According to the church charter, the leading week of this year begins on April 27. Believers visit cemeteries, remove graves, light lamps and bring flowers. They believe that on this day the souls of the dead are "returning" to share the joy of the Resurrection with the living.
The churches serve memorial services, during which they mention the deceased. In some regions, in particular in Polissya, priests rule the services directly in the cemeteries, and then distribute a sanctified belt - a charm that symbolizes a spiritual connection between the living and the dead.
On a memorial table, which is often covered directly on the cemetery, put a widow, bread, symbolic glass and candy - sometimes leaving them on the grave. There is a belief that these dishes are for birds that embody the souls of ancestors.
That cannot be done on wires
The rituals of the leading week have their limits and prohibitions. You can not have fun loudly, arrange loud feasts or smoke in the cemetery. It is necessary to clean the graves in advance - during the leading week it is considered inappropriate.
It is not recommended to take anything from the cemetery home. And yet - you should not look at the road from the cemetery so that "do not take your soul with you." Pregnant women and young children are traditionally advised to refrain from visiting.
There is also a ritual language: instead of the word "dead" it is better to turn to the dead by name, believing that they hear everything.
Wires during the war: new realities
As a result, this year's wires have a completely different dimension - security. The head of the National Police Department Anatoly Seredinsky warned: in a number of regions of the cemetery remain potentially dangerous - because of mines or the likelihood of shelling.
In the Kherson, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv and Zhytomyr regions, more than a thousand cemeteries have already been closed for visit - the corresponding decisions have been made by local communities. This is especially true of deoocular areas and frontline areas.
Police recommends that Sumy region residents to refrain from visiting cemeteries within 20 km from the Russian border - for safety reasons.
In addition to the mine danger, there is another threat - mass clusters of people can be perceived by the enemy as military goals. An example is the shelling of Sumy on Palm Sunday, when the enemy hit the city center.
Commemoration in silence and prayer
Despite the challenges of wartime, the wires remain a deep moment of spiritual unity with those who are no longer nearby. The church reminds: the main thing is not the form, but the content. You can pray for your relatives at home. After all, prayer has no boundaries - neither physical nor time.
