Saturday of the Dead

The day before the Sunday of the Last Judgement marks a commemoration of all those who have departed this life and Gone to their rest. This is the first of four such Saturdays 'of the dead' that occur during the annual Lenten discipline, and its position directly before the commemoration of the Last Judgement reminds us that all humankind, not only ourselves and those to come, but all those who have gone before us from the first moment of creation, will be called to account on the day of the great reckoning. Knowing that we live in a world filled with the consequences of human sin, the Saturday of the Dead is dedicated to praying on behalf of the members of this great human 'family' who now lie asleep in the Lord yet who continue to form an important part of our communal history of salvation. 

The texts below are taken from the hymnography for the Saturday of the Dead, found in the Lenten Triodion. 

Troparion of the Day, Tone 8:

O Thou who with wisdom profound orderest all things in Thy love for mankind, who bestowest on all men, O only Creator, that which is best for them: give rest, O Lord, to the souls of Thy servants, for they have set their hope in Thee, our maker and Creator and our God.

The Evlogitaria of the Dead, in Tone 5:

Blessed are Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

The choir of saints has found the Fountain of Life and the Door of Paradise; may I also find the way through repentance. I am the lost sheep: call me back and save me, O Saviour.

Blessed are Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

O saints and martyrs who preached the Lamb of God and like lambs were slain, who now are translated to the eternal life that knows no age: pray fervently to Him, that He may grant us the forgiveness of our sins.

Blessed are Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

All ye who in this life have trod the narrow way of sorrow, bearing the Cross as a yoke and following Me in faith: come and receive with joy the honours and the heavenly crowns that I have prepared for you.

Blessed are Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

I am an image of Thine ineffable glory, even though I bear the marks of sin. Take pity on Thy creature, O Master, and cleanse me in Thy loving-kindness. Grant me the fatherland for which I long, making me once more a citizen of Paradise.

Blessed are Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

Of old Thou hast created me from nothing and honoured me with Thy divine image; but when I disobeyed Thy commandment, Thou hast returned me to the earth whence I was taken: lead me back again to Thy likeness, refashioning my ancient beauty.

Blessed are Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.

Give rest, O God, to Thy servants and establish them in Paradise, where the choirs of the saints and the righteous shine as the stars of heaven. Give rest, O Lord, to Thy servants who have fallen asleep, and overlook all their offenses.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

With reverence let us praise the threefold radiance of the one Godhead, and let us cry aloud: Holy art Thou, O Father who has no beginning, coeternal Son and Holy Spirit. Illumine us who worship Thee in faith, and snatch us from the eternal fire.

Both now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Hail, holy Virgin, who for the salvation of all hast borne God in the flesh. Through thee mankind has found salvation: through thee may we find Paradise, O Mother of God pure and blessed.

Troparion at Vespers, Tone 6:

Thy creative ordinance was my beginning and foundation. For Thou hast willed to fashion me as a living creature from natures visible and invisible: Thou hast made my body from the earth, and given me a soul by Thy divine and quickening breath. Therefore, O Saviour, grant rest to Thy servants in the land of the living, in the tabernacles of the Righteous.