Psychosabbaton

JEFFREY B. PETTIS

The Greek word psychosabbaton (“soul Sabbath”) refers to the Saturdays in the Orthodox liturgical year set aside for a special remembering of the departed. On these “Sabbata” days special hymns are added to the divine service to commemorate the dead. The designation of the day of Saturday stems from its symbolic association with Christ’s own entombment on that day. The designated days include the Saturday of Meatfare week, or the second Saturday before Great Lent; the Saturday before the Sunday of the Last Judgment; the second, third, and fourth Saturdays of Great Lent; the Saturday before Pentecost; and the Saturday prior to the Feast of St. Demetrius the Great Martyr. The divine service on these days has special hymns selected for the commemoration of the dead. Usually the memorial observance of the Panikhida follows the divine liturgy on Saturday morning, but it may also occur after Vespers on the preceding Friday evening (vigil of Saturday). Prayers are offered for the repose of those who have departed and for the comfort of the living. The service has a penitential emphasis, in that it calls believers to humility before the reality of the brevity of mortal human life. The service may include the use of the ancient tradition of Kollyva, a liturgical meal blessed and taken in memory of the dead. A service celebrated on behalf of an individual on these days will usually take place at the grave site, but memorial services for all the faithful who have departed occur in the church, as do services for those whose graves may be located at a far distance. In some cases the Saturday liturgy takes place in the cemetery chapel. The Orthodox Church additionally recognizes and prays for the dead on the holiday called “The Day of Rejoicing” which falls after St. Thomas Sunday in the post-Pascha Bright week.