A special prayer on Dmitrievsky Parental Saturday: how to commemorate the dead on November 1st

Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday is one of the days of commemoration of the deceased in the Orthodox tradition, which in 2025 falls on November 1. This day is dedicated to prayers for the souls of deceased relatives and loved ones, as well as those who did not have time to confess before their death. The most powerful prayer is in the Izvestia material.

Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday: the essence and traditions

Dmitrievskaya Parental Saturday is one of the days of Orthodox commemoration of the deceased, when believers are especially focused on prayers for the souls of deceased relatives. Such Saturdays are called parental Ones and remind the living of their spiritual connection with the departed, giving them the opportunity to provide them with spiritual help through prayer.

The name of the holiday is associated with the veneration of the holy Great Martyr Dmitry Solunsky. It is believed that funeral services held on this day help the souls of the deceased find their way to God.

Traditionally, believers visit cemeteries, clean graves, put candles and pray, believing that light and prayer bring relief to the souls of the deceased.

On this day, special funeral prayers are held in churches, memorial services are ordered, and believers also remember their relatives at home: they put candles and give alms. Special attention is paid to recently deceased children and loved ones, as well as those whose names have already been forgotten, but whose souls remain in the memory of the community.

Dmitrievskaya Parents' Saturday in 2025

In 2025, this Saturday falls on November 1st. In the Orthodox tradition, Saturday is considered the day of commemoration of the dead, so priests recommend preparing in advance to fully perform the rituals and pay attention to the memory of the family.

This day is of particular importance in rural areas and small towns, where the traditions of the ancestors are preserved especially vividly. In large cities, services are held in churches, and cemeteries are equipped with special places for memorial prayers. Akathists and Sorokoust prayers are read in temples for the repose of all the deceased, which helps maintain a spiritual connection between the living and the departed.

A powerful prayer for the memory of the dead

Prayer on this day plays an important role in the spiritual practice of believers. There are several types of prayers that can be read on the day of St. Dmitrievsky Parental Saturday. One of them is a common prayer for the dead.:

"Rest, O Lord, on the soul of Thy servant [name], and forgive him all his transgressions, voluntary and involuntary, and grant him Thy heavenly kingdom!"

A more detailed version of the prayer reads as follows:

"Remember, O Lord our God, in the faith and hope of the eternal life of Thy newly departed servant [name], and as Thou art Good and Lovest mankind, forgive sins, and consume unrighteousness, weaken, forsake, and forgive all his voluntary and involuntary transgressions, raising him up at Thy holy second coming to partake of Thy eternal blessings, their But for the sake of the one faith in You, the true God and Lover of mankind; for You are the resurrection, life, and rest of Your servant, O Christ our God, and to You we ascribe glory, together with Your Father without beginning, and with the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."

There is a special prayer for parents who have lost their children.:

"Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Lord of life and death, Comforter of the sorrowful! With a contrite and tender heart, I run to You and pray to You: remember, O Lord, in Your Kingdom Your departed servant (your servant), my child (name), and grant him (her) eternal memory. You, Lord of life and death, have given me this child. By Your good and wise will, be pleased and take it away from me. Blessed be Thy name, O Lord."

If it is impossible to visit the temple, prayer can be read at home, while it is recommended to light a candle and put memorial dishes on the table, such as kutia, lean pancakes or fritters. It is also important to remember to refrain from excessive fun and noisy celebrations in order to preserve the spirit of commemoration.