Trinity Parents' Saturday: how to remember, what prayers to read, strict prohibitions

On June 7, Trinity Parents' Saturday will come — a special celebration dedicated to the memory of the deceased. In Orthodoxy, this Saturday belongs to the Ecumenical, since on this day not only relatives are commemorated, but also all people who have ever died. On Trinity Parents' Saturday, funeral services will be held in churches, which is important for believers to attend. Izvestia tells us when the holiday appeared and how it should be held in 2025 according to Orthodox traditions.

Trinity Parents' Saturday: the meaning of the holiday on June 7

In Orthodoxy, there are eight special days a year when it is customary to commemorate deceased relatives and friends. They are called parental Saturdays, among which there are Myasopustnaya, Saturdays of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Great Lent, on Radonitsa, Troitskaya, Memorial Day of Orthodox Soldiers and Dimitrievskaya.

These days, Christians ask God to give rest to the souls of "all those who have rested forever" and grant them life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Believers pray for the repose of the souls of the dead, visit cemeteries, worship services and set a memorial table.

At the same time, Myasopustnaya, celebrated before the week of the Last Judgment, and Troitskaya, which believers celebrate before the Day of the Holy Trinity, were named Ecumenical Parental Saturdays. These days, every person who has ever died an unnatural death is commemorated. Thus, the ecumenical commemoration on June 7 makes it possible to ensure that no one loses the prayers of the Church.

Parents' Saturdays in 2025: how to properly memorialize the deceased on Parents' Day

A total of nine special memorial days are expected during the year

Trinity Saturday 2025: the history of the memorable date

The tradition of commemorating the dead before major church holidays originated in the first centuries of the Christian Church, it is considered the last day of the Church of the Old Testament. After her comes the New Testament and the traditions associated with Jesus Christ. Since ancient times, it has been established that on the day of Pentecost (Trinity) there is a divine atonement for the sins of the living and the dead, therefore, on Trinity Parents' Saturday it was important to pray for the deceased "all from time immemorial": not only relatives, friends and acquaintances, but also for the missing, those who died in wars and disasters, and in general all the deceased from the beginning of time. That is why Trinity Saturday is called Ecumenical.

Universal Memorial Day has a rolling date that depends on the celebration of the Holy Trinity, the two—hundredth feast day established in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit and the apostles. The Feast of the Trinity falls on the 50th day after Easter and is celebrated a few days before the beginning of the Apostolic or Peter's Fast. In 2025, the feast of the Holy Trinity falls on June 8, respectively, believers will celebrate Trinity Parents' Saturday on June 7.

Trinity Parents' Saturday: how to remember, what prayers to read, strict prohibitions

How to properly ask for the repose of the souls of the dead on Universal Parental Saturday

Universal Parental Saturday before Trinity: prayers and prohibitions

Over the long history of the church celebration, certain traditions of its celebration have developed. On Trinity Parents' Saturday, believers attend a service in the church, where the Divine Liturgy is held, after which the funeral service begins. The church service is usually held from 9:00 a.m.

On Trinity Saturday, believers write memorial notes in the church, place candles, and turn to God and the saints with prayers for the repose of their loved ones. The note should contain the full name of the deceased in the genitive case. If there is a clergyman among the relatives, his name is written at the very top. On this day, you can order a Sorokoust for 40 days, six months or a year, so that the name of a relative is mentioned at church services.

During Trinity Parents' Saturday, it is allowed to bring lenten food, homemade cakes, sweets, fruits and liturgical wine to the church for consecration. For this purpose, memorial tables are set up in temples and churches. Consecrated products are distributed to everyone, so that everyone remembers the deceased. After leaving the temple, believers give alms to the poor with a request to pray for their loved ones who have left this world.

It is also customary to visit the cemetery on the day of Universal Parental Sabbath. Lamps are lit at the burial sites of relatives and loved ones, and the graves themselves are cleaned, cleaned of debris and dirt, and decorated with coniferous branches or fresh flowers. Food and sweets should not be left on graves. It is better to bring memorial food to the church or give it to those in need.

On June 7, the day of the celebration of Trinity Parents' Saturday, the church recommends reading the prayers "Rest with the Saints" and "Eternal Memory." The memorial table is also an important element of the Orthodox celebration. At first, according to existing traditions, borscht, solyanka or okroshka are prepared. The second course includes fish with potatoes or meat with vegetables, egg dishes, salads with fresh vegetables, jelly, pancakes and pies with fillings. It is allowed to drink a small amount of wine.

Neighbors and friends are invited to the memorial meal to remember the deceased with kind words. When mentioning the dead at the table, it is necessary to say: "May the earth rest in peace."

According to church and folk traditions, on this day one should not be very sad, grieve and shed tears, since Trinity Saturday is a bright Orthodox holiday. Quarreling, swearing, and loudly arguing are also prohibited.

The Church advises to refrain from attending and organizing entertainment events such as weddings and merry feasts on June 7. On this day, it is better not to engage in heavy physical labor and housework. It is important to devote most of the time on Trinity Parents' Saturday to memorial prayers.

Congratulations in your own words on the parents' Saturday before Trinity

"Today is a special day for all Orthodox believers — Trinity Parents' Saturday. Let prayers sound and candles burn brightly in memory of all those who have already left this world. May the Lord forgive them all their earthly sins and grant them peace in the kingdom of heaven!"

"On Trinity Parents' Saturday, we pray for the deceased to give them the opportunity to live in our hearts. Let only good things be remembered on this day, and the sadness of separation from loved ones will be bright and light. Take care of each other and keep faith in the Lord in your soul."

"Trinity Parents' Saturday is a celebration of memory and bright sadness. Remembering our relatives and friends, let's put aside earthly affairs for a while and turn our mental gaze to the kingdom of heaven. May their souls find peace, and we will pray for the remission of their sins."