The priest answers why you can't go to the cemetery on Easter

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Few people know that you cannot go to the cemetery on Easter. If you're wondering why, check out the priest's answer.

Explanation from the priest

The church does not approve of visits to the cemetery on Easter. This is explained by the fact that the Resurrection of Christ is a joyous holiday, which is aimed at liberation from sadness and sorrow, and symbolizes the victory over death, this is the answer of the priests.

You cannot go to the cemetery not only on the Resurrection of the Lord, but also throughout the next week, which is considered a holiday. Therefore, visiting the cemetery and commemorating the dead during this period is undesirable, although this is not considered a great sin.

And if for some reason you still want to visit the cemetery on this holiday, then you should not grieve and cry. After all, this is the day when it is worth rejoicing and having fun, which is completely inappropriate on the territory for the burial of the dead. This is why the ban came about.

Where did the tradition come from?

Many people are accustomed to visiting the cemetery at Easter and mistakenly believe that this is a Christian tradition. It is believed that it appeared several centuries ago, when temples and churches were not widespread, especially in villages.

People had to travel a long way to visit the church on this bright holiday. As a rule, cemeteries were located near churches, so people visited them on the way back.

There is another version, according to which, in Soviet times, many people did not have the opportunity to go to church. Therefore, they visited cemeteries and prayed near the graves of their relatives.

When and how to visit the cemetery

In connection with the answers of the priests, who assert that one cannot go to the cemetery on Easter, several questions arise. If everything is clear about why it is undesirable to do this, then it remains to find out when you can visit the cemetery to remember your relatives.

According to church statutes, it is possible and even recommended to visit the cemetery 9 days after Easter. This day is called Radonitsa, it is he who is intended to commemorate the dead.

Before going to the cemetery on this day, it is recommended to visit the temple first. There it is necessary to light a candle for repose and read a prayer. It is prayer that is the most important action that needs to be performed on this day.

It will benefit both the souls of the departed and the person who reads it. After visiting the church, you can go to the cemetery, commemorate the dead with a minute of silence and put things in order at the graves.

Despite the prevailing foundations, it is forbidden to drink alcohol and eat food in the cemetery. There is no such tradition in the Christian faith, and this behavior is considered an insult to the memory of the departed.

It is important to behave calmly in the cemetery, you cannot laugh or use foul language there. It is not recommended to go to the cemetery late at night. Leaving there, you cannot turn around, this is considered a bad omen.

Summarizing

1. A visit to a cemetery for the sake of commemorating deceased loved ones is a mandatory tradition even for non-believers. The church has established days when the cemetery cannot be visited and days that are appropriate for this purpose.
2. In the scriptures, there are no clear restrictions on visiting the cemetery, so if necessary or if you want to, you can visit the graves of your relatives on any day.
3. Easter is a day of liberation from grief, so visiting a cemetery is not entirely appropriate, but it is not considered a sin and is not punished by the church.
4. The closest day after the holiday to commemorate the dead is Radonitsa.