February 22 - Parents' Day: why it is called Ecumenical Meat Loaf Saturday, whom to remember

Ecumenical Parents' Saturdays - days of remembrance for all deceased Christians - occupy a special place in the Orthodox calendar. According to the church statutes, at this time it is customary to pray not only for relatives, but also for all believers, regardless of their origin and time of death. The first Parents' Saturday of the year is called Meat Feast Saturday and falls on the week before Shrovetide. "Izvestia" tells about its meaning, as well as about whom and how to memorialize.

Parents' Day in February - the meaning of the day of remembrance

Ecumenical Meat-Passover Saturday is celebrated two days before the beginning of Shrovetide week. In 2025, it falls on February 22. This is the first special day of remembrance dedicated to all Christians. The next Ecumenical Parents' Saturday is called Trinity Saturday, because of its proximity to the feast of the Holy Trinity. This year it falls on June 7.

One of the grounds for the establishment of Meat Feast Parents' Saturday was the apostolic tradition about how the first Christians on certain days gathered in cemeteries to honor the memory of deceased brothers and sisters in faith. In the 5th century, the Venerable Savva the Sanctified included such days of commemoration in the Jerusalem Statute, by which Orthodox churches live to this day. This is how the faithful came to have Parents' Sabbaths.

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The Ecumenical Meatless Saturday is considered to be Parents' Saturday because of the fact that on Sunday of the penultimate week before Lent the central themes of the divine services are the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment. That is why the Church remembers all believers "from Adam to those who have fallen asleep today".

Ecumenical (Meat-loosing) Parents' Saturday - why it is so called

Meat-Lent Parents' Saturday got its name because it falls on the eve of Meat-Lent week - the penultimate Sunday before the multi-day Lent. After it begins Cheese Week, popularly known as Shrovetide Week.

According to the church statutes, at this time believers are not allowed to eat meat, but can eat dairy products, fish and eggs. Hence the word "Meat-Lent," meaning that believers are preparing to "let go" of meat until Easter.

Who to remember on Parents' Day, February 22

On Meat-Launching Saturday it is customary to remember not only the deceased father and mother, but also other deceased relatives, as well as all Christians who have ever lived. Prayers are also said for those who died suddenly or for unnatural reasons, such as accident, war, famine, epidemic, etc. This is necessary so that no one is left without remembrance, which from the point of view of Orthodoxy is extremely important for the soul.

It is believed that after death a person can no longer pray for the remission of his sins and do good deeds as a sign of repentance, so relatives, spouses or friends should do it for him. In this way they can alleviate the posthumous fate of a loved one and even save him from eternal torment in hell.

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If a person passed away alone, the church will pray for him. For this purpose, on the evening of the Friday before the Meat Feast Saturday, a parastasis - a great funeral service for all deceased Christians - is celebrated in churches. At this time, believers can also submit notes with the names of relatives or put a candle for repose, but clergy are encouraged to pray for other people as well.

According to Orthodox tradition, the deceased should be remembered first and foremost through prayer. If necessary, you can visit the cemetery, put in order the tombstone and the area around it, as well as read the requiem litia for the laity. But it is forbidden to leave food and alcohol on the graves, as it is considered a relic of paganism. After the service is allowed to hold a memorial meal in the family circle, but without alcohol.

Earlier "Izvestia" told how to correctly put candles for the repose.