On 18 February 2017, the Ecumenical Parental Saturday, the rector, Priest Igor Babakov, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint Alexius Cathedral in Samarkand.
At the end of the service a panikhida (memorial service) was served for all Orthodox Christians departed this life from all ages.
The establishment of the Meatfare Parental Saturday goes back to apostolic tradition. This is confirmed by the typikon of the holy Church set out in the fifth century by Venerable Sabbas the Sanctified on the basis of the most ancient tradition, and by the custom of the early Christians of gathering at cemeteries on certain days to commemorate the dead, of which written testimony survives from the fourth century.
The reason for establishing this commemoration was that on the Sunday of Meatfare Week the holy Church remembers the Second Coming of Christ. Therefore, on the eve of this day, as it were on the day before Christ's Dread Judgment, and also as it draws near to the spiritual labors of holy Great Lent, when we must enter into the closest union of love with all the members of Christ's kingdom, the Saints, the living and the departed, the Church intercedes for all our forefathers, fathers and brethren of every kind who have fallen asleep in piety and the right faith from Adam to this day: kings, princes, monastics, laypeople, the young and the old, and all who died suddenly and were left without proper burial. She intercedes, beseeching the Righteous Judge to show them His mercy on the day of impartial recompense to all.
At the close of the service Fr. Igor addressed the faithful parishioners with a sermon in which he reminded them of the importance of praying for the departed, and greeted everyone on the approach of Great Lent.
"Let the time of the fast not become a time of bitter labors and sorrows for any of us. Let our hearts and faces be bright and joyful. Let this fast be a fast of salvation, and let the path of the fast be adorned with good deeds as we journey toward the Bright Resurrection of Christ."
The rector expressed the hope that the prayers offered for the departed at the service would serve them for salvation and eternal life.
