Today the Orthodox Church celebrates the Great All Souls' Day - the commemoration Saturday before Cheesefare Sunday, also called "Day of All Souls" before the beginning of Lent. On the Saturday before Maslenitsa (Butter Week) a special commemoration for the deceased is performed, which this year precedes the beginning of the fast on February 23, Monday, after Cheesefare Sunday (Forgiveness Sunday) on February 22.
The name "Day of All Souls" indicates that this is a day dedicated to the commemoration of the souls of the deceased. For the commemoration, "colyvo" is prepared - boiled, sweetened wheat, which symbolizes the belief in the resurrection. In the Bulgarian tradition, bread and wine are mandatory added to it, and in more recent times, small sweets and salty snacks. The commemoration can be performed at the grave, in the church or at home, depending on the family custom.
All Souls' Days always fall on Saturday, because in the weekly festive cycle the Church has determined this day for the deceased. On these days, the relatives of the deceased visit their graves, pour wine on them, incense them with incense and then distribute wheat and food to those present "for God to forgive the souls of the dead".
On Sunday, on Meatfare Sunday (Judgment Sunday), the Gospel reading reminds of the scene of the "Last Judgment" from the Gospel according to Matthew (25:31–46. Thus, the memory of the deceased during All Souls' Day is naturally connected with the preparation for Lent and with the spiritual message of the responsibility of each person before God.