What is Cherry All Souls' Day?
Cherry All Souls' Day (Chereshova Zadushnitsa) is observed on the Saturday before the great Christian feast of Pentecost. It is a special day on which the Orthodox Church offers collective prayers for the repose of the souls of all deceased Christians.
"Show kindness to every living person, but do not withhold kindness from the dead" – The Bible
Physical death does not break the unity among believers, and through worship, we pray for God's mercy for our loved ones.
Symbolism of the table
- Boiled wheat: A symbol of resurrection and the hope for eternal life.
- Bread: Symbolizes Jesus Christ himself.
- Wine and fruit: Part of the shared meal that is distributed for "God forgive".
On this day, we visit graves, clean them, cense them, and pour water and red wine over them. An important tradition is the distribution of the first cherries, from which the name of the holiday is derived.