Friday the 13th: All Souls Day

This RSS feed arrived in my box today from Makfax:

"The Macedonian Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare announced that Friday 13, All-Souls' Day a day before Pentecost, has been declared as non-working day for the Orthodox believers in Macedonia."

Is it just me or is it quite ironic that "All Souls Day," which commemorates the faithful who have died, falls on the ultimate superstitious day of Friday the 13th?

The actual holiday is on Saturday, but it's typical for people to get either the Friday or the Monday closest to a holiday off from work.
Interestingly, the holiday (1 of 7 All Souls Days) is always on Saturday. In the Orthodox church, according to Wikepedia, it's considered the typical day for prayers for the dead because Jesus rested in the tomb on Saturday. To pray for the dead, Orthodox faithful will light a candle and place it in the lower section of the candelabra at church. It's believed that as long as the candle remains lit the prayer continues to rise before God.

Pictured is an example of the ornate candelabras. The fresco behind it is of the Archangel Michael and is in the only section of the church that you're allowed to take photos. [In the interior of the church there is a famous fresco of the "pieta" where Mary shows emotion... a herald of the Renaissance that was to come. Here's a link to a Macedonia FAQ site that has a photo of it... simply scroll to the bottom of the page to see it.]

For many, this "All Souls Day" and the days that follow will likely be full of sorrow as they grieve again for loved ones who have died, especially for those who've lost someone in the last year. Gravesites are visited to pay respects on Pentecost as well. Therefore, as the locals commemorate this day on Saturday with prayers for those who have died, would you please join me and pray for those who are living with hearts sorrowed by grief? Thank you.