In countries where historically there are long and strong Christian traditions, everyone knows that after human death of particular importance are the third day after the sad event, the ninth day and the fortieth day. Almost everyone knows, but many cannot say exactly why these dates - 3 days, 9 days and 40 days - are so important. What happens, according to traditional ideas, with the soul of a person until the ninth day after his departure from earthly life?

Soul Path

Christian ideas about the posthumous path of the human soul may differ depending on one or another denomination. And if there are still few differences in the Orthodox and Catholic picture of the afterlife and the fate of the soul in it, then in various Protestant movements the range of opinions is very large - from almost complete identity with Catholicism to moving away from tradition, up to the complete denial of the existence of hell as places of eternal torment for the souls of sinners. Therefore, the Orthodox version of what happens to the soul in the first nine days after the beginning of a different, afterlife is more interesting.

The patristic tradition (that is, the recognized body of works of the Fathers of the Church) says that after the death of a person for almost three days, his soul has almost complete freedom. She not only has all the “baggage” from earthly life, that is, hopes, affections, fullness of memory, fears, shame, the desire to complete some unfinished business, and so on, but she is also able to be anywhere. It is generally accepted that during these three days the soul is either near the body, or, if a person died away from home and family, next to his loved ones, or in those places that for some reason were especially expensive or remarkable for this person. On the third tribute, the soul loses the complete freedom of its behavior and is taken by angels to Heaven to worship the Lord there. That is why on the third day, according to tradition, it is necessary to hold a memorial service and thus finally say goodbye to the soul of the deceased.

After worshiping God, the soul goes on a kind of “tour” around paradise: the Kingdom of Heaven is shown to it, it gets an idea of ​​what paradise is, sees that unity of righteous souls with the Lord, which is the goal of human existence, meets with the souls of saints, and the like. This “sightseeing” journey of the soul through paradise lasts six days. And here, according to the Fathers of the Church, the first torments of the soul begin: seeing the heavenly pleasure of the saints, she understands that, due to her sins, she is not worthy to share their fate and is tormented by doubts and fear that she will not go to heaven. On the ninth day, the angels again carry the soul to God so that it can glorify His Love for the saints, which she had just been able to personally observe.

What is important these days for the living

However, according to the Orthodox worldview, nine days after death should not be taken as an exclusively otherworldly matter, which does not seem to concern the surviving relatives of the deceased. On the contrary, forty days after the death of a person are for his relatives and friends the time of the greatest convergence of the earthly world and the Kingdom of Heaven. Because it is during this period that the living can and must make every effort to contribute to the best possible fate of the soul of the deceased, that is, its salvation. To do this, you need to constantly pray, hoping for God's mercy and forgiveness of the soul of its sins. This is important from the point of view of determining the fate of the human soul, that is, where it will await the Last Judgment, in heaven or hell. At the Last Judgment, the fate of each soul will be finally decided, so that those of them who were placed in hell have the hope that prayers for her will be heard, she will be forgiven (if they pray for a person, even though he committed many sins, which means that there was something good in him) and will be awarded a place in paradise.

Ninth day after human death is in Orthodoxy, no matter how strange it may sound, almost festive. People believe that for the last six days the soul of the deceased has been in paradise, albeit as a guest, and now it can adequately praise the Creator. Moreover, it is believed that if a person led a righteous life and with his good deeds, love for his neighbor and repentance for his own sins won the favor of the Lord, then his posthumous fate can be decided after nine days. Therefore, those close to a person should, firstly, pray especially hard for his soul on this day, and secondly, hold a memorial meal. commemoration on the ninth day, from the point of view of tradition, they should be “uninvited” - that is, they do not need to specially invite anyone. Those who wish the soul of the deceased all the best must themselves remember this responsible day and come without reminders.

However, in reality, wakes are almost always invited in a special way, and if more people are expected than the dwelling can accommodate, then they are held in restaurants or similar establishments. commemoration on the ninth day, this is a calm remembrance of the deceased, which should not turn into either an ordinary party or mourning gatherings. It is noteworthy that the Christian concept of the special significance of three, nine and forty days after the death of a person has been adopted by modern occult teachings. But they gave these dates a different meaning: according to one version, the ninth day is indicated by the fact that during this period the body supposedly decomposes; according to another, at this turn, one of the bodies dies, after the physical, mental and astral, which can appear as a ghost. 40 days after death: the last frontier

In the Orthodox tradition, the third, ninth and fortieth days after the death of a person have a certain meaning for his soul. But it is the fortieth day that is of particular importance: for believers, this is the boundary that finally separates earthly life from eternal life. So 40 days after death, from a religious point of view, the date is even more tragic than the very fact of physical death.

Fight for the soul between hell and heaven

According to Orthodox ideas, which come from the holy cases described in the Lives, from the theological works of the Fathers of the Church and from canonical services, the soul of a person from the ninth to the fortieth day passes through a series of obstacles called air ordeals. From the moment of death until the third day, a person's soul resides on earth and can be near their loved ones or travel anywhere. From the third to the ninth days, she stays in paradise, where she is given the opportunity to appreciate the blessings that the Lord, as a reward for a righteous or holy life, gives to souls in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The ordeals, however, begin from the ninth day and represent such obstacles in which nothing depends on the human soul itself. A person changes the ratio of his good and evil thoughts, words and deeds only in earthly life, after death he is no longer able to add or subtract anything. Ordeals are, in fact, "judicial competitions" between representatives of hell (demons) and paradise (angels), which have an analogy in the debate between the prosecutor and the lawyer. There are twenty ordeals in total, and they represent certain sinful passions to which all people are subject. During each ordeal, demons present a list of a person’s sins associated with this passion, and angels announce a list of his good deeds. It is generally accepted that if the list of sins for each ordeal turns out to be more solid than the list of good deeds, then the soul of a person goes to hell if, by God's mercy, good deeds do not multiply. If there are more good deeds, the soul moves on to the next ordeal, as in the case if there are equal numbers of sins and good deeds.

The final decision of the fate

The doctrine of aerial ordeals is not canonical, that is, it is not included in the main dogma of Orthodoxy. However, the authority of patristic literature has led to the fact that for many centuries such ideas about the posthumous path of the soul are actually the only ones within this religious denomination. The period from the ninth to fortieth day after death a person is considered the most important, and the fortieth day itself is perhaps the most tragic date, even compared to death itself. The fact is that, according to Orthodox ideas, on the fortieth day, after going through the ordeals and seeing all the horrors and torments that await sinners in hell, the human soul appears for the third time directly before God (for the first time - on the third day, the second time - on the ninth day). And it is at this moment that the fate of the soul is decided - where to stay until the Last Judgment, in hell or in the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is believed that by that time the soul had already passed all possible tests, which were to determine whether a person could earn salvation with his earthly life. The soul has already seen paradise and could feel how worthy or unworthy it is to share the fate of the righteous and saints. She has already gone through ordeals and imagines how numerous and serious her sins are. By this time, she should completely repent and trust only in God's mercy. That is why the fortieth day after death is perceived by the Church and relatives of the deceased as a key milestone, after which the soul goes either to heaven or hell. It is necessary to pray diligently for the soul of the deceased, based on at least three motives. Firstly, prayer can influence the Lord's decision regarding the fate of the soul: attention is drawn both to the very fact of indifference of those close to a person, and to the possible intercession before God of the saints whom they pray. Secondly, if the soul is nevertheless sent to hell, this does not yet mean final death for it: the fate of all people will be finally decided during the Last Judgment, which means that there is still an opportunity to change the decision by prayers. Thirdly, if the soul of a person has found the Kingdom of Heaven, it is necessary to adequately thank God for the mercy He has shown.

The question, of course, is very interesting to many, and there are two most popular views on it: scientific and religious.

• - the best amulet against the evil eye and damage!

What happens to the soul after death?

This question is of interest to many people, and now in Russia there is even an institution that is trying to measure the soul, weigh it and film it on camera. But in the Vedas it is described that the soul is immeasurable, it is eternal and always existing, and is equal to one ten thousandth of the tip of a hair, that is, very small. It is practically impossible to measure it with any material instruments. Think for yourself, how can you measure the intangible with tangible instruments? This is a mystery to people, a mystery.

The Vedas say that the tunnel described by people who have experienced clinical death is nothing but a channel in our body. There are 9 main openings in our body - ears, eyes, nostrils, navel, anus, genitals. There is a channel in the head called sushumna, you can feel it - if you close your ears, you will hear a noise. Temechko is also a channel through which the soul can exit. She can exit through any of these channels. After death, experienced people can determine to which sphere of being the soul went. If it came out through the mouth, then the soul returns to the earth again, if through the left nostril - towards the moon, through the right - towards the sun, if through the navel - it goes to the planetary systems that are below the Earth, and if through the genitals, then it enters to the lower realms. It so happened that I saw a lot of dying people in my life, in particular the death of my grandfather. At the moment of death, he opened his mouth, then there was a big exhalation. His soul came out through his mouth. Thus, the life force, together with the soul, leaves through these channels.

Where do the souls of the dead go?

After the soul has left the body, for 40 days it will stay in the place where it lived. It happens that people, after the funeral, feel that someone is present in the house. If you want to feel like a ghost, imagine eating ice cream in a plastic bag: there are possibilities, but you can't do anything, you can't taste anything, you can't touch anything, you can't physically move. When a ghost looks in the mirror, he does not see himself, and feels shock. Hence the custom of covering mirrors.

The first day after the death of the physical body, the soul is in shock because it cannot understand how it will live without the body. Therefore it is customary in India to immediately destroy the body. If the body is dead for a long time, the soul will constantly circle around it. If the body is buried, she will see the decomposition process. Until the body rots, the soul will stay with it, because during its lifetime it was very attached to its outer shell, practically identified itself with it, the body was the most valuable and expensive.

On the 3-4th day, the soul comes to its senses a little, gets rid of the body, walks around the neighborhood, and returns to the house. Relatives do not need to arrange tantrums and loud sobs, the soul hears everything, and experiences these torments. At this time, you need to read the scriptures and literally explain what the soul should do next. Spirits hear everything, they are next to us. Death is a transition into a new life, death as such does not exist. Just as in life we ​​change clothes, so the soul changes one body for another. The soul during this period does not experience physical pain, but psychological pain, it is very worried and does not know what to do next. Therefore, it is necessary to help the soul and calm it down.

Then you need to feed her. When stress passes, the soul wants to eat. This state appears in the same way as during life. The subtle body wants to taste. And in response to this we put a glass of vodka and bread. Think for yourself, when you are hungry and thirsty, you are offered a dry crust of bread and vodka! How will you feel?

You can facilitate the further life of the soul after death. For this, the first 40 days do not need to touch anything in the room of the deceased and do not start sharing his things. After 40 days, on behalf of the deceased, you can do some good deed and transfer the power of this deed to him - for example, keep a fast on his birthday and declare that the power of fasting passes to the deceased. In order to help the deceased, you need to earn this right. Just lighting a candle is not enough. In particular, you can feed the priests or distribute alms, plant a tree, and all this must be done on behalf of the deceased.

The scriptures say that after 40 days the soul comes to the bank of the river called Virajya. This river is teeming with various fish and monsters. There is a boat by the river, and if the soul has enough piety to pay for the boat, it swims across, and if not, then it swims - such is the way to the courtroom. After the soul has crossed this river, the god of death Yamaraj awaits it, or in Egypt it is called Anibus. A conversation is being held with him, the whole life is shown as if on a film. There the further destiny is determined: in what body the soul will be born again and in what world.

By performing certain rituals, the ancestors can greatly help the dead, facilitate their further path, and even literally pull them out of hell.

Video - Where does the soul go after death?

Does a person feel the approach of his death

If in terms of premonitions, then there are examples in history when people predicted their death over the next few days. But this does not mean that everyone is capable of this. And don't forget about the great power of coincidences.

It may be interesting to know if a person is able to understand that he is dying:

• We all feel the deterioration of our own condition.
• Although not all internal organs have pain receptors, there are more than enough of them in our body.
• We even feel the arrival of a banal SARS. What can we say about death.
• Regardless of our desires, the body does not want to die in a panic and activates all resources to fight a serious condition.
• This process may be accompanied by convulsions, pain, severe shortness of breath.
• But not every sharp deterioration in well-being indicates the approach of death. Most often, the alarm will be false, so you should not panic in advance.
• Do not try to cope with conditions close to critical on your own. Call for help from everyone you can.

Signs of approaching death

As death approaches, a person may experience some physical and emotional changes, such as:

• Excessive drowsiness and weakness, at the same time periods of wakefulness decrease, energy fades.
• Breathing changes, periods of rapid breathing are replaced by respiratory arrests.
• Hearing and vision change, for example, a person hears and sees things that others do not notice.
• The appetite worsens, the person drinks and eats less than usual.
• Changes in the urinary and gastrointestinal systems. Your urine may turn dark brown or dark red, and you may also have bad (hard) stools.
• Body temperature fluctuates from very high to very low.
• Emotional changes, the person is not interested in the outside world and individual details of everyday life, such as time and date.

After the funeral, the restless soul is between heaven and earth; many relatives, close people of the deceased ask the main question what happens to the soul on the 9th and 40th day of death. This is an important period for the deceased person, as 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 is the beginning and end of the heavenly path, close people should help so that the soul goes to heaven, finds eternal rest.

Where does the soul reside after death?

According to believers, the souls of the dead are immortal, and their afterlife is determined by the deeds done on earth during their lifetime - 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 those places where the body previously lived. She will have to face God's Court, but for now there is time to see her relatives and friends, to say goodbye to them forever, to get used to the thought of her own death.

Where is the soul of the deceased up to 9 days

The body is buried in the 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 turmoil, unable to comprehend what is happening, frightened by separation from the body. On the second day, she wanders around her native places, remembers the best moments of her life, 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 their commission during life are well known. The soul sees what is happening, awaits the terrible 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, pray for his entry into paradise.

How to commemorate

Knowing what happens on the 9th day after death, relatives must definitely commemorate the deceased, and remember only the best, brightest about his life and deeds. Church commemorations will not be superfluous, for example, you can order a magpie for the repose, a memorial service or other Christian rites in the temple. This is only for the good, plus the sincere faith of Orthodox Christians. God releases torment to sinners, and relatives and friends should not be greatly killed 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, sincerely repent. She must remember all her wrong deeds, confess, 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. In order to reliably determine what happens to the deceased soul on the 9th and 40th days of death, it is necessary to resort to scripture.

Where is the soul of the deceased up to 40 days

Many do not understand why they commemorate for 9 and 40 days. The answer is simple - this is the beginning and end of God's path, which the soul makes before getting its place - in hell or heaven. It turns out that until the fortieth day from the moment of the death of the deceased, she is between heaven and earth, experiencing all the pain, longing of her relatives, close people. Therefore, you should not grieve much, otherwise it will be even harder for a deceased person to find eternal peace.

Why celebrate 40 days after death

This is memorial day. It means farewell to the restless soul. On this day, she acquires her place in eternity, finds peace, experiences humility. The soul up to forty days after death is fragile and vulnerable, susceptible to other people's thoughts, insults, slander. She is torn from the inside with pain, but by the 40th day comes a deep calm - the realization of her place in eternity. Then nothing happens, only oblivion, pleasant memories of the life lived.

How to commemorate

Knowing what happens to the soul on the ninth and fortieth day of death, loved ones should be compassionate and alleviate its suffering. To do this, you should not be very much killed by the deceased, throw yourself on the chest of the deceased and jump into the grave at the funeral. From such actions, the soul will only get worse, and she experiences acute mental anguish. It is better to mourn in thoughts, pray more and wish her "Land that will become fluff." We must try to cope with emotions. From relatives, only bright thoughts and complete humility are required, that God has decreed this, nothing can be changed.

It is necessary to correctly commemorate 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 should be held in accordance with all the rules. So.

Each nation prefers its own customs of funeral rites and memorial meals. But all of them are united by the belief that only earthly life is limited in time, while the soul lives forever. Therefore, such great importance is attached to the observance of all burial rituals and subsequent commemorations. And in this regard, many are interested in the question of whether they commemorate 20 days after death.

• In accordance with Christian Orthodox rites, a commemoration for the deceased should be organized at least three times. Firstly, the memorial table is laid directly on the day of the funeral. All those who took part in this mourning process, relatives and relatives gather behind him.
• Secondly, the commemoration is arranged for nine days, when only close relatives gather at the table. Thirdly, forty-day commemoration, which is of great importance. After all, according to Orthodox canons, it is on this day that the soul of the deceased bids farewell to the earthly world and goes to the afterlife. Relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances of the deceased gather at this memorial table.
• Further, as a rule, relatives commemorate the deceased every year on the day of his death.

Do I need to remember in 20 days

After the death of a person, his soul constantly needs the support of the living. Therefore, the clergy recommend her daily commemoration for forty days starting from this tragic date. According to the church canon, there are no special commemorations for twenty days, but this tradition was steadily maintained in the countryside in the old days. Today, this date is rarely singled out.

Why was the commemoration made on the twentieth day, and how did they go

For the reason that before the expiration of the forty-day period the soul continues to dwell on earth, it was customary among the villagers on the eve of the twentieth day to go to the churchyard in order to invite the deceased to the meeting. To this end, before the sun went down, the relatives of the deceased read special sentences at the grave, calling the deceased to the table. Other deceased relatives were invited along with him.

Before the meeting, it was customary to bake pies and sing memorial verses. Prayers were also raised with a request to the Lord for the deceased, whose soul should soon come to him with a bow. Kissel was displayed on a table set in the front corner.

Directly on the day of commemoration, the table for the living was not going to. As a treat for the deceased, pies or pancakes, tea, and most often jelly were exhibited. Candles were lit in front of the icons. On this day, it was supposed to see off the soul in the evening. To do this, they left the house offering prayers and saying farewell words.

Wake after twenty days after death

If relatives have a desire to commemorate the deceased, having gathered in a narrow circle, then there is nothing reprehensible in this. Just don't throw a big feast at the same time. It must be remembered that the dead are first of all commemorated not by abundant eating of food, but by prayer and alms distributed to those in need. You can also go to the temple, order a memorial service and pray for the repose of the soul.

Today, the commemoration of the deceased on the twentieth day is accepted in individual dioceses of Australia and New Zealand. This tradition is supported by representatives of the Russian diaspora. According to them, twenty days should be considered an important date, a multiple of forty days. In Russia, this opinion is not supported, as in the countries of the near abroad, but at the same time, no objections are raised against the commemoration on the twentieth day.

There is also an opinion that for the repentant soul, tretiny, ninety and sorochiny are allocated for going to the Lord to worship. These days it is actively supported by the prayers of the living. And the twentieth day, called half-forties, is allotted to the angel to show the soul the place where it will be until the Last Judgment, after the end of the half-forties.

The afterlife and its uncertainty is what most often leads a person to think about God and the Church. After all, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church and any other Christian doctrines, the human soul is immortal and, unlike the body, it exists forever.

A person is always interested in the question, what will happen to him after death, where will he go? The answers to these questions can be found in the teachings of the Church.

The soul after the death of the bodily shell awaits the Judgment of God

Death and the Christian

Death always remains a kind of constant companion of a person: relatives, celebrities, relatives die, and all these losses make you think about what will happen when this guest comes to me? The attitude towards the end largely determines the course of human life - the expectation of it is painful, or a person has lived such a life that at any moment he is ready to appear before the Creator.

The desire not to think about it, deleting it from thoughts is the wrong approach, because then life ceases to have value.

Christians believe that God gave man an eternal soul, as opposed to a perishable body. And this determines the course of the entire Christian life - after all, the soul does not disappear, which means that it will definitely see the Creator and give an answer for every deed. This constantly keeps the believer in good shape, not allowing him to live his days thoughtlessly. Death in Christianity is a certain point of transition from worldly to heavenly life., and that's where the spirit to go after this crossroads directly depends on the quality of life on earth.

Orthodox asceticism has in its writings the expression "memory of death" - the constant retention in thoughts of the concept of the end of worldly existence and the expectation of a transition to eternity. That is why Christians lead a meaningful life, not allowing themselves to waste minutes.

The approach of death from this point of view is not something terrible, but quite a logical and expected action, joyful. As Elder Joseph of Vatopedsky said: “I was waiting for the train, but it still does not come.”

First days after leaving

Orthodoxy has a special concept of the first days in the afterlife. This is not a strict dogma of faith, but the position that the Synod adheres to.

Death in Christianity is a certain point of transition from worldly to heavenly life.

Special days after death are:

1. Third- This is traditionally a day of commemoration. This time is spiritually connected with the Resurrection of Christ, which took place on the third day. St. Isidore Pelusiot writes that the process of the Resurrection of Christ took 3 days, hence the idea was formed that the human spirit also passes into eternal life on the third day. Other authors write that the number 3 has a special meaning, it is called God's number and it symbolizes faith in the Holy Trinity, therefore it is necessary to commemorate a person on this day. It is in the memorial service of the third day that the Triune God is asked to forgive the deceased for sins and forgive;
2. Ninth- another day of remembrance of the dead. St. Simeon of Thessalonica wrote about this day as a time to remember 9 angelic ranks, which may include the spirit of the deceased. That is how many days are given to the soul of the deceased for the full realization of their transition. This is mentioned by St. Paisius in his writings, comparing a sinner with a drunkard who sobers up during this period. During this period, the soul comes to terms with its transition and says goodbye to worldly life;
3. Fortieth- This is a special day of remembrance, because according to the legends of St. Thessalonica, this number is of particular importance, because Christ was exalted on the 40th day, which means that the one who died on this day appears before the Lord. Likewise, the people of Israel mourned their leader Moses at just such a time. On this day, not only a prayer-petition for mercy for the deceased from God should be heard, but also a magpie.

The above three dates are necessary for special remembrance and prayer for the departed. During this period, their fervent prayers for the deceased are brought to the Lord and, in accordance with the teachings of the Church, can affect the final decision of the Creator regarding the soul.

Where does the human spirit go after life?

Where exactly does the spirit of the deceased reside? No one has an exact answer to this question, since this is a secret hidden from man by the Lord. Everyone will know the answer to this question after his repose. The only thing that is known for sure is the transition of the human spirit from one state to another - from a worldly body to an eternal spirit.

Only the Lord can determine the place of eternal residence of the soul

Here it is much more important to find out not “where”, but “to whom”, because it does not matter where the person will be after, the main thing is with the Lord?

Christians believe that after the transition to eternity, the Lord calls a person to judgment, where he determines his place of eternal residence - heaven with angels and other believers, or hell, with sinners and demons.

The teaching of the Orthodox Church says that only the Lord can determine the place of eternal residence of the soul and no one can influence His sovereign will. This decision is a response to the life of the soul in the body and its actions. What did she choose during her lifetime: good or evil, repentance or proud exaltation, mercy or cruelty? Only the actions of a person determine the eternal stay and according to them the Lord judges.

According to the book of Revelation of John Chrysostom, we can conclude that the human race is waiting for two judgments - individual for each soul, and general, when all the dead are resurrected after the end of the world. Orthodox theologians are convinced that in the period between an individual judgment and a common one, the soul has the opportunity to change its sentence, through the prayers of their loved ones, good deeds that are done in his memory, remembrances in the Divine Liturgy and commemoration with alms.

ordeal

The Orthodox Church believes that the spirit goes through certain ordeals or trials on its way to the throne of God. The traditions of the holy fathers say that ordeals consist in denunciation by evil spirits, which make one doubt one's own salvation, the Lord or His Sacrifice.

The word ordeal comes from the old Russian "mytnya" - a place for collecting fines. That is, the spirit must pay a certain fine or be tested by certain sins. To help pass this test can be their own virtues, which the deceased acquired while on earth.

From a spiritual point of view, this is not a tribute to the Lord, but a complete awareness and recognition of everything that tormented a person during his lifetime and with which he was not able to fully cope. Only hope in Christ and His mercy can help the soul overcome this line.

The Orthodox Lives of the Saints contain many descriptions of ordeals. Their stories are extremely vivid and written in sufficient detail so that one can vividly imagine all the pictures described.

Icon of the Ordeal of Blessed Theodora

A particularly detailed description can be found in St. Basil the New, in his life, which contains the story of the blessed Theodora about her ordeals. She mentions 20 trials by sins, among which are:

• the word - it can heal or kill, it is the beginning of the world, according to the Gospel of John. The sins that are contained in the word are not empty statements, they have the same sin as material, perfect deeds. There is no difference between cheating on your husband or saying it out loud while dreaming - the sin is the same. Such sins include rudeness, obscenity, idle talk, incitement, blasphemy;
• lie or deceit - any untruth spoken by a person is a sin. This also includes perjury and perjury, which are serious sins, as well as dishonest trial and undertaking;
• gluttony is not only the delight of one's stomach, but also any indulgence of carnal passion: drunkenness, nicotine addiction or drug addiction;
• laziness, along with hack-work and parasitism;
• theft - any act, the consequence of which is the appropriation of someone else's, belong here: theft, fraud, fraud, etc .;
• stinginess is not only greed, but also thoughtless acquisition of everything, i.e. hoarding. This category also includes bribery, and denial of alms, as well as extortion and extortion;
• envy - visual theft and greed for someone else's;
• pride and anger - they destroy the soul;
• murder - both verbal and material, driving to suicide and abortions;
• fortune-telling - turning to grandmothers or psychics is a sin, it is written there in Scripture;
• fornication is any lascivious actions: watching pornography, masturbation, erotic fantasies, etc.;
• adultery and sodomy sins.

memorial days

This includes not only the first three important days (third, ninth and fortieth), but any holidays and simple days when loved ones remember the deceased and commemorate him.

The word "commemoration" means commemoration, i.e. memory. And first of all, it is a prayer, and not just a thought or bitterness from separation from the dead.

Advice! Prayer is performed in order to ask the Creator for mercy for the deceased and justify him, even if he did not deserve it himself. According to the canons of the Orthodox Church, the Lord can change His decision about the deceased if his relatives actively pray and ask for him, doing alms and good deeds in his memory.

It is especially important to do this in the first month and the 40th day, when the soul comes before God. For all 40 days, magpie is read, after prayer every day, and on special days a funeral service is ordered. Together with prayer, relatives visit the church and cemetery these days, serve alms and distribute memorial treats in memory of the deceased. Such memorial dates include subsequent anniversaries of death, as well as special church holidays to commemorate the dead.

The Holy Fathers also write that the deeds and good deeds of the living can also cause a change in God's judgment on the deceased. The afterlife is full of secrets and mysteries, none of the living knows anything about it for sure. But the worldly path of each is the indicator that can point to the place where the spirit of man will spend all eternity.

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