Instead a Panikhida will follow the Divine Liturgy, and then all will bring paschal foods to the cemeteries to greet the departed with the joy of the Resurrection. Radonitsa does not have special hymns for the dead at the Divine Services. Religious observance by denomination Byzantine (Greek) Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Īnother Memorial Day in the East, Radonitsa, does not fall on a Saturday, but on either Monday or Tuesday of the second week after Pascha (Easter).
The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, alms, deeds, and especially by the sacrifice of the Holy Mass. Its teaching is based also on the practice of prayer for the dead mentioned as far back as 2 Maccabees 12:42–46. The Catholic Church teaches that the purification of the souls in purgatory can be assisted by the actions of the faithful on earth. In the liturgical books of the Latin Church it is called the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed ( Latin: Commemoratio omnium fidelium defunctorum). In the Catholic Church, " the faithful" refers essentially to baptized Catholics "all souls" commemorates the church penitent of souls in purgatory, whereas "all saints" commemorates the church triumphant of saints in heaven. Nun visiting a graveyard at All Souls' Day
Prior to the standardization of Catholic observance on 2 November by St. The annual celebration is the last day of Allhallowtide, after All Saints' Day (1 November) and Halloween (October 31). Through prayer, intercessions, alms and visits to cemeteries, people commemorate the poor souls in purgatory and gain them indulgences.īeliefs and practices associated with All Souls' Day vary widely among Christian denominations. Adherents of All Souls' Day traditions often remember deceased friends and relatives in various ways on the day. All Souls' Day is often celebrated in Western Christianity Saturday of Souls is a related tradition more frequently observed in Eastern Christianity. Saturday of Souls, Thursday of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Halloween, All Saints' Day, Samhain, Totensonntag, Blue ChristmasĪll Souls' Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed and the Day of the Dead, is a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, which is observed by Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations annually on 2 November. Prayer for the departed, visits to cemeteries, decking of graves, special pastries and food Black, where it is tradition (otherwise violet or purple) įor the souls of all the faithful departed