Orthodox Christians mark Easter of the Gentle

Orthodox Christians on 27 and 28 April mark the Easter of the Gentle, a day dedicated to commemorating the deceased. On this occasion, believers visit the graves of their loved ones, tidy them up and priests conduct memorial services, after which relatives offer alms for the souls of the dead.

Traditionally, the Easter of the Gentle is celebrated a week after Easter Sunday. In larger rural communities and in cities with more cemeteries, the festival takes place over several days, starting from Saturday and lasting till Monday.

In an interview with the agency, Father Octavian Mosin emphasized that the Easter of the Gentle was a holiday where the faithful remember the deceased and pray for their repose.

“This day should be lived in peace and contemplation, with less focus on material things. True alms are not measured in expensive gifts, but in the intention with which they are given. In this life, it doesn't matter what you give, but how you give. It should be a gift from the heart, offered with humility and love, with thoughts to those who truly need it. It is important to come to the cemetery to pray and commemorate,” said Octavian Mosin.

In folklore, it is believed that the gentle ones are among the first people on Earth. Their main concerns are prayers and fasting for the living.

During the Easter of the Gentle, people traditionally visit cemeteries and give red eggs, cake and bread to the needy, as well as place flowers on graves. Every woman brings with her a towel, tied at one end with a candle. The towel is offered to the priest who reads the memorials. On this day, prayers are said not only for known departed, but also for all ancestors.