deceased. There is a statement that there is no one who has lived and not. Also, the semantic meaning of the number nine is the memory of the Church about the corresponding number of angelic ranks. It is the angels who accompany the soul, showing it all the beauties of paradise.
The fortieth day is the time of private judgment of the soul
After nine days, the soul is shown the hellish abodes. She observes all the horror of incorrigible sinners, feels fear and awe of what she sees. Then for a day he again ascends to God for worship, only this time a private judgment of the soul also takes place. This date is always considered the most important in the afterlife of the deceased. There is no tradition of transfer, no matter what day they fall on.
The soul is judged for all the deeds a person has done during his lifetime. And after this, the place of her stay until the second coming of Christ is determined. It is especially important these days to pray and give alms in memory of a relative or friend who has left this world. A person asks God for mercy, the opportunity to grant a blessed fate to a deceased person.
The number 40 has its own meaning. Even in the Old Testament it was prescribed to preserve the memory of the deceased for 40 days. In New Testament times, semantic analogies can be drawn with the Ascension of Christ. So, it was on the 40th day after His resurrection that the Lord ascended to heaven. This date is also a memory of the fact that the human soul, after death, again goes to its Heavenly Father.
In general, holding a wake is an act of mercy towards living people. Lunch is offered as alms in memory of, and other rituals are performed that testify to a person’s faith in the immortality of the soul. This is also the hope for the salvation of each individual person.
What should the relatives of the deceased do on the ninth day? How to calculate it? We will tell you about the rules and meaning of the funeral dinner, prayer and visiting the cemetery on this day.
Start of articleWhy are 9 days after a person's death so important? Why is it necessary to organize a wake and order a service in the church? We will tell you what needs to be taken into account when organizing a memorial dinner and how, according to all church canons, to spend the ninth day after the death of a loved one.
Remember that this particular day is “uninvited”, so it is not customary to invite guests to it. Relatives and friends of the deceased come at their own request to the memorial meal, those who with all their hearts want to once again remember the person and honor his blessed memory.
The funeral begins with the prayer "Our Father", after which the first dish - kutia - is served. It is usually made from wheat or rice with the addition of honey and raisins. It is advisable that the kutia be consecrated in the church, however, if this is not possible, it is enough to simply sprinkle it with holy water. This dish is very symbolic, it means eternal life: just as grain sprouts in the ground, so a person is reborn in Christ.
Despite the fact that 9 days have already passed since the date of death, alcohol, fun, laughter, foul language and funny songs are still unacceptable at the table. Also, one should not remember the not best sides of the deceased, his bad deeds and vices. The phrase “The kingdom of heaven to the deceased” is more of a formality. Therefore, so that your requests for a better fate for the soul of the deceased are actually heard, try to pray fully.
Don’t make it a rule: more food is better than a wake. It’s good if the meal for 9 days after death is modest, without any frills. After all, what is important is not the fact of eating, but the fact that people came for whom the deceased mattered more; what is important is that now they are together, supporting each other and are ready to help the grieving.
If the funeral took place during Lent on a weekday, then you must wait until the weekend. The appearance of those present also plays some role. So, women should have their heads covered, their hair gathered under scarves. Men, on the other hand, must remove their hats.
During the wake, we must not forget about those in need. Especially if you have leftover food. It's good to go out into the street and give it to the poor. In addition, you need to order a prayer service for the deceased. This can be done at the church kiosk by simply submitting a note with the name of the deceased. Also, if possible, you should go to the grave of a loved one. When visiting a cemetery, clean the grave and light a candle. If there is an opportunity to invite a priest to perform a litia, do so; if this is not possible, read the prayer yourself. Try to refrain from talking; it is much better if you simply remember the deceased in your thoughts. Under no circumstances should you hold a funeral ceremony at the burial site itself. You cannot eat or drink anything in the cemetery. It is considered blasphemy to leave a glass of vodka with bread “for the deceased,” and even more so to pour it on a grave mound.
Remember that it is necessary to organize a wake immediately after the funeral, for 9 days, 40 days and after a year after death. You can also organize memorial dinners on the birthday of the deceased and on the day of his Angel.
Many people wonder how to count day 9? Here you need to be very careful, because according to Orthodox canons, the count begins from the day of a person’s death, even if he died at the end of the day, but no later than midnight. For example, a person passed away on May 12. According to mathematical calculations (12+9), it is necessary to celebrate the funeral on May 21, but in reality this should be done on the 20th. In people’s lives, there are also situations when they managed to bury a person not on the third day, but on the fifth or sixth. When should the funeral be celebrated in this case? 9 days and 40 days are counted from the date of death, but the first memorial meal is organized on the day of the funeral.
Don't treat the ninth day as a formality to be observed. Remember that these days it depends on you whether you will harm the soul of the deceased or help it.
You will find a canteen, cafe or restaurant for organizing a funeral table in the section Holding funerals of our portal
9th day after death. Why do we consider it a special day? Christians believe that a person's life does not end with his earthly existence. After all, a person is not only his body. From the Holy Scriptures we know that a person’s body is mortal, but his soul is eternal. After death, the soul meets God. This meeting happens differently for everyone. For some it is difficult because of the sins accumulated in earthly life, while for others they experience the great joy of meeting their Heavenly Father. But all people need support through prayer these days. You can pray in a church, in a cemetery, or privately. A person’s soul is poisoned by sin and a meeting with the Perfect God can become a great test for the soul of the deceased. But we know that the Lord is merciful and hears our prayers, granting us remission of sins. Therefore, we can pray for the deceased. Reception, from Church Tradition we know that some days in a person’s afterlife will be especially important and difficult for him. It is on these days that a person’s soul meets God, his posthumous fate is decided, he reviews the days of his earthly life and often suffers from his sins, from the memory of moments when he could not refuse the temptation to do something unrighteous. What is happening to the soul these days? How can you help the deceased?
9 days after death - meaning in Orthodoxy
3 days, 9 days after death, 40 days... These dates are an important moment for the soul of the deceased person. According to Church Tradition, the soul remains next to the body for up to 3 days after death. She has already moved into a new state, but has not yet completely left this world. On the third day, a person’s soul goes to the Lord, where it can see the heavenly abodes. On the ninth day, the soul appears before God and can find out what hell is, eternal life without the Lord. On the 9th day, the time of purification begins for the human soul. Being without the support of loved ones on this day can be difficult for the soul. A person’s posthumous memory is preserved; his soul knows and remembers that there are people left in earthly life who can pray for him. Memory is a part of the human personality and nowhere is it said that when it gets to heaven, the human soul completely loses contact with this world. Moreover, there is a terrible meeting with the abodes of hell ahead. This meeting lasts longer because one enters the Kingdom of Heaven through the “narrow gate.” The abodes of hell are much larger than those of heaven. But the fortieth day will determine the further fate of a person until the Last Judgment; the soul of the deceased will remain in Paradise or in hell until the moment the Lord comes “to judge the living and the dead,” and a new world comes. During the Last Judgment, where the fate of all people will be finally decided, they will be resurrected.
What happens to the soul of the deceased on the 9th day after death
Traveling through heaven and hell is a figurative concept. We know nothing for certain about how exactly God and the human soul meet after death. In earthly life, a person cannot see God, so there is no doubt that after traveling through the heavenly abodes, meeting God is a responsible and important moment. The Guardian Angel led a person through the Kingdom of Heaven and, behold, the person finds himself worshiped by the Heavenly Father. Man is imperfect; in earthly life he committed many sins. And it is difficult for the soul to withstand the meeting with the perfect Creator. Superstitious beliefs often depict hell as a place with frying pans and boiling cauldrons. In reality, we only know figuratively that we are waiting for a person who does not end up in Paradise. All we know for sure is that life without God is torment for man, and all the good things we have in this earthly and future life come from God. We don't have an exact promise. 3 days, 9 days after death and 40 days after death are numbers that appear frequently in the Bible. Perhaps 9 days after death is a very long time in our understanding, but we perceive days as earthly time, heavenly time can go completely differently. You need to calculate 9 days after death correctly. The usual mathematical method (add 9 days to the day of death of a person) is the wrong way. To correctly calculate 9 days from the date of death, we need to take into account the date on which the person died. Even if it happened at 11 pm. If a person died on November 4, the 9th day from the date of death is November 12. It is imperative to take into account the date of death, if the death occurred within 24 hours of November 4, this day is also taken into account when calculating. We know one thing for certain about the 9th day after death, the 40th day after death - these milestones become special and the most important for the human soul in his afterlife.
Funeral service on the 9th day after death
The best thing for the soul of a deceased person is to go to the cemetery on the 9th day and ask the priest to perform a memorial service. Of course, you can pray for a person’s soul privately. We don't know exactly how our prayer works. When discussing such things, one can only make assumptions, but the Church clearly says that prayer these days eases the lot of the deceased and gives comfort to the relatives and friends of the person who has passed on to eternal life. There are various prejudices and superstitions that say that you should not visit a cemetery on the 9th day after death. But all statements that this is a bad omen or can somehow harm a person’s soul are untrue. The Church resolutely rejects superstitious beliefs that are not based on Church Tradition. The experience of the Church suggests that a person can go to a cemetery, or he can not go if he does not have such an opportunity. The main thing is to pray for the soul of the deceased.
9 days after death - what should the relatives of the deceased do?
The death of a loved one or relative always gives rise to grief. God created us for eternal life, which is why death is perceived by our minds as something abnormal, contrary to human nature, frightening and wrong. “Death is the only penance that not a single person has escaped,” say the priests. With death we pay for the imperfection of this world in which we find ourselves as a result of Original Sin. Our body is forcibly separated from our soul and, of course, this is a test for both the deceased and his loved ones. The human soul will pass into eternity in the state in which death found it. We never know when we will convert to God, which is why we need to try to live with dignity and righteousness throughout our lives. But Christians have consolation. We know that our Lord, Jesus Christ, “trampled down death by death.” The Lord took upon ourselves our sins so that we could enter into eternal life. He conquered death. By His mercy, God has given us the opportunity to help the soul of a person who can no longer help himself through repentance. Paisiy Svyatogorets said “the best memorial service for the deceased is the correction of one’s own life.” Therefore, sincere prayer, without a formal approach, pleases God, and we can indeed still help our loved ones if we pray for them after their death.
If you do not have the opportunity to invite a priest, you can read a litany about the deceased for a layman. There is a special rite of litia, which is performed by the laity privately and in the cemetery. Despite the fact that we cannot know exactly what our prayer gives to the soul of the deceased, we have some spiritual experience that the Russian Orthodox Church has accumulated and we know that God always hears our prayers. He also sees a sincere desire to help the deceased, the love of neighbors for a person who has moved to a new world.
In prayers for the deceased, we ask that on the 9th day after death, upon meeting God, the person’s soul receives indescribable joy and consolation, and not sorrow over its unworthy life.
What prayers to read on the 9th day after death
The rite of litia, which the laity performs privately and at the grave of the deceased, differs from the rite of litia, which is read by the clergy.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Three times)
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God. (Bow)
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)
Psalm 90
Living in the help of the Most High, he will settle in the shelter of the Heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my intercessor, and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap and from rebellious words, His blanket will cover you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing that passes in darkness, from the cloak and demon of the midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you: behold your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not come close to your body. As His angel commanded you, keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, but not when you dash your foot against a stone. Tread on the asp and the basilisk, and cross the lion and the serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver; I will cover and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him; I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him and glorify him; I will fill him with long days, and show him My salvation.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to You, O God. (Thrice)
Troparion, tone 4:
From the spirits of the righteous who have passed away, rest the soul of Your servant, O Savior, preserving it in the blessed life that belongs to You, O Lover of Mankind.
In Thy chamber, O Lord, where all Thy saints rest, rest also the soul of Thy servant, for Thou art the only Lover of mankind.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Thou art God, who descended into hell, and loosed the bonds of the bound, and give rest to Thy servant Himself and the soul.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
One Pure and Immaculate Virgin, who gave birth to God without a seed, pray for his soul to be saved.
Sedalen, voice 5th:
Rest, our Savior, with the righteous of Thy servant, and this one is lodged in Thy courts, as it is written, despising, as Good, his sins, voluntary and involuntary, and all those in knowledge and not in knowledge, Lover of mankind.
Kontakion, tone 8:
With the saints, rest, O Christ, the soul of Your servant, where there is no sickness, no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life.
Ikos:
Thou art the One Immortal One, who created and created man, on earth we were created from the earth, and to the other earth we will go, as you commanded, Who created me and gave me: as you are the earth, and you will go to the earth, and even all men will go, a funeral lament creating a song : alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy (Thrice), bless.
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
In the blessed dormition, grant eternal rest, O Lord, to Thy departed servant. (Name), and create eternal memory for him.
Everlasting memory. (Thrice)
His soul will dwell in the good, and his memory throughout generation and generation.
The death of a person is accompanied by certain traditions. People who have lost a loved one or acquaintance are often faced with dates following the funeral: 3 days, 9 days, 40 days. There is a desire to gather in a close circle and... But how to count 9 days after death?
Detailed countdown
The day of death is considered the first day. To calculate 9 days, you need to add the number 8. For example, the 5th of the month. The 9th day falls on the 13th. Before midnight is the first day, even if death occurred a few minutes before 24 hours. A special commemoration occurs on the 9th day, because the soul is in heaven.
Carefully, without breaking the silence, acquaintances meet at the same table and talk about a person who is in another world. Lay people, attending memorial dinners, often forget about the mission entrusted to them and, instead of intense prayer, begin to talk about their own affairs.
From the 3rd to the 9th day the soul is given a place in heaven. There she rests and prepares for serious tests that come after 9 days. You can help her with frank prayer and conversation about the good deeds of the deceased person. You should not remember wrongdoings that cause resentment or bitterness.
Sincere prayer can support both the soul of the deceased and the one praying. Sacred words help reduce the pain of loss and calm worry and anxiety. By pronouncing phrases, a lay person gradually begins to think without sadness. You should not give in to vanity on this day, spend time in humility.
The person dies and the body is buried. It is the responsibility of relatives to observe the rituals of remembrance. In ancient times, meals were held to which the homeless and beggars were invited. Nowadays such traditions are not performed, and those who knew the deceased sit at the table.
Alms are distributed at the cemetery or in the church. Particularly needy parishioners welcome alms. With an open heart and pure thoughts, they will pray for the repose of the soul, calling the name and reading the necessary prayers. By giving away a package, you simultaneously help those who ask for help and remember a loved one.
According to Scripture, the soul of a deceased person is busy searching for a path. She does not know what is in store for her and what trials she will have to endure for her sins. But there is no other way out and everything that has already been done cannot be corrected. Relatives can help the soul with prayers and pleasant memories. It’s not for nothing that they say: “They either say good things about a dead person or nothing.”
On the ninth day, the deceased forgets about grief and pain. He begins to sincerely repent for the sins he has committed and the prayer of his family is a great support for him. The soul located in Paradise understands that the time is approaching to answer for the wrongdoings committed, but what has been done cannot be erased from the former life.
A special prayer joins the soul to the number of angels. The closest people who have passed on to another world become guardian angels, protecting the living person for a long time. Very often, the deceased mother protects the child, appearing to him in a dream. By giving advice, she often prevents an accident.
Important points on day 9
- Relatives and friends are encouraged to attend church. A small prayer and a candle for repose are the main details of this day.
- Visiting the grave of the deceased is not just a tribute to tradition. At the cemetery, a person begins to correlate his actions and evaluate his life. Along with memories comes awareness and understanding.
- Caramel and cookies are placed on the grave, millet is scattered and eggs are crumbled.
- On the 9th day, mirrors are opened, with the exception of the room of the deceased.
- Alms and small offerings of cookies and sweets are given.
The church orders a prayer service for the deceased. It is not always possible to read near the icon, because not all churches hold daily services. Reading the sacred word at home is also powerful. The main thing is that the spoken word is sincere and open. If you are in a hurry and fussiness is associated with a funeral dinner, postpone the prayer until the evening, when you can retire.
It’s not just relatives who read the prayer. The more appeals, the more likely a positive decision by the heavenly court. Relatives and acquaintances, uniting, beg for mercy for the soul. Therefore, it is important not only how to count 9 days after death, but also the behavior of relatives on this day.
After the funeral, the restless soul is between heaven and earth; Many relatives and close people of the deceased ask the main question of what happens to the soul on the 9th and 40th day of death. This is an important period for the deceased person, since it is decided where he will go next, where he will spend the rest of eternity in oblivion. The Holy Scripture says that 9 and 40 days after death are the beginning and end of the heavenly path; loved ones must help so that the soul goes to heaven and finds eternal peace.
Where does the soul reside after death?
According to believers, the souls of the deceased are immortal, and their afterlife fate is determined by the deeds done on earth during life - good or bad. In Orthodoxy, it is believed that the soul of the deceased does not immediately ascend to heaven, but at first remains in the places where the body previously lived. She will have to appear before God's Court, but in the meantime there is time to see her family and friends, say goodbye to them forever, and come to terms with the idea of her own death.
Where is the soul of the deceased until 9 days
The body is buried in a cemetery, but the soul of the deceased person is immortal. The Christian Church has established that the first day after death the soul is in confusion, cannot understand what is happening, and is afraid of separation from the body. On the second day, she wanders around her native place, remembers the best moments of her life, and observes the process of burying her own body. There are many places where the soul is after death, but all of them were once dear, close to the heart.
On the third day, she is ascended by angels to heaven, where the gates of paradise open. The soul is shown paradise, the opportunity to find eternal peace, a state of complete peace. On the fourth day, she is lowered underground and shown hell, where all the sins of the deceased and the payment for committing them during life are well known. The soul sees what is happening, waits for the Last Judgment, which begins on the ninth and ends on the fortieth day.
What happens to the soul on day 9
The question of why 9 days are celebrated after death has a well-reasoned answer. On this day, counted from the moment of death, the soul stands before God's court, where only the Almighty will decide where it will continue to spend eternity - in heaven or hell. Therefore, relatives and close people go to the cemetery, commemorate the deceased, and pray for his entry into heaven.
How to remember correctly
Knowing what happens on the 9th day after death, relatives must remember the deceased, and remember only the best and brightest things about his life and deeds. Church commemorations would not be out of place; for example, you can order a magpie for the repose, a memorial service or other Christian rituals in the church. This is only beneficial, plus the sincere faith of Orthodox Christians. God forgives the torment of sinners, and relatives and friends should not be too sad for the deceased. To remember correctly, you need:
- speak only good things about the deceased;
- set a modest table, exclude alcohol;
- remember only the good;
- do not laugh, do not have fun, do not rejoice;
- behave modestly, restrained.
What happens to the soul after 9 days
After the 9th day, the soul goes to hell, can clearly see all the torments of sinners, and sincerely repent. She must remember all her wrong actions, apologize, admit the wrongness of her own actions and thoughts. This is a difficult stage, so all relatives should only support the deceased in prayers, church rituals, thoughts, and memories. To reliably determine what happens to the deceased soul on the 9th and 40th days of death, it is necessary to resort to sacred scripture.
Where is the soul of the deceased until 40 days
Many people do not understand why they commemorate on 9 and 40 days. The answer is simple - this is the beginning and end of God's path, which the soul completes before receiving its place - in hell or heaven. It turns out that until the fortieth day from the moment of death of the deceased, she is between heaven and earth, experiencing all the pain and melancholy of her family and loved ones. Therefore, you should not grieve too much, otherwise it will be even more difficult for the deceased person to find eternal peace.
Why are 40 days celebrated after death?
This is a memorial day. It means farewell to a restless soul. On this day she acquires her place in eternity, finds peace, and experiences humility. The soul, up to forty days after death, is fragile and vulnerable, susceptible to other people’s thoughts, insults, and slander. She is torn from the inside by pain, but by the 40th day a deep calm comes - an awareness of her place in eternity. Then nothing happens, only oblivion, pleasant memories of the life lived.
How to remember correctly
Knowing what happens to the soul on the ninth and fortieth days of death, loved ones should treat it with compassion and ease its torment. To do this, you shouldn’t feel too bad for the deceased, throw yourself on the deceased’s chest and jump into the grave at the funeral. Such actions will only make the soul worse, and it will experience acute mental anguish. It is better to grieve in thoughts, pray more and wish her “A land that will rest in peace.” We must try to cope with emotions. All that is required from relatives is bright thoughts and complete humility, that God ordered it this way, nothing can be changed.
It is necessary to correctly remember the deceased on the 9th, 40th day, every year on the day of his sudden death. This is an unpleasant event for the whole family, which must follow all the rules. So.
