Church commemorates Demetrius Memorial Saturday
Candles at the memorial table. Photo: open sources
On November 2, 2025, the Church commemorates Demetrius Saturday. This day is one of the special days of church-wide remembrance of the deceased.
Demetrius Parental Saturday is the Saturday preceding the feast day of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki, which is celebrated on October 26 according to the Julian calendar (November 8 in the new style). Demetrius Saturday always falls between November 2 and November 7. In 2025, this day falls on November 2.
The tradition of remembrance on this day dates back to the 14th century. Demetrius Saturday was established with the blessing of St. Sergius of Radonezh and at the initiative of the pious Prince Dmitry Donskoy after the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380 to commemorate the warriors who fell in the battle.
Over time, this day became a general commemoration of all deceased Orthodox Christians.
On Demetrius Saturday, memorial services – panikhidas and the Divine Liturgy with special remembrance of the deceased – are held in the temples of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
The clergy calls to pray on this day for all those who have previously departed, to perform acts of mercy and charity in memory of the deceased.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that the UGCC called to abandon the "Moscow" Demetrius Saturday.
Read also
TRC abducts priest in Korosten after he fled frontline Kherson region
TRC officers abducted Archpriest Pavlo Hirchenko on Sunday morning as he was on his way to church.
Epifaniy awarded with ‘Golden Trident’ at seized Cherkasy cathedral
Dumenko received an embroidered trident described by its creators as a manifesto of the Ukrainian soul.
Vinnytsia Eparchy priest dies in car crash
Archimandrite Job reposed in the Lord at the age of 63 as a result of a car accident on the evening of September 7.
Shevchuk: Demographic crisis can be solved – 60 million Ukrainians worldwide
The head of the UGCC said he is optimistic about Ukraine’s demographic problem because tens of millions of ethnic Ukrainians live around the world.
Lviv region court sentences Jehovah’s Witness to 5 years for refusing to fight
The Stryi court rejected the Jehovah’s Witness’s defense arguments that he was entitled to alternative civilian service.
Phanar head could stop church raids with a single word, says UOC hierarch
Metropolitan Theodosiy said the Ecumenical Patriarch must have understood what consequences the creation of the OCU could bring.