On the Second Sunday of Easter and the next Monday, Orthodox Christians in Moldova and Romania remember their dead relatives and friends. The holiday is known as Paștele Blajinilor, literally translated as Easter of the Kind-Hearted, a reference to the kind souls of those who passed away. Borrowed from Church Slavonic, the word blajin may also mean blessed or redeemed.

Contacted by IPN, Archimandrite Nectarie Gherman, deputy rector of the Moldovan Academy of Orthodox Theology, said this celebration reflects both the joy of Christ’s Resurrection and the expectation of the promised resurrection of the dead at the end of time.

At Easter of the Kind-Hearted, believers first go to the church to pray, then to the graves of their dead, where they bring flowers and small offerings. They light candles and pray for the souls to rest in peace.

These memorial days are to be spent “in peace and faith”. “We go to the cemetery decently dressed, we pray, we sing Christ is Risen. It is forbidden to hold boisterous parties, dances and festivities. We honor our ancestors, first of all, by mentioning them in the holy prayers, by the alms we give in their name, by visiting and the graves and maintaining them. After the liturgy, the priest also tours the graveyard to perform funeral services in the presence of the relatives and sing together with them Christ is Risen, followed by Eternal Remembrance”, said Nectarie Gherman.

Prayers play an important role at Easter of the Kind-Hearted. “We ask God to forgive them their trespasses, to let them repose, and give them a place with the saints in the Heavenly Garden. At the same time, through prayer we maintain our spiritual connection with our loved ones who are no longer with us”, the priest emphasized.

On these days alms are given, especially to the needy, and they not to be exchanged among relatives.