Parents' Day 2025: what is the date of Parents' Saturdays, when to commemorate the deceased

Orthodox believers have special days of commemoration of the dead, the so-called parental Saturdays. On these days, it is customary to pray for deceased relatives, visit temples and cemeteries, and give alms. Read about the dates on which the divine services will be held in 2025 in the Izvestia article.

What is Parents' Day?

In the church calendar, every Saturday, except those on which polyeleic, vigil or great holidays fall, is dedicated to the commemoration of the deceased. This tradition is connected with the fact that on the last day of the week the Savior rose from the dead. Therefore, on the eve it is customary to remember all those who "died piously."

Despite the fact that prayers for the deceased are offered regularly, there are days of special commemoration, that is, parental Saturdays. They got their name due to the fact that mother and father are the closest people to each other. However, they pray these days not only for them, but also for other relatives, as well as for all Orthodox Christians.

During parental Saturdays, the clergy recommend visiting churches or reading prayers at home. It is believed that the dead cannot independently ask God for forgiveness of sins and mercy to them. Instead, the living can turn to the Lord, who are not indifferent to the fate of their loved ones after death. It is also allowed to give alms for the deceased.

When are parents' Saturdays in 2025

The church celebrates eight parental Saturdays per year. Three of them occur in the second, third and fourth weeks Great Lent. They are set up specifically so as not to deprive the deceased of commemoration, since funeral liturgies are not performed during Great Lent. The exception is the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

There are also two ecumenical parental Saturdays — Myasopustnaya and Troitskaya. These days, memorial services are held in churches for all deceased Orthodox Christians. Thus, even those people who have no living relatives or loved ones remain without prayerful representation before God.

All parent Saturdays have floating dates, as they depend on Easter and other church holidays.

The first day of special commemoration of the deceased will be Myasopustnaya Parental Saturday. In 2025, it falls on February 22. It got its name because it precedes the Meat Week, which begins on the Sunday before Shrovetide. From this moment on, believers will give up meat in order to prepare for Lent.

In the spring, during Great Lent, the Orthodox Church will celebrate parents' Saturdays on March 15, 22 and 29.

Parents' Saturdays in 2025: how to properly memorialize the deceased on Parents' Day

A total of nine special memorial days are expected during the year

Radonitsa falls on April 29, the day of special commemoration of the dead, which is celebrated on the Tuesday following Easter. A special feature of the memorial service on this day is the inclusion of Easter hymns in the memorial service. After the service, believers visit the graves of relatives and bring with them consecrated cakes, sweets, and colored eggs. A memorial meal is often held at the cemetery.

The second universal parental Saturday, Trinity, falls on June 7. On this day, it is customary to decorate burial sites with green branches. Since Saturday is one of the universal days, believers bring greenery to abandoned graves, sometimes they put things in order there.

Before the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Parents' Intercession Saturday is celebrated. In 2025, it falls on September 11th. Initially, this memorial day was listed only in the calendar of the Kazan Diocese. It was erected in memory of the Russian soldiers who died during the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, but later that day they began to pray for their deceased relatives. Over time, the tradition spread to other regions.

The last parent's Saturday of the year will be Dmitrievskaya, which will be held on November 1. It precedes the memorial day of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. This memorial day was established by Prince Dmitry Ioannovich of Moscow in 1380 after his victory in the Battle of Kulikovo. The first divine services were held at the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

How to commemorate the dead in 2025

On parental Saturdays, Orthodox believers are encouraged to visit the church and take part in a funeral service — a parastas, a memorial service or a liturgy. It should be borne in mind that some of them start the night before, that is, on Friday. After that, you can visit the cemetery and make a private prayer or read the Psalter.

Many believers also arrange memorial meals. They can take place near the grave of a deceased relative or at home. The church charter does not regulate them in any way, but the clergy advise to observe the measure of food, not to arrange noisy feasts and to follow the fast if parental Saturday falls during the fast period.

Ecumenical Parents' Saturday has arrived: important memorial rites, strict prohibitions

History and traditions for Parents' Day on Feb. 22

Kutia is considered a traditional memorial dish. You can also put pancakes, pies and uzvar, a hot drink made from dried fruits, on the table. There should be an odd number of treats. In addition, during the feast, it is customary to remember the deceased with warmth.

Do I need to go to the cemetery on parental Saturdays in 2025

According to the clergy, a trip to the cemetery on parental Saturday is optional, there is no strict instruction in this regard in the church charter. In addition, prayer commemoration in the temple is considered more significant for the repose of the soul than a simple visit to the grave. Therefore, believers should first take part in the service, and then go to the cemetery.

However, it is not always possible to come to the temple and visit the grave of a deceased relative. In this case, you can independently pray for the deceased in front of the home icon or invite a priest to conduct a prayer service.

What can and cannot be done on parental Saturdays in 2025

On the days of commemoration of the dead, an Orthodox believer should visit a temple and pray not only for loved ones, but also for all deceased brothers and sisters in the faith. The leitmotif of these prayers is the remission of the sins of the deceased, intercession for him before God. However, this does not mean that memorial services for the righteous should not be served — they also deserve worthy commemoration.

In addition, during the Ecumenical Parental Saturdays, priests advise paying attention to abandoned graves that no one cares for, and if possible, to restore order to them.

On memorial days, there are a number of prohibitions. For example, one cannot pray for the unbaptized and suicidal, since the former are not part of the church, and the latter have committed a very grave sin. Also, you should not leave food on graves after a memorial meal, pour alcohol "for the deceased." These actions are considered to be echoes of pagan rituals and are condemned by the Orthodox Church.

A special holiday is Forgiven Sunday: strict prohibitions, omens

What can you do on the last day of Carnival, how to forgive people

In addition, on parental Saturday, one should not speak ill of the deceased, scold them, especially with the use of swear words. You should not refuse to help those in need, as it is customary to dedicate memorial days to good deeds and charity.

Some people believe that on parental Saturdays it is forbidden to clean the house and go to the bathroom. However, the church does not impose such restrictions. It is allowed to perform any household activities, as long as they do not overshadow prayer and temple visits.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of celebrating the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.