PRIESTS

Proistamenos:

Fr. Christopher T. Metropulos This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Assistant Priest:

Fr. Spiro D. Bobotas This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Priest Retired:

Fr. Constantine Mitsos
Memorial Services PDF Print E-mail

Memorial Services/Saturday of Souls & Scheduling Guidelines

WHAT IS A MEMORIAL SERVICE?

The Church has always believed and taught that death only ends our lives on earth but that they continue in heaven. "Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him (Luke 20:37-38)." Christians pray for the repose of the souls of the departed as an expression of faith in the resurrection and the belief that in death our relationship with Christ continues. Prayers for the dead cannot change the outcome of God's judgment because once death comes our destiny cannot change (Hebrews 9:7)." A memorial service is how Christians pray for and remember the dead. The Church also remembers the departed in the prayers of every Divine Liturgy. Traditionally, when families prepare the offering bread (prosforo) they also submit names of the departed and the living to the priest. Anytime a parishioner would like for someone to be remembered at a Liturgy, simply submit the name(s) prior to the service to the priest. Parishioners may also offer Communion Wine (available in our bookstore); Olive Oil and Incense to be used in the altar when submitting names as well.

WHEN SHOULD A MEMORIAL SERVICE BE CONDUCTED?

A Memorial Service should be schedule with the priest to be conducted forty days after someone dies and on the one and three year anniversary. "SATURDAY OF SOULS" After the first year, names should be submitted for the special general memorial services conducted on four designated Saturdays called "Saturdays of the Souls." They are: the two Saturdays preceding Great Lent; the first Saturday of Great Lent; and the Saturday before Pentecost. The Saturday of Souls dates for 2010 are: February 6, February 13, February 20, and May 22 The Custom of Koliva When the Memorial Service is offered, it is customary for the family of the deceased to bring a dish of boiled wheat to the Church. The boiled wheat is placed on a table in the center of the nave during the Service. The wheat, known as koliva, is a symbol of the Resurrection. When speaking of the Resurrection, our Lord said: "Unless the grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit." (John 12:24)

MEMORIALSERVICE POLICY OF SAINT DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

Memorial services are held after Liturgy based on the following guidelines:

• At 40 days after death, a memorial service should be scheduled on the nearest Sunday

• At the first year anniversary of death, a second memorial service should be conducted on the nearest Sunday.

• All other memorials after the first year of death: the deceased should be remembered at the yearly Saturday of Souls Liturgies.

• Memorials are not to be held on the following days:

• All Sundays of Great Lent, unless it is a forty day or one year memorial.

• From Palm Sunday to the Sunday of Thomas

• On Feast Days of Our Lord

Recipe for Koliva

Boiled Wheat used for memorials

1 C hulled wheat ( lb.)

4 C water

1/2 - 3/4 C chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios, etc.)

1/2 - 3/4 C raisins, golden or regular 1/4 C chopped fresh parsley or mint (optional)

1 tsp. cinnamon For the topping:

1 C fine crumbs of zwieback or graham crackers

1 C sifted powdered sugar

1/4 - 1/2 lb. white Jordan Almonds (sugar-coated almonds)

The day before the Memorial Service: Rinse and drain the wheat. Cook it as you would rice, for about 1 to 1 hours. Do not overcook so that the grains explode. Since there is more water in the cooking than there would be for rice, check the wheat as it's cooking for doneness. Pour the hot wheat into a large or two smaller colanders. When drained, put the wheat into a large bowl. Cover the wheat with very cold water to stop the cooking. Allow the wheat to drain overnight. Spread it out over baking sheets to allow it to completely dry. The morning of the Memorial Service: In a large bowl mix the wheat with the cinnamon, nuts, raisins, and parsley or mint. Transfer the mixture to a platter. Place a piece of waxed paper on top of the mixture and flatten the top so that it is evenly distributed. Sprinkle the bread crumbs or graham cracker crumbs evenly over the wheat mixture. This keeps the moisture from the powdered sugar layer. Sift the powdered sugar atop the crumb layer. Use the Jordan almonds to form a cross atop the powdered sugar. The edge of the platter can be lined with Jordan almonds if desired. Plan to be at Church before Liturgy begins so that you can give the platter and your list of names of your deceased family and friends to the priest. A candle is often placed in the platter and lit during the memorial service.