Orthodox Christians mark Easter of Departed

Chisinau, 1 May /MOLDPRES/ - The Orthodox Christians mark the Easter of the Departed on 1 and 2 May. Celebrated preponderantly in the South-Eastern Europe, the event has at its basis the memory of the dead. On Easter of the Departed, believers visit the graves of their relatives, close people, make proper order there; priests officiate memory services, after which relatives give alms for the souls of the dead.

Traditionally, the Easter of the Departed is marked on the first Monday after the Saint Thomas Sunday, one week following the Orthodox Easter. In larger settlements and in the cities where there are more cemeteries, the holiday takes place during more days, starting from Saturday.    

The country where this holiday has the biggest proportions is Moldova, where the Monday after the St. Thomas Sunday is officially declared as day off.  

At the Eastern Slavs, this holiday is called Radonitsa at Russians, Radaunitsa at the Belarusians and Provody at the Ukrainians. It is marked on the first Tuesday after the St. Thomas Sunday.