MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti, Ivan Korzun) – The Russian Orthodox Church is specially praying for the dead, particularly fallen soldiers, on Demetrius Memorial Saturday which this year is marked on November 7.

Initially, on Demetrius Saturday, the Saturday before the Feast of St. Demetrius of Thessaloniki celebrated November 8, the Church commemorated Russian warriors who fell in the Battle of Kulikovo in the 14th century.

Later the Church generalized the commemoration to all the departed, especially soldiers who died for their Fatherland.

In the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, Russian duchies, led by the Grand Duchy of Moscow, or Muscovy, were victorious over the Tartaro-Mongols at the Kulikovo Field (present-day Tula Region in central Russia).

The duchies, led by Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy (Demetrius of the Don), fought against the Tartaro-Mongols to try and win independence from the Golden Horde and avoid paying tributes.

The Russian Church has six special Saturdays throughout the year to commemorate the dead, called Memorial Saturdays or Saturdays of the Departed, one of which is marked today.

Other special days to commemorate the dead are Radonitsa, celebrated on the Tuesday of the second week after Easter, and May 9, when soldiers who perished in the Second World War are remembered.