The strongest prayer for the repose of the soul on parental Saturday before Trinity

In early summer, Orthodox believers celebrate a special day of remembrance of the deceased — Trinity Parents' Saturday. It precedes the feast of the Holy Trinity and has no fixed date, as it is associated with Easter. In 2025, the holiday falls on June 7. Read about the spiritual meaning of Trinity Saturday, how to pray properly and submit notes in the Izvestia material.

Parents' Memorial Day before Trinity on June 7

Trinity Parents' Saturday precedes one of the main holidays of the Orthodox calendar — Pentecost, or Holy Trinity Day, which will be celebrated on June 8. According to the church charter, on the Saturday before Trinity, a special ecumenical commemoration of all deceased Orthodox Christians is celebrated.

Trinity Parents' Saturday does not have a fixed date and falls on different dates each year, depending on the day of Easter celebrations. Together with the Meat and Desert Sabbath, it is one of the two Universal Parental Saturdays, when prayers are addressed not only to the memory of relatives and friends, but also to everyone who has ever lived on earth, the unknown, the forgotten, the unrequited, those who died in battle or during natural disasters.

To whom and how to pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased

On this day, the church calls for especially intense prayer for the dead. Memorial services are held both in monasteries and in parish churches. Special prayers are read at the services, including troparia, kontakion, and readings from Scripture. The central part of the divine service is the Great Memorial Service, also called the parastas, a symbolic standing at the Cross of Christ, like the Virgin Mary and St. John the Theologian.

The tradition of parastas has its roots in Byzantium and in Russia, it was developed as a form of special spiritual participation of the living in the fate of the dead. It is an expression of love, support and comfort. The symbolism is enhanced by the fact that a cross, candles, icons and treats are placed on the funeral table, which are then consecrated and distributed as memorial gifts.

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In 2025, the holiday is celebrated on June 8th and 9th, respectively.

An extended prayer is also suitable for private commemoration, in which the name of the deceased is mentioned and forgiveness, mercy and participation in eternal life are asked. Such prayers are read not only in the temple, but also at home, in the cemetery, at the icon or in solitude.

Trinity Parents' Saturday – 2025: strong prayers

Prayer for the dead is considered the most effective form of helping those who have left this world. On this day, it is allowed to submit notes to temples, to order sorokoust — services during which the name of the deceased is mentioned daily for 40 days. You can also order a memorial service for six months or a year.

On the eve of the holiday, many believers attend an all-night vigil, where for the first time after Easter, the prayer "To the King of Heaven ..." is heard. This is a moment of special spiritual renewal and connection with the Church. The divine service is accompanied by an ecumenical memorial service. At this time, it is customary to read prayers for one's relatives (for example, for the father, mother, and children — for the parents), as well as for all deceased Christians.

The memorial service symbolizes the common spiritual unity of the living and dead members of the Church. Of particular importance are prayers for those who died suddenly, were not buried, or did not have time to repent. The Church also allows prayer for those who have voluntarily passed away, but with caution and awareness that this sin requires repentance. There is a special rite of consolation for the relatives of such deceased.

You can also pray at home — a short but effective prayer.: "Rest, Lord, the souls of Your departed servants: my parents, relatives, benefactors (their names) and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all their sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven."

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How to file notes of repose in the church

Funeral notes in churches are served by believers on the eve or on the day of Trinity Saturday itself, but before the service begins. The names are written in the genitive case, first — the names of the clergy, if they were among relatives and relatives, then — all the rest of the deceased.

On the note they usually write: "For the repose" — and then the names: "The newly deceased John", "the departed servant of God Mary" and so on. At the same time, it is not customary to include baptized Catholics, Protestants or unbaptized in such lists — the canons of the Orthodox Church do not allow this.

It is important to maintain a respectful tone and write carefully. The note can be given to the candlelighter or dropped into a special box on the eve. Services usually start at 9 a.m. After the memorial service, you can put candles and briefly pray at the eve, the place where candles are lit for the deceased.

It is also customary to visit cemeteries on Trinity Saturday. Graves are put in order, decorated with greenery, lamps are put up, prayers are read, and the departed are remembered. It is permissible to bring consecrated foods and distribute them to those in need — in memory of the dead.

Earlier, Izvestia named the most powerful prayers for the Ascension of the Lord.