Memorial Information

Even after the funeral service, the Orthodox believe that intercessions on behalf of the dead are possible through the fervent prayers of those remaining on earth. While the Orthodox hold memorial services at many different times, the most widely observed service is the 40-day memorial, based on the last days of Christ.

After His Resurrection, Christ remained on earth for 40 days: ‘To  [the apostles] He presented Himself alive after His passion by many proofs appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.’ (Acts 1:3)

Memorials can also be offered at 6 months, the first-year anniversary, the third-year anniversary and Saturdays of the Souls (held before Lent and Pentecost.)

The memorial (mnimosino – μνημόσινο, Greek for ‘calling to mind’) recalls the deceased to God, the heavenly host, family, and friends. The service begins with an appeal to God to restore the departed to the divine image in which he or she was created. The priest asks God to forgive every sin and give rest to the deceased. The service [typically held immediately after Divine Liturgy] ends with “May his/her memory be eternal.”

It is traditional for the family to sit in the front of the church, before the icon of Christ during the service. The family provides a wheat dish called Kolllyva (κόλλυβα), a symbolic custom based on scriptures concerning eternal life: ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’  (John 12:24)

The Christian message of everlasting life and hope is symbolically represented by the kollyva on a tray that rests on a small table with candles in front of the church…After the church, the family shares the kollyva with the rest of the congregation.

Memorials cannot be held on any of the feast days of the Lord (i.e. Christmas, etc.), Pentecost Sunday , The Dormition of the Panagia (August 15,) or from the Saturday of Lazarus (one week before Easter) through the Sunday of Thomas (one week after Easter.) (source: A Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs in America by Marilyn Rouvelas)

 To order Kollyva for a memorial at St Demetrios, contact Tina Carpadis Schraff at (216) 215-4232.