Often in Orthodox churches near the tetrapod (a candlestick for commemoration of the departed), various food products can be seen on the table. This is due to the fact that believers bring various dishes to the temple to commemorate their deceased loved ones.
The main Orthodox principle of honoring the memory of the deceased is the offering of prayers “for the remission of sins” and granting peace to the soul, as well as the desire for good deeds in memory of those who have completed their earthly journey. The alms expressed in bringing food to the temple is not just a testament to the memory of the deceased, but shows a person’s love for the deceased. Usually notes are put in packages with products on which the names of those who need to be remembered for peace are written. This is done so that the clergy and other parish ministers at the table can offer memorial prayers in memory of the deceased.
It is worth remembering that a certain practice has developed in the Church, according to which not all food products can be brought to the church on certain days of the church liturgical year. It is not supposed to bring meat for remembrance, since it is not customary in the Church to bring the product of a slaughtered animal into God's house.
Before the alms, you need to familiarize yourself with the Orthodox calendar, check to see if there is a post at the moment. If the Church continues the period of abstinence (or a calendar Wednesday and Friday falls), then they will not bring fast food to the temple. On such fasting days, it is necessary to put on the memorial table products blessed by the Holy Church as food for the time of saving abstinence. For example, vegetables, cereals, fish (if there is no Great or Assumption Lent), seafood. This practice is very logical, because the clergy will not eat fast food during the days of fasting to commemorate the deceased.
When the church calendar provides for the absence of fasting, it is permissible to bring dairy products, eggs, cheeses and other (with the exception of meat) to the memorial table.
On Radonitsa (the ninth day on Easter), eggs, Easter and Easter cakes are most often used as commemoration products. However, there is no specific church decree in this, therefore, each person, to the best of his ability, decides for himself what kind of alms. The main thing in this matter is pure thoughts, good nature and love for others, accompanied by fervent prayer for them.
