Every year, Orthodox Christians await the arrival of the holiday, called Palm Sunday.
Its date changes depending on the date on which Easter falls. Palm Sunday is celebrated seven days before Easter.
This holiday is saturated with many traditions that have come down to us since ancient times.
There are certain prohibitions and permissions. And Orthodox Christians try to honor them.
At this time, many believers decide to visit the burial place of their deceased loved ones. But the church does not always welcome the moment when parishioners come to the cemetery on large bright parties.
The action is explained by the fact that the cemetery is a place of sadness, where the dead are commemorated. For the commemoration there are specially allocated days, which are indicated in the church calendar. Their name is Parent Saturday.
Is it permitted to visit the cemetery during a major religious holiday?
On Palm Sunday, this action is not prohibited. There is even such a tradition when people carry willow branches to the graves of deceased relatives.
The Orthodox custom came to us from ancient times, when after the service the oldest member of the family went to the cemetery and left a willow branch on the grave. And there the person who came prayed for the dead relative.
The tradition of the Church is still honored today. Therefore, no one forbids visiting the cemetery on a holiday.
The only condition set by the priests is that the trip to the cemetery must take place after the religious service.
When should you not visit the graves of loved ones who died on Palm Sunday?
If for some reason it hurts a person to come to this place, the visit to the cemetery should be postponed until another time. Grief can leave deep wounds in the soul and heart.
Palm Sunday is a bright holiday where one should honor the Son of God and praise him for the great miracle, after which the righteous Lazarus was resurrected.
It’s a time of joy and celebration, but not of sadness and tears. Indulging in melancholy during the holidays is considered a great sin. And if a person visits a cemetery and cannot come to terms with the loss of a close relative, he will not be able to rejoice in the arrival of a bright holiday.
At some point after Palm Sunday, Radonitsa arrives. This is exactly the day on which, according to all church canons, the dead are commemorated. Memorial Day is usually celebrated after Easter on the second day – Tuesday.
A cemetery is exactly the place saturated with sadness and where you should pray for a deceased person. And Palm Sunday is a day of joy and happiness. And in order not to overshadow it, each person must decide for himself how to act in a certain situation.
