1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
Luke 21:8-9, 25-27, 35-36
Today is the first Saturday of the Souls in the Orthodox Church. On this day we remember all of those who have gone before us and we pray for them. Tomorrow is the Sunday of the Last Judgement so it is fitting that on this day before we remember those who have died. We pray for all that have departed in faith and hope of resurrection, beseeching the righteous judge to show forth His mercy upon them on the very day of impartial retribution at the universal judgement.
The church has received this custom through the Apostolic Constitution (Book VIII, ch. 42). We also commemorate the dead on the third, ninth, and fortieth day after their death and then each year after for three years. The Apostolic Father taught that since many had died in faraway places and did not have the benefit of these services a common memorial should be said for all the pious Orthodox Christians who have died from all the ages past.
The Icon used on this day is the same as that for tomorrow the Last Judgement included here.
