Panachida

A panachida is a memorial service. It is a liturgical observance in honor of the departed which is served in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Churches.

In the Eastern Church, the various prayers for the departed have as their purpose: to pray for the repose of the departed; to comfort the living; and to remind those who remain behind of their own mortality, and the brevity of this earthly life. For this reason, memorial services have an air of penitence about them, and tend to be served more frequently during the four fasting seasons (Great Lent, Nativity Fast, Apostles' Fast and Dormition Fast).

It is also served on the numerous Soul Saturdays throughout the year. On these days, not only is the memorial service served, but there are also special propers at Vespers, Matins, and the Divine Liturgy. These days of general memorials are:

- Meatfare Saturday (two Saturdays before the Great Fast begins)—in some traditions families and friends will offer Panikhidas for their loved ones during the preceding week, culminating in the general commemoration on Saturday

- The second Saturday of the Great Fast

- The third Saturday of the Great Fast

- The fourth Saturday of the Great Fast

- Radonitsa—Tuesday following Thomas Sunday; i.e., the second Tuesday after Pascha (Easter)

- The Saturday before Pentecost—in some traditions families and friends will offer Panikhidas for their loved ones during the preceding week, culminating in the general commemoration on Saturday

-Demetrius Saturday (the Saturday closest to the feast of Saint Demetrius, October 26)

Because of the great solemnity of the days, the celebration of memorial services is forbidden from Holy Thursday through Bright Week (Easter Week), and on all Sundays throughout the year.