Orthodox Christians have a deep faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection destroyed the power that death once held. Through our baptism, Orthodox Christians participate in His death and resurrection: “all those who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Because He is risen, we also confess our eventual resurrection from the dead at His second coming.
We remember our loved ones because the Lord’s Body cannot be broken or divided: those who have passed on are not dead—they are alive in Christ. As Scripture tells us: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not God of the dead, but of the living… for all live to Him” (Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:38).
At the end of the memorial service, we sing “May their memory be eternal!” Here, we are praying not only that people will remember our loved ones, but that they will forever be remembered by and remain in the loving embrace of our God.
After the 3-Year Memorial
Your loved one continues to be remembered and prayed for throughout the year:
Saturday of Souls Four times throughout the year, we dedicate Saturdays to remember all of the departed. These are observed on:
- The two Saturdays preceding Great Lent
- The first Saturday of Great Lent
- The Saturday before Pentecost
Proskomide (Weekly Commemoration) Every Sunday, family members can offer their loved one’s names for the priest to commemorate during the Divine Liturgy. As the priest prepares the offering bread and wine for the Eucharist, he prays for both the departed and the living.
To participate, fill out the commemoration sheet (found in the narthex) with the names of your loved ones. It’s a simple, meaningful way to keep them in the Church’s prayers week after week.
What is Koliva?
Family members offer a dish of boiled wheat, called koliva, in remembrance of their loved one and in hope of the resurrection. This beautiful tradition is rooted in Jesus’s own words:
“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 wheat, symbolizing death and new life, is offered at the memorial service and distributed to the faithful in the church hall, reminding us that through Christ, death leads to eternal life.
Planning a Memorial Service
To arrange a memorial for a loved one at St. Nicholas:
- Contact the Church Office
- Phone: 757-422-5600
- Email: secretary@stnicksgoc.org
- Timeline: At least 2 weeks in advance
- Arrange the Koliva
- Prepare it at home, or
- Contact the church office to order it
- Coordinate timing with the parish
- Arrive Early on Service Day
- Arrive at 9:30 am for the beginning of Divine Liturgy
- Reserved front pews for family members
- Koliva is offered and distributed after the memorial service in the church hall
Note: Memorial services are offered for departed Orthodox Christians whose funerals took place in the Orthodox Church.