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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

All Souls Saturdays--Jennaz with Evlogitaria of the Dead

Return to All Souls Saturday page

All Souls Saturdays celebrate the memory of all those who have "Fallen Asleep in the Lord" in the hope of eternal life. On this day, all our predecessors in the faith who have "Fallen Asleep in the Lord" are remembered.

It is important to remember that many of the faithful, who have "Fallen Asleep in the Lord", did NOT have any liturgical prayers. To enable all the faithful to have some liturgical prayers, the Fathers of the Church made a general funeral service for all the faithful departed.

Evlogitaria of the Dead

The "Evlogitaria of the Dead" is said on Monday thru Saturday, not Sunday. The "Evlogitaria of the Dead" is said on All Souls Saturdays . The "Evlogitaria of the Dead" is found in the text of the "Funeral Service".
The Funeral/Memorial Service has many parts, which may or may not be chanted, depending on the situation.

Memorial Service

The Memorial Service includes:

• "Evlogitaria of the Dead"
• Blessing of bread
• Reading all the names of the dead remembered by the people in the parish.

Name

All Souls Saturdays are also called "Memorial Saturdays" or "Saturdays of the Dead".

All Souls Saturdays Cycle within the Pascha Cycle

Some theologians consider the two All Souls Saturdays to be the beginning and the end of the Pascha cycle.
The First All Souls Saturday is last liturgical service performed in preparation for begining the Pascha preparation, fasting in Great Lent.
The Second All Souls Saturday is the last liturgical service performed in preparation for ending the Pascha celebration, the last day.

All Souls Saturdays Cycle

• The day before fasting begins for Great Lent, all the people, who died since the Second All Souls Saturday and did NOT have a funeral service, are given a funeral service.
• The day before the Pascha cycle ends, all the people, who died since the First All Souls Saturday and did NOT have a funeral service, are given a funeral service.

All Souls Saturdays Cycle Expanded

• First All Souls Saturday is the first day before the Third Sunday of Triodion: Sunday of Meat fare.
  It is the second Saturday or ninth day before the beginning of Great Lent.
  It is the the fortyninth day before Transition Period between Great Lent and Great and Holy Week.
  There are the exceptions to date of this day.
• Second All Souls Saturday is the first day before the Great Feast of Pentecost.
  It is the fortyninth day after Pascha.

More Information

Primer for Melkite Worship and Ritual Please click on 40 Day Memorial for the Dead. Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton, Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States. Material prepared by Fr. Philaret Littlefield for inclusion in the St. George (Milwaukee, WI) Melkite Sunday Bulletin.

His Excellency, Bishop John Elya Answers

Why is it that we pray for the dead? What is the Eastern view of Indulgences?
The Bishop Answers Eparchy of Newton, (Our Lady of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) in Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States) Click on Questions related to worship and ritual W4

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles) and Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000 and Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-givng Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Saturday, October 07, 2006, 19:47:02, PDT
The current date and time is: Tuesday, October 07, 2008, 02:55:37, PDT or Tuesday, October 07, 2008, 09:55:37, GMT