The religious scholar named the reasons for the tradition of wearing black at funerals.

The tradition of coming to funerals in black clothes is not directly related to Orthodox canons and is rather a folk or secular custom. Natalia Fominykh, a religious scholar, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, professor at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told Izvestia about this on July 30.

According to the expert, in the Orthodox tradition there is no mandatory requirement to wear black clothes at funerals. This custom was formed historically under the influence of cultural concepts of mourning and mourning. Ancient Rome is considered to be one of the first examples of the use of black as a symbol of loss. According to the Fomins, then during the funeral people wore dark woolen clothes, which served as an outward expression of grief.

"In Medieval Europe, dark outfits also began to be used as a sign of mourning. Representatives of the nobility with the help of black clothes demonstrated sadness for the deceased, as well as emphasized his status and importance. Later, the tradition spread among the European aristocracy. In France, Anne of Brittany began using black mourning dresses in the 15th century. Another example was the British Queen Victoria, who, after the death of her husband Prince Albert, wore mourning clothes for 40 years. This example has made black one of the main symbols of grief in world culture," the expert said.

According to the religious scholar, the choice of black color is connected not only with historical customs, but also with the peculiarities of human perception of this shade. Black has long been associated with the unknown, depth and the other world. In addition, the dark color was associated with fear of natural phenomena such as storms, thunderstorms and other events when the sky turned dark. These associations have gradually become entrenched in people's perceptions of mourning and death.

Another reason for the popularity of black clothing, according to the expert, was its ability to emphasize a person's emotions. Dark color highlights facial features, facial expressions, and expressions of grief more strongly, which is why historically it has been perceived as suitable for demonstrating grief.

At the same time, in Orthodoxy, the symbolism of mourning differs from the secular tradition. As noted by Fominykh, black is not mandatory for funerals, but prayer and a spiritual attitude to the care of a person are more important. In Orthodox culture, light colors, on the contrary, are often associated with the idea of eternal life and the soul's transition to another world. Therefore, during divine services, clergymen can use light vestments, symbolizing the hope of rebirth and salvation.

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"In Orthodoxy, no attention is paid to external manifestations, physical manifestations, with clothes. But prayer is the main action that both family and loved ones can perform — it is to pray for the soul of the deceased," explained the religious scholar.

According to the Fomins, there are other traditional rules when attending Orthodox funerals. Women are advised to cover their hair with a scarf, while preference is given to calm and light shades. Clothes should be modest, without bright patterns and shiny elements, preferably with closed shoulders and long sleeves. According to church tradition, men should take off their headdress in church and in the cemetery. During the farewell to the deceased, it is customary to approach the coffin, cross yourself and kiss the crown on the head of the deceased.

At the same time, the religious scholar emphasized that Orthodoxy pays more attention not to external attributes, but to actions and the inner state of a person. Silence, respect, and prayer for the deceased are considered the main manifestations of grief.

The expert also drew attention to the fact that some common funeral customs are not of Orthodox, but of folk or pagan origin. These include, for example, leaving food and alcohol on the grave for the deceased or hanging mirrors in the house. According to the Fomins, such actions have no Christian meaning and are not part of the Orthodox tradition. The main thing that loved ones can do after a person's death is to pray for their soul and preserve their memory.

At the same time, the symbolism of color in the mourning traditions of different nations may differ. While black has become such a color in most European cultures, in some religious and cultural traditions white is also perceived as a mourning shade, symbolizing the purity of the soul and the transition to eternal life.

Fominykh said on July 14 that the fear of clothes and personal belongings of deceased relatives is primarily related to psychological experiences, not religious prohibitions. According to the expert, the things of the departed person become a constant reminder of him and the loss he has experienced. It is the emotional connection with objects that forms a special attitude towards them, which has existed in different cultures since ancient times.