How to commemorate for health and for the peace of souls?
Primary prayer
for the health of the living and the peace of the souls of the dead Orthodox
Christians Church performs at Divine liturgy and by sacrificing bloodless offering
to God. Because of that their names should be given to the Church or
written at our site (only baptised Orthodox Christians). At Proskomidia the
particles will be taken from the prosphora for their health or the peace, and
they will be put to the Holy Cup and washed by the God’s Son’s blood at the
end of the Liturgy as a symbol of forgivness for the human sins by Christ. It
should be remembered that mentioning during the Divine Liturgy is the greatest
good for those who we love.
In addition to
general religious services (Liturgy, Morning Service, Vesper Service) there
are isolated services in Orthodox Church so-called rituals (since they are performed
on the believers call) as well as prayers called ’moleban’ (for the
living) and requiems (for the dead). They are usually performed afterwards
the Liturgy. You can fix a ’moleban’ to Savior (to thank, for the sick, for
travellers etc.), to the Mother of God (to different icons of her) or to the
honored Saints according to the believers wish.You can give the names to be
mentioned for the living as well for the dead Christians after 40 days, half
a year or one year....
God likes us to
get help from Him in our needs through our prayers to the Mother of God and
Saints.For example, the prayers to the icon of the Mother of God’ The cup that
was not drunk’, to Saint Bonifacije, to righteous Jovan Kronstatski help with
the drinking illness, St Nikolaj Miracle Worker is a patron saint for
travellers and he also helps to get
daughters married, and he answers other calls for help; saint soldiers
Teodor Stratilat, Jovan Soldier, charitable prince Aleksandar Nevski and others
as well as Jovan Precursor protect Orthodox soldiers; if we are sick
we ask for help martyr and healer Pantelejmon, saint Unmercenary Physicians
Kozma and Damjan....
The number of names
is unlimited; you should only keep in mind that believer, if he can, should
give a donation for Church’s needs.
Knowing that giving
the names to be mentioned during the Liturgy is something greatest that we can
do for our neighbours (especially passed away ones) we sholdn’t forget to pray
for them at our homes and to do some charity deeds as well.