Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday – 2025: date, traditions and proper commemoration of the deceased

Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday is a day when Orthodox Christians remember the dead, pray for their souls and observe traditions passed down from generation to generation. In 2025, the event falls on November 1st. How to commemorate the dead is in the Izvestia article.

What is Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday?

Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday is one of the days of commemoration of the deceased in the Orthodox tradition, dedicated to a special prayer for the souls of deceased relatives. Such Saturdays are called parental Ones in the church calendar, and their purpose is to remind the living of their spiritual connection with the dead and to provide help through prayer.

The name is closely related to the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Dmitry Solunsky, whose date of veneration coincides with the Saturday on which funeral services are held. Historically, it was on this day that Orthodox believers gathered in cemeteries, visited the graves of relatives, cleaned them and lit candles, believing that light and prayer help the soul of the deceased on the way to God.

In the Orthodox tradition, parental Saturdays are considered days of strict spiritual preparation. In the church, believers read special funeral prayers, order memorial services, and also remember the dead at home: they pray, light candles, and give alms. Special attention is paid to children and loved ones who have died recently, as well as those whose names are forgotten, but whose souls remain in the memory of the community.

Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday in 2025

In 2025, Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday falls on November 1. The date always falls on a Saturday, as this day in the Christian tradition symbolizes the day of remembrance of the deceased. Orthodox priests recommend preparing for this day in advance in order to conduct spiritual rituals as fully as possible and pay attention to family memory.

The importance of this day for believers is especially emphasized in rural areas and small towns, where the traditions of the ancestors are preserved especially clearly. In large cities, services are held in churches, and special areas for memorial prayers are organized in cemeteries. Akathists are often read in churches and forty-word prayers are ordered for the repose of the souls of all the deceased.

Important symbolism and iconography of the Apostle Bartholomew: what is depicted and why

Traditions of Dmitrievskaya Saturday: how to commemorate the dead

There are a number of traditions that are observed on this day. The main one is a visit to the cemetery. Believers clean graves, bring fresh flowers, light candles and say prayers. It is also customary to treat those in need, distribute bread, sweets or small donations in honor of the deceased.

Memorial services and prayer services are held in churches, and sometimes services are held in several churches at once so that people can choose a convenient time to visit. The memorial service includes the reading of prayers, the recitation of the names of the dead and funeral hymns addressed to God with a request to grant peace and forgiveness of sins to the deceased.

At home, families also observe certain rituals. Memorial dishes are served on the table: kutia, boiled buckwheat with honey, pancakes or other traditional dishes. It is believed that sharing food with relatives and neighbors is a sign of respect for the deceased and an opportunity to maintain a spiritual connection with them. Special attention is paid to children who are brought up to understand the importance of remembering their ancestors and family roots.

Dmitrievskaya Saturday: what not to do

As with other parental Saturdays, there are certain prohibitions. On this day, it is strongly discouraged to engage in heavy physical labor, especially using sharp or metal tools, as this was considered dangerous for the soul of the deceased and could lead to unhappiness.

It is also forbidden to quarrel, slander, envy and have too much fun. Folk wisdom says that excessive joy on this day can be replaced by grief, and conflicts attract illnesses and troubles. Animal abuse and neglect of family responsibilities were also considered unfavorable. In homes, they try to maintain an atmosphere of peace, silence and concentration in order to properly tune in to prayer and spiritual commemoration.

Special attention is paid to the dead. You can't speak ill of them, swear at them, or spread rumors about the lives of the dead. It is believed that such actions prevent souls from finding peace and can affect living relatives.