When is Radonitsa in 2022 and how many Orthodox Christians have?

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

Radonitsa is the day when Christians visit the cemetery, commemorate deceased relatives and loved ones, light candles and pray for the welfare of the soul in the afterlife. This is a great church holiday calling to pay tribute to the ancestors. That is why it is important to know when Radonitsa is in 2022 and on what date the Orthodox holiday is celebrated.

history of the holiday

The tradition of celebrating Radonitsa appeared long before the baptism of Rus; the holiday has pagan roots. Our ancestors believed that after death a person falls into another world - Iriy. Life there is absolutely no different from life in reality, with only one exception: the one who got there could not return. Only a few days a year the border between the two worlds was erased, then the inhabitants of another world could come to Earth and visit their loved ones. In honor of this, people arranged lavish feasts and dances.

It was believed that the souls of departed relatives looked after their family from another dimension and could influence her life. Therefore, they tried to placate the spirits in order to get a good harvest in the fall. This tradition has survived to this day, most people leave various treats in the cemetery on this day.

Christian Radonitsa appeared thanks to the church rule that it is impossible to remember the departed during the week after the Easter holiday. Exactly eight days a Christian should rejoice at the resurrection of Christ, and on the ninth day it is allowed to honor the memory of his relatives. On this holiday, it is customary to go to church, pray for the souls of the departed and visit the cemetery.

When to celebrate Radonitsa in 2022

The name of the holiday comes from the word "joy", because Easter continues. Radonitsa is a day for remembering relatives and friends, visiting a cemetery. It is celebrated after Easter week. In 2022 Radonitsa will be on May 3. On this day, it is imperative to visit the evening service: after it, as a rule, a memorial service is performed, which includes Easter chants.

To honor the memory of the departed, you need to visit the temple, where funeral liturgies are performed on this day, and submit a note of repose. After prayer, come to the cemetery to a relative, light a candle and pray for the soul of the deceased.

What not to do for a holiday

Radonitsa is a sacred holiday on which it is customary to commemorate the dead. There are several prohibitions that must not be violated on this day:

• Drink alcohol. It is believed that on this day you cannot drink alcohol, water a monument or a flower bed in a cemetery with alcohol - this insults the memory of the deceased.
• To grieve and cry. Instead of loud sobs on this day, it is customary to pray for the welfare of the soul of a loved one.
• Feast. It is quite acceptable to honor the memory of relatives in a quiet family circle, but it is strictly forbidden to arrange a noisy feast with songs and dances in Radonitsa.
• Baptized into monuments and photographs. Remember that the cross is a sacred symbol, it is permissible to overshadow yourself with the cross only when you enter or leave the temple, during a service, before or after a prayer, with the blessing of someone.
• Argue. This day should be held in peace and harmony with others. Do not waste your energy on scandals and showdown.
• Get married. As a rule, Radonitsa is celebrated on Tuesday, and on this day it is not customary to hold a wedding ceremony.
• Bring food to the cemetery. It is believed that this is a pagan tradition that has nothing in common with Christianity.

Instead of carrying food to the cemetery, it is better to give it to the needy or homeless.

Traditions

On this holiday, there are several traditions that must be observed:

• it is believed that on this day the souls of the departed visit relatives and friends, so you need to leave the window open so that they can get into the house;
• after the morning service, you need to go out into the courtyard of the church and distribute painted eggs, Easter or any other treat to the poor;
• on this holiday there is a tradition to put an additional device on the table for the deceased;
• work on this day is allowed strictly before lunchtime, and after that you must definitely have dinner with your family.

Among other things, on this day it is imperative to clean up the cemetery.

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Signs

There are signs by which they tried to predict the future on this day:

• It is believed that whoever visits the cemetery first will receive a special blessing from the ancestors.
• If it rains on this day, happiness awaits you. It is imperative that you wash your face with rainwater so that good luck will visit you next year.
• If there is a full moon on this holiday, there will be an excellent harvest in the fall.
• The more treats you give to those in need, the more good things will happen in your life.
• If the frost hits, don't expect a great harvest this year.
• If a new moon falls on Radonitsa, expect good news.
• If you see birds on this day, the summer will be very warm and sunny.
• If the sky is crimson in the morning, expect rain and hail in the evening.
• If a child says the first word to Radonitsa or takes the first step, good spirits will help him in life.
• If you meet an unmarried girl on the road in Radonitsa, a marriage awaits you next year.

For a long time, people believed in signs and observed rituals to attract good luck, happiness and wealth into their lives. However, in the modern world, many of them have lost their relevance, so it's up to you to believe in them or not.

Outcomes

Many Christians are interested in the question of when Radonitsa is in 2022, what date this holiday is celebrated among the Orthodox. After all, this is a very important day when families honor the memory of departed relatives, so it is important not only to know that Radonitsa will be May 3 in 2022, but also to prepare in advance for the celebration.