How is the date of the one-year parastas calculated?

Count one year from the date of death. If the day does not fall on a Saturday, move the parastas to the nearest Saturday, following the parish priest's advice.

Does mourning end at the one-year parastas?

By tradition, yes. The one-year parastas marks the close of the mourning period. After it, the immediate family normally sets aside the outward signs of mourning.

What is brought to church for the one-year parastas?

Koliva, colaci, wine, candles, and the pomelnic with the name of the departed. Many families also bring flowers, for the grave and the memorial table.

Is the grave visited at the one-year commemoration?

Yes, this is common practice. After the church service, the family visits the grave for a brief prayer and to arrange flowers and the oil lamp.

How much does organising a one-year parastas cost?

It depends on the number of guests and the type of meal — koliva and colaci, a restaurant meal, or food parcels. We give you a clear estimate in advance, with no hidden costs.

What commemorations follow after the first year?

After the one-year parastas, commemorations are held annually, at each anniversary of the death, through the completion of 7 years — the last special commemoration in the tradition.

Should the priest be contacted in advance?

Yes, we recommend booking the service early, especially if relatives are travelling from other towns. The priest reserves the service and tells you if the date needs to be adjusted to a nearby Saturday.

Is a service held at the grave for the one-year commemoration?

Yes, usually. After the parastas at church, the family visits the grave for a brief prayer, lighting candles, and changing the flowers.

How many guests are invited to the one-year commemoration?

Typically extended family and close friends, as at the 40-day service. The number depends on the family; the meal or food parcels are prepared according to the number of attendees.

What is worn to the one-year parastas?

Sober, decent attire. Since this is the moment mourning is lifted, many no longer wear strict black, but bright colours and festive dress are still avoided out of respect.

Can the monument be erected by the one-year commemoration?

Yes, this is the appropriate time, once the ground has settled. Some families combine the commemoration with the blessing of the monument. See monument prices.

Can the commemoration be combined with the blessing of the monument?

Yes. Many families have the monument blessed at the one-year mark, on the same day as the parastas. The priest conducts both the memorial service and the blessing at the grave.

What flowers are brought to the one-year commemoration?

Sober flowers for the grave and the memorial table — chrysanthemums, carnations, or lilies. The old flowers at the grave are replaced and the oil lamp is relit.

How long does the parastas service last at one year?

The parastas itself generally lasts 20–40 minutes, after the morning Liturgy. With the visit to the grave and the memorial meal, the day extends to several hours.

What if I cannot hold the commemoration exactly at one year?

It is held on the nearest Saturday to the date. If that is not possible either, speak with the priest to find a nearby date — the important thing is that the commemoration is not forgotten.

Is the one-year commemoration held for those who were cremated?

Yes. The tradition of commemorations is the same for burial and for cremation. The one-year parastas is held identically, regardless of the form chosen for the departed.

MEMORIAL SERVICES · COMMEMORATIONS · 1 YEAR

One-year parastas: date, service, and what to prepare

The one-year parastas is held at the completion of one year from the date of death and marks the close of the year of mourning. It is a major commemoration, with a church service, koliva, colaci, and a memorial meal for family and close friends.

Updated: 22 June 2026

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When is the one-year parastas held?

The date is counted from the day of death — at the completion of exactly one year. As with all commemorations, if the day does not fall on a Saturday, the parastas is moved to the nearest Saturday, the day appointed for commemorating the departed.

If the anniversary falls during Great Lent or another special liturgical period, the priest sets a suitable nearby Saturday. Book the service in good time, especially if relatives are travelling from other towns.

The one-year parastas closes the series of first-year commemorations, which begins with the 40-day service. After this point, commemorations are held annually, through the completion of 7 years.

The close of the year of mourning

The one-year parastas marks the end of the mourning period. By tradition, after this point the immediate family sets aside the outward signs of mourning — black clothing and abstinence from celebrations.

It is a major commemoration, comparable in importance to the 40-day service. Extended family and close friends attend, and the memorial meal is generally larger than at the commemorations of the intermediate months.

Romanian parastas table: braided loaves, koliva, red wine, candles and plates on white cloth — no people — Illustrative image: memorial table laid for a parastas.

What to prepare for the one-year commemoration

Preparations are similar to those for the 40-day service, because the scale is comparable. Here is what is typically prepared:

Koliva — boiled wheat with walnuts and sugar, decorated with a cross and a candle
Colaci — ritual breads for blessing and distribution
Wine — for blessing and the memorial toast
Candles — for participants at the service
The pomelnic with the name of the departed
Memorial meal or food parcels for guests
Flowers for the grave and the memorial table

Traditional koliva close-up: boiled wheat with a walnut cross and powdered sugar, coloured sweets around the edge — Illustrative image: koliva decorated with a cross, prepared for the one-year parastas.

The service and memorial meal

The service takes place at church, after the Saturday Liturgy. The family brings the koliva and colaci, hands the pomelnic to the priest, and lights the candles; the priest conducts the parastas for the departed. Many families also visit the grave for a brief service and to arrange flowers.

The memorial meal follows the service: at home, at a restaurant, at the parish hall, or in the form of food parcels. At parastase și pomeni we prepare the koliva, colaci, memorial meal, and church coordination, so the family can rest.

Who organises the parastas?

We organise the one-year parastas from start to finish: koliva and colaci according to tradition, the meal or food parcels for the number of guests, flowers, and coordination with the priest.

The family chooses the location of the meal and the number of people; we handle the rest. For a cost estimate, call us — the consultation is free.

Visiting the grave and lifting mourning

At the one-year mark, many families visit the grave after the service for a brief prayer, lighting candles, and changing the flowers. Some renew the oil lamp and clean the monument.

This is also when mourning is lifted: close relatives set aside black clothing and abstain no longer from events. This gesture is not prescribed by Church canon but follows family tradition.

If the grave does not yet have a monument, the one-year mark is the right time to order one, once the ground has settled. See monument prices for guidance.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

Answers to frequent questions

How is the date of the one-year parastas calculated?
Count one year from the date of death. If the day does not fall on a Saturday, move the parastas to the nearest Saturday, following the parish priest's advice.
Does mourning end at the one-year parastas?
By tradition, yes. The one-year parastas marks the close of the mourning period. After it, the immediate family normally sets aside the outward signs of mourning.
How large is the one-year commemoration?
It is a major commemoration, comparable in importance to the 40-day service. Extended family and close friends attend, and the memorial meal is larger than at the intermediate-month commemorations.
What is brought to church for the one-year parastas?
Koliva, colaci, wine, candles, and the pomelnic with the name of the departed. Many families also bring flowers, for the grave and the memorial table.
Is the grave visited at the one-year commemoration?
Yes, this is common practice. After the church service, the family visits the grave for a brief prayer and to arrange flowers and the oil lamp.
How much does organising a one-year parastas cost?
It depends on the number of guests and the type of meal — koliva and colaci, a restaurant meal, or food parcels. We give you a clear estimate in advance, with no hidden costs.
What commemorations follow after the first year?
After the one-year parastas, commemorations are held annually, at each anniversary of the death, through the completion of 7 years — the last special commemoration in the tradition.
Should the priest be contacted in advance?
Yes, we recommend booking the service early, especially if relatives are travelling from other towns. The priest reserves the service and tells you if the date needs to be adjusted to a nearby Saturday.
Is a service held at the grave for the one-year commemoration?
Yes, usually. After the parastas at church, the family visits the grave for a brief prayer, lighting candles, and changing the flowers.
How many guests are invited to the one-year commemoration?
Typically extended family and close friends, as at the 40-day service. The number depends on the family; the meal or food parcels are prepared according to the number of attendees.
What is worn to the one-year parastas?
Sober, decent attire. Since this is the moment mourning is lifted, many no longer wear strict black, but bright colours and festive dress are still avoided out of respect.
Can the monument be erected by the one-year commemoration?
Yes, this is the appropriate time, once the ground has settled. Some families combine the commemoration with the blessing of the monument. See monument prices.
Can the commemoration be combined with the blessing of the monument?
Yes. Many families have the monument blessed at the one-year mark, on the same day as the parastas. The priest conducts both the memorial service and the blessing at the grave.
What flowers are brought to the one-year commemoration?
Sober flowers for the grave and the memorial table — chrysanthemums, carnations, or lilies. The old flowers at the grave are replaced and the oil lamp is relit.
How long does the parastas service last at one year?
The parastas itself generally lasts 20–40 minutes, after the morning Liturgy. With the visit to the grave and the memorial meal, the day extends to several hours.
What if I cannot hold the commemoration exactly at one year?
It is held on the nearest Saturday to the date. If that is not possible either, speak with the priest to find a nearby date — the important thing is that the commemoration is not forgotten.
Is the one-year commemoration held for those who were cremated?
Yes. The tradition of commemorations is the same for burial and for cremation. The one-year parastas is held identically, regardless of the form chosen for the departed.

Related services or pages

Memorial services and commemorations
Full organisation: koliva, colaci, memorial meal, church coordination.
View details
40-day parastas
The most important commemoration of the first year.
View details
Koliva for commemoration
What koliva is, what goes into it, and how it is prepared.
View details
2026 commemorations calendar
Exact dates of the Saturdays for commemoration in 2026.
View details

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