The Russian Orthodox Church is praying for the departed on Meatfare Saturday, which this year falls on February 6.

Meatfare Saturday is one of several Memorial Saturdays, or Saturdays of the Departed, dedicated to remembrance of the dead in the liturgical year. Christians believe that when people pass away their souls do not die but depart from this world to eternal life.

The departed souls may need help from the church and its members if the dead people's lives were marred with sin. The help is given through prayer, when Christian priests and believers ask God that he repose the departed souls in Heaven.

Meatfare Saturday is the sixth day of Meatfare Week, which is followed by Cheesefare Week. During Cheesefare Week, Orthodox Christians eat any food except meat preparing themselves for Great Lent that starts after the week's last day, Forgiveness Sunday.

On this Saturday, believers also flock to cemeteries to visit the graves of their departed relatives, sometimes asking priests to hold special short prayer services for the dead there.

MOSCOW, February 6 (RIA Novosti, Ivan Korzun)