The burial service was observed in many cathedrals and monasteries in Russia. Here in our monastery this service was done many years ago. With the generous gift of a beautiful shroud of the Mother of God, from Vladyka Nicholas, who became our First Hierarch, Vladyka Luke decided to renew this observance for the spiritual benefit of our community.
he Burial service in our cathedral is celebrated on the eve of the feast, the Forefeast. At Matins the Lamentations were chanted with the kathisma at the beginning of the service, after the shroud of the Theotokos had been taken by the bishop and attending clergy out from the altar table and placed upon a tomb, surrounded by flowers. The melody used was the same one we use for Holy Saturday matins. The compunctionate verses were chanted by Vladyka and the concelebrating priests.
At the end of lauds once again, the clergy with Vladyka processed to the tomb, and at the end of the Great Doxology, the shroud was lifted up and carried in procession around the cathedral with the bells ringing as in a funeral.
The following day, Vladyka served the divine liturgy in the cathedral. Thus was observed the forefeast of our Most Holy Theotokos in preparation of Her Dormition.
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