Russian Orthodox Christians observe Radonitsa
Followers of Russian Orthodox Christian Church visit family members' graves to commemorate the departed on the second Tuesday of Easter.
Radonitsa is an Eastern Slav tradition to commemorate the departed. It dates back to the pagan timens when the Slavs, like many ancient peoples, visited family members' graves and fested with them.
Aftrer their conversion to Christianity, this pagan custom transferred into the Russian Orthodox Church as the festival of Radonitsa.
Radonitsa is observed one week after the Easter, always on Tuesaday. People go to churches first and then proceed to cemetries. It is worth noting that the Russian Orthodox Church does not approve the custom of commemorating meal when an Easter egg is kept for the departed family members. From the viewpoint of the church, the departed need a prayer and good deeds in their memory only to keep their sould happy.
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