All Souls’ Day

Flowers in a cemetery on All Souls’ Day. Photo: Clear Images/Shutterstock
Flowers in a cemetery on All Souls’ Day. Photo: Clear Images/Shutterstock
Published October 31, 2013

This article first appeared in the November 2013 issue of the Anglican Journal.

This is a day of prayer for the departed faithful. Like All Saints’ Day, this commemoration is tied to the profession in the Apostles’ Creed of the communion of saints, which former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams broadly interprets as the “sharing between holy people” or the “sharing of holy things.” Based on the spiritual unity of all Christians, those living this earthly life and those who have gone before—the communion is a mystical bond in Christ not broken by death. The prayer cycle of the Office of the Dead is read/sung, and in some countries people pay tribute at their relatives’ graves.

 

 

Author

  • Diana Swift

    Diana Swift is an award-winning writer and editor with 30 years’ experience in newspaper and magazine editing and production. In January 2011, she joined the Anglican Journal as a contributing editor.

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