Praying for deceased relatives and friends is one of the good customs of Christianity. The sacred text, which is read by believers, has a deep meaning. This is love for the deceased, the desire for his soul to be clean from sins. Many believe that the high cost of a monument in a cemetery and a wake with food on the table is the best thing that can be done for a deceased person. In fact, this is not true. The human soul receives the True Grace of the Lord God only when it is remembered and candles are lit for it in church, reading an akathist for the one who died.
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When to read an akathist for a single deceased
Even during the birth of Christianity, believers began the custom of praying for deceased loved ones and relatives. For the first time such an appeal to the Lord is mentioned in the liturgy of Jesus’ brother, the Apostle James. Priests attach great importance to such prayer for the dead.
Prayer for the repose of the soul of a loved one is the little that relatives can do. Neither a magnificent funeral nor a wake can cleanse the soul and give it peace. The reading of the akathist shows love for a departed loved one, the desire to save his soul and grant eternal peace in the heavenly abodes. The church fathers believed that the fate of the deceased also depended on the fervent prayers of the living.
The prayer for one who died is so called because it is offered for one specific person. However, it is needed not only by the deceased; it brings peace and consolation to loved ones and relatives and reconciles them with the death of a loved one.
Since the ordeal of the soul ends only on the 40th day after death, it is important to read the akathist about the same deceased all this time.
Persistent prayer by agreement
Dear brothers and sisters, I propose that on November 5, Dimitrievskaya Parents’ Saturday, we remember in home prayer by reading the above akathist all deceased Orthodox Christians. Leave a list of ORTHODOX names in the comments. The number of names is no more than 12. Suicides and the unbaptized are not included in the list. BE SURE TO STAND UP FOR THE READING OF THE KATHIST. Applications are accepted until 20.00 Moscow time. NOVEMBER 4.
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ORDER OF READING THE KATHIST
PRELIMINARY PRAYERS READ BEFORE THE AKATHIST
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, Who is everywhere and fulfills everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls. Trisagion Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist.) Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Most Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Three times).
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Lord have mercy. (12 times)
Come, let us worship our King God. (Bow) Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ, Our King God. (Bow) Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God. (Bow)
Psalm 50, repentance
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. To You alone have I sinned and done evil before You; for you may be justified in all of Your words, and you will always triumph over Your judgment. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, you have loved the truth; You have revealed to me the unknown and secret wisdom of Yours. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. My hearing brings joy and joy; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; My tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to GOD THE SPIRIT is crushed; God will not despise a broken and humble heart. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; Then they will place the bullock on Your altar.
Symbol of faith
I believe in one God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from Heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.
Akathist for the repose of all the dead
Kontakion 1
By an incomprehensible providence, prepare the world for the good of the eternal, having determined the times and manner of death by man, leave, O Lord, for those who have died from eternity all their sins, accept me into the abode of light and joy, open the Father’s embrace to them, longing and hearing us, who commemorate them and sing: Lord , Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Ikos 1
Saving fallen Adam and the entire human race from eternal destruction, You sent Thy Son into the world, for by His Cross and Resurrection He raised up the Eternal Life to us. We trust in Your immeasurable mercy, hoping for the imperishable Kingdom of Your Glory, we ask and pray to You to grant this to the departed. O Lord, rejoice the souls weary of the storms of life, and consign the sorrows and sighs of earth to oblivion. Hear, O Lord, in Your bosom, as a mother does to her children, and the rivers to them: Your sins are forgiven you. I'll take it. Lord, in Thy blessed and quiet refuge let them rejoice in Thy divine glory. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 2
We enlighten with the illumination of the Almighty, the Venerable Macarius heard a voice from the skull of a pagan: “When you pray for those who suffer in hell, there is joy for the pagan.” Oh, the wondrous powers of Christian prayers, the image of the underworld is illuminated! The unfaithful and the faithful alike receive consolation, when we cry out to the whole world: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Isaac the Syrian once said: “A merciful heart for people and animals and for all creatures brings tearful prayers every hour, so that they may be preserved and purified.” In the same way, we all boldly cry out to all those who have died from time immemorial, asking the Lord for help. Send down to us. Lord, the gift of flaming prayer for the dead. Remember, Lord, all those who commanded us, the unworthy, to pray for them, and blot out the sins they have forgotten. Remember, O Lord, all those who were buried without prayer; accept, O Lord, into Thy village, all who died a vain death out of sorrow or joy. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 3
We are to blame for the misfortune of the world, for the suffering of dumb creatures, for the illnesses and torments of virgin infants, for through the fall of people the bliss and beauty of all creation was destroyed. O Greatest of the innocent sufferers, Christ our God! You alone are able to let everyone go. Let everyone and everything go, grant the world pristine prosperity, let the dead and the living find it, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
The world is quiet. Redeemer of the whole universe, embrace the whole world with love: behold, Thy cry is heard from the cross about Thy enemies: “Father, let them go!” In the name of Your all-forgiveness, we dare to pray to the Heavenly Father for the eternal rest of Your enemies and ours. Forgive, Lord, those who have shed innocent blood, who have strewn our path of life with sorrows, who have built up our prosperity with the tears of our neighbors. Don't judge. Lord, who persecute us with slander and malice, reward with mercy those who have been wronged or insulted out of ignorance, and may our holy prayer for them be the sacrament of reconciliation. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants!
Kontakion 4
Save, O Lord, those who died in grave torment, those who were killed, those who were buried alive, those who were buried in the earth, those who were swallowed up by waves and fire, those who were torn to pieces by beasts, from hunger, frost, a storm or a fall from the heights of the dead, and grant them Your eternal joy for the sorrow of death. May they bless the time of their suffering, like the day of redemption, singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
To everyone who received the essence of the grave in bright youth, who received the crown of thorns of suffering on earth, who did not see the joys of earthly, reward with Your endless bounty love. God. Under the heavy burden of labor, give reward to the dead. Receive, O Lord, the youths and virgins into the devils of paradise and grant me joy at the supper of Your Son. Calm, Lord, the grief of parents for their dead children. Give rest, O Lord, to all those who have no family or seed; for them there is no one to offer a prayer to You, the Creator, may their sins disappear from the radiance of Your all-forgiveness. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 5
As the last sign of admonition and repentance, you have given death, O Lord. With its menacing brilliance, its earthly vanity is laid bare, carnal passions and suffering subside, the rebellious mind is humbled. Eternal truth is revealed, but those burdened with sins and atheists on their deathbed confess Your eternal existence and cry out to Your mercy: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Father of all consolation, You illuminate with the sun, You delight with fruits, You make friends and enemies joyful with the beauty of the world. We believe that even beyond the grave Your mercy, which has mercy on all rejected sinners, is not exhausted. We grieve over the bitter and lawless blasphemers of Your Shrine. Be, O Lord, Your saving good will over them. Leave, O Lord, those who have died without repentance, save those who have destroyed themselves in the darkening of their minds, so that the flame of their sinfulness may go out in the sea of Thy grace. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 6
Terrible is the darkness of the soul, removed from God, the torment of the conscience, the gnashing of teeth, the unquenchable fire and the undying worm. I tremble at such fates and, as for myself, I pray for those suffering in hell. May our song descend upon her like the dew of cooling: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Thy light has shone, O Christ our God, upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and in this hell, who are unable to cry out to Thee. Having descended into the underworld of the earth, bring, O Lord, to the consolation of your sins, those who are separated from You, but who have not renounced You, suffer so much, have mercy. Having sinned in Heaven and before You, their sins are immeasurably grave, but Your mercy is immeasurable. Visit the bitter poverty of souls distant from You, have mercy, O Lord, who have persecuted the truth out of ignorance, awaken for them Your love not with scorching fire, but with heavenly coolness. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 7
He gave aid to His right hand and appeared to His departed servants. Lord, in their mysterious visions, clearly inspiring them to prayer, and remembering those who have departed, they do good deeds and labors for her, crying out: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The Ecumenical Church of Christ continually offers hourly prayers for the deceased throughout the entire earth, for the sins of the world are washed away by the Most Pure Blood of the Divine Crown, from death to life and from earth to Heaven the souls of the departed by the power of prayers for them before the altars of God. Be, Lord, the intercession of the Church to the dead as a ladder to Heaven. Have mercy. Lord, through the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the saints. Forgive them their sins, for Your faithful sake, who cry out to You day and night. For the sake of babies, have mercy on those who are kind, O Lord, have mercy on their parents, and redeem their mothers with your tears for the sins of their children. For the prayers of the innocent sufferer, for the blood of the martyr, spare and have mercy on the sinner. Accept, Lord, our prayers and alms, as a remembrance of their virtues. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 8
The whole world is a common sacred grave; in every place there are the ashes of our father and brothers. The only one who has unfailingly loved us, Christ our God, forgive all who have died from the beginning until now, so that they may sing with immeasurable love: Hallelujah.
Ikos 8
The day is coming, like a burning furnace, the great and terrible day of the Last Judgment, human secrets will be revealed, the books of conscience will be unraveled... “Be reconciled with God!” - cries the Apostle Paul, - be reconciled before that terrible day.” Help us. Lord, with the tears of the living, fill what is missing in the dead. May the sound of the Angel's trumpet of salvation be the gospel to them, O Lord, and grant them joyful pardon at the hour of Thy Judgment. Crown, O Lord, with glory those who suffered for You and cover with Your goodness the sins of the weak. Lord, who knows all by name, remember those who were saved in other rites, remember the blessed shepherds from their children. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 9
Bless the passing time. Every hour, every moment brings us closer to eternity. New sorrow, a new gray hair is the essence of the messenger of the world to come, a witness to the corruption of the earth, as everything is fleeting, proclaiming that the Eternal Kingdom is approaching, where there are no tears, no sighs, but joyful singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Just as a tree loses its leaves over time, so our days become impoverished through colic. The celebration of youth is fading, the lamp of joy is extinguishing, the alienation of old age is approaching. Friends and relatives die. Where are you, young rejoicing? Their graves are silent, but their souls are in Your right hand. We imagine their gaze from the immaterial world. Lord, You are the bright Sun, illuminate and warm the departed villages. May the time of bitter separation pass forever. Grant us a joyful meeting in Heaven. Create, O Lord, that we may all be one with You. Return, O Lord, to those who have lost their childhood the purity and complacency of youth, and may the holiday of Easter be an Eternal Life for them. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 10
Shedding quiet tears at the graves of our relatives, we pray with hope and cry out with hope: tell us, Lord, that you have forgiven their sins! Give a mysterious revelation of this to our spirit, let us sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
I see the whole path of our past life, looking around, how many people there are, from the first day to the now departed, and many of them have done good things for us. Repaying my due love, I cry out to Ti. Grant, O Lord, heavenly glory to my parents and my neighbor, who watched over my infant bed, raised and raised me. Glorify, Lord, before the holy angels, all who preached the word of salvation to me, goodness, truth, and the holy example of their lives who taught me. Delight, O Lord, those who, in the days of my sorrow, served with hidden manna. Reward and save all virtues and virtues. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 11
Where are you, the sting of death, where is your darkness and fear that existed before? From now on, you are desired and inseparably united with God. The great rest of the mystical Sabbath. The desire of the imam to die and be with Christ, the Apostle cries out. Likewise, we, looking at death as the path to Eternal Life, will cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
The dead will be resurrected and those who are in the tombs will rise, and those who live on the earth will rejoice, as spiritual bodies will arise, brightly glorified, incorruptible. Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord: “Behold, I will bring the breath of life into you and put sinews on you, and I will bring flesh on you and spread skin over you.” Arise from the ancient past, redeemed by the blood of the Son of God, revived by His death, for the light of the Resurrection has risen upon us. Open to them, O Lord, now the whole abyss of Your perfections. You shone for them with the light of the sun and the moon, so that they would see the glory of the radiant faces of the Angels. You have delighted me with the splendor of the east and west of the heavenly lights, so that they may also see the eternal light of Your Divinity. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 12
Flesh and blood will not inherit the Kingdom of God as long as we live in the flesh and are separated from Christ. Even though we die, we will live for Eternity. It is fitting for our corruptible body to put on incorruption and to shine forth with immortality, so that in the light of the unevening day we can sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Tea of meeting with the Lord, tea of the clear dawn of the resurrection, tea of awakening from the graves of our relatives and known ones and revival in the most reverent beauty of the life of the dead. And we celebrate the coming transfiguration of all creation and cry out to our Creator: Lord, having created the world for the triumph of joy and kindness, raising us to holiness from the depths of sin, let the dead reign in the midst of the new existence, so that they may shine like the lights in Heaven on the day of their glory. May the Divine Lamb be their eternal light. Grant, Lord, that we too may celebrate Easter incorruption with them. Unite the dead and the living in endless joy. Lord, Ineffable Love, remember Your departed servants.
Kontakion 13
Oh, Most Merciful Father Without Beginning, I wish everyone to be saved. Send down the Son to the lost and pour out the Life-giving Spirit! Have mercy, forgive and save our dear ones and those close to us who have died and all those who have died from time immemorial and through their intercession, visit us, and together with them we cry out to You, the Savior God, a victorious song: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and the 1st kontakion.)
Prayer for the departed
God of spirits and all flesh, having trampled down death and abolished the devil, and given life to Thy world! Himself, Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants: your most holy patriarchs, your eminence metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, who served you in the priestly, ecclesiastical and monastic ranks; the creators of holy churches, Orthodox forefathers, fathers, brothers and sisters, lying here and everywhere; leaders and warriors who laid down their lives for the faith and fatherland, the faithful, who were killed in internecine warfare, drowned, burned, frozen to death, torn to pieces by beasts, suddenly died without repentance and did not have time to reconcile with the Church and with their enemies; in a frenzy of mind, those who committed suicide, those for whom we were commanded and asked to pray, for whom there is no one to pray and the faithful, deprived of a Christian burial
- Michael, Claudia, Xenia, Vera, Elijah, John, Alexandra, Anastasia, Daria, Maria, Oleg - Archpriest Vadim, Hieromonk Sergius, Galina, Maria, Michael, Anastasia, Paul, Artemy, Vasily, Maria, Victor, Martha - Alexey , Paul, Lyubov, Gregory, Lydia, Anatoly, Galina, Vladimir, Vladimir, Vladimir, Yuri, Anthony - Archpriest Vasily, Nazar, Ksenia, Akulina, Haralampy, Demyan, Stylian, Elena, George, Raisa and Orthodox relatives - Tatiana, John , Matryona, Demid, Theodora, Olga, Mikhail, Peter, Valentina - Dmitry, Markel, Sergei, Feodor, Gennady, Nikolai, Praskovya, Anastasia, Varvara, Lyubov - Anna, Vladimir, Faina, Theodora - Vasily, John, Evdokim, Evdokia , Maria, Gregory, Natalia, Anatoly, Joanna, Jr. Macarius - Anna, Andrey, Alla, Mikhail, Victor, Ksenia, Victor, Valentina, Alexander, Evgeniy (m), Zoya, Lyubov - Peter, Paraskeva, Ivan, Gennady, Peter, Karp, Nadezhda, Euphrosyne, Raisa, Nina, Tatiana, nun Sergius and all Orthodox relatives - George, Tamara, Vassa, Alexy, Rodion, Nina, Simeon, Thomas, Anna, Peter, Vassa, Vasily - Tatiana, George, Daria , Olga, Nicholas, Anastasia, Mikhail, Anna, Vladimir, Vladimir, Catherine, Ksenia - Alexy, Anna, John, Cleopatra, Vera, Euphrosyne, Vasily, John, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Peter, Zoya, Faina, Valentina (m) - Jacob, Evgenia, Elena, Marina, Irina, Simeon - Gregory, Paul, Afanasy Paraskeva, Ignatius, Maria, Victor and all relatives in the flesh - Peter, Maria, Anatoly, Sofia, Vladimir, Victor, Alexander, Valentina, Ksenia, Maria, Claudia, John - Lyudmila, Alexander, John, Claudia, Stepanida, Roman, Anna, Photinia, Anatoly, Maria, Mary, Nadezhda - the newly deceased r. b. Hope - John, Mary, Peter, Alexandra, Andrey - Faith, warrior Peter, warrior Demetrius, warrior Dionysius, warrior Victor, warrior Eugene, warrior Yuri, and all Orthodox relatives
in a brighter place, in a greener place, in a calm place, from where illness, sadness and sighing have escaped. Every sin committed by them in word or deed or thought, as a good Lover of mankind, God forgives, as if there is no man who will live and not sin. For You are the only one besides sin, Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your word is truth.
For You are the Resurrection, and the Life and Peace of Your departed servants
- Michael, Claudia, Xenia, Vera, Elijah, John, Alexandra, Anastasia, Daria, Maria, Oleg - Archpriest Vadim, Hieromonk Sergius, Galina, Maria, Michael, Anastasia, Paul, Artemy, Vasily, Maria, Victor, Martha - Alexey , Paul, Lyubov, Gregory, Lydia, Anatoly, Galina, Vladimir, Vladimir, Vladimir, Yuri, Anthony - Archpriest Vasily, Nazar, Ksenia, Akulina, Haralampy, Demyan, Stylian, Elena, George, Raisa and Orthodox relatives - Tatiana, John , Matryona, Demid, Theodora, Olga, Mikhail, Peter, Valentina - Dmitry, Markel, Sergei, Feodor, Gennady, Nikolai, Praskovya, Anastasia, Varvara, Lyubov - Anna, Vladimir, Faina, Theodora - Vasily, John, Evdokim, Evdokia , Maria, Gregory, Natalia, Anatoly, Joanna, Jr. Macarius - Anna, Andrey, Alla, Mikhail, Victor, Ksenia, Victor, Valentina, Alexander, Evgeniy (m), Zoya, Lyubov - Peter, Paraskeva, Ivan, Gennady, Peter, Karp, Nadezhda, Euphrosyne, Raisa, Nina, Tatiana, nun Sergius and all Orthodox relatives - George, Tamara, Vassa, Alexy, Rodion, Nina, Simeon, Thomas, Anna, Peter, Vassa, Vasily - Tatiana, George, Daria , Olga, Nicholas, Anastasia, Mikhail, Anna, Vladimir, Vladimir, Catherine, Ksenia - Alexy, Anna, John, Cleopatra, Vera, Euphrosyne, Vasily, John, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Peter, Zoya, Faina, Valentina (m) - Jacob, Evgenia, Elena, Marina, Irina, Simeon - Gregory, Paul, Afanasy Paraskeva, Ignatius, Maria, Victor and all Orthodox relatives - Peter, Maria, Anatoly, Sofia, Vladimir, Victor, Alexander, Valentina, Xenia, Maria, Claudia , John - Lyudmila, Alexander, John, Claudia, Stepanida, Roman, Anna, Photinia, Anatoly, Maria, Maria, Nadezhda - the newly deceased r. b. Hope - John, Mary, Peter, Alexandra, Andrey - Faith, warrior Peter, warrior Demetrius, warrior Dionysius, warrior Victor, warrior Eugene, warrior Yuri, and all Orthodox relatives
Christ our God, we send up glory to You with Your beginningless Father, and Your Most Holy, and Good, and Your Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
It is worthy to eat as you truly bless Thee, the Mother of God, the Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and the Mother of our God. We magnify You, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, the real Mother of God.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Reading rules
In order for the reading of the akathist about the same deceased to benefit both the soul of the deceased and the relatives themselves, it is necessary to adhere to the rules of saying the prayer. Since any akathist is a hymn, it must only be read while standing. The structure of the hymn, dedicated to saving the soul of a loved one, consists of 25 songs. These are 13 kontakia and 12 ikos, which are pronounced alternately. The unpaired kontakion - the last - is read three times. The prayer ends with the reading of the first kontakion and the first ikos.
The reading of the akathist does not have to be done in church. This is also done at home. It is best to start praying early in the morning, and it is good if the person praying does this before eating. If an akathist is pronounced by a woman, her head should be covered with a scarf - no matter where she is - in the temple or at home.
Before starting to read the akathist about the one who died, priests advise saying several prayers of the choice of the person asking, in order to get into the right frame of mind. This could be the prayer “Our Father” or “Lord have mercy.” No images are needed to recite the hymn, although sometimes believers recite it in front of an icon of the Lord or the Virgin Mary.
Some Christians are interested in whether it is necessary to memorize the text of the akathist. Priests say that, of course, it is better to say the prayer from memory, but if the words are difficult to remember, then there is nothing wrong with reading from a piece of paper. The main thing is the correct spiritual attitude of the person praying and the willingness to humbly accept what is predetermined by the Lord. According to church rules, there are days on which the reading of the akathist about the same deceased is not carried out. According to the Charter, it is forbidden to recite the anthem on Holy Week. At this time, the Acts of the Apostles or the Easter Canon are read.
Spiritual almsgiving
Relatives and friends of the deceased do not always have the opportunity to donate to the temple, give alms, or order a memorial service. There is such a thing as spiritual almsgiving. It does not require financial investments. At the same time, it can bring tangible benefits to the soul of both the living and the deceased. What is its essence?
This is spiritual help to another person. It can consist of kind words of support and encouragement in difficult times. Or the free distribution of books with spiritual content.
If someone you know is in grief or sadness, even the smallest words of comfort can be beneficial. Thus, spiritual support for the grieving person is also a sacrifice for the sake of the soul of the deceased.
Deeds of mercy, prayers with love are a huge force that will help atone for the sins of the deceased and return God's grace to him.
What to replace
Before starting to read the Akathist, it is recommended to take a blessing from the parish priest. We have much more ancient and powerful prayers for the dead. For example:
- Psalter. You can only read kathisma 17, divided into three parts (Glory). After each, the names of deceased relatives are remembered (a short prayer from the morning rule). By the way, it includes one, but long, psalm 118.
- Canon for one who died (i.e., for one (soul) deceased). It includes many different prayers, in which the name of the deceased is constantly mentioned, petitions are offered in order to alleviate the fate of a loved one. These texts are aimed at a specific person, for the one for whom you are praying.
We recommend that you compare and make a more informed choice. In the end, you know the deceased better, which option you like best, so read it. The main thing is that everyone benefits from this: both the deceased and the reader. By the way, the composition of the Akathist for the One Who Died is Orthodox.
Everything is fine with the texts. Only the content does not match the title a little.
Note: In home prayer you can remember not only the baptized, but all the dead, both believers and non-believers. If in church they do not pray for suicides, then at home it is welcomed. Who else, besides loving relatives, will do this?
