THE DAY BEFORE SLAVA

On the Eve of the slava a hostess should mix the ingredients for the slava cake with the blessed water and boil wheat for koljivo; the host should obtain a slava candle, frankincense, red wine and oil.

It is recommended that the slava cake be made by the hostess or someone from the household personally, and not bought already made. Let the slava cake, made by the people who live together, also express gratitude to God and the saint for giving us the life and health and letting us live to see the feast day that year – let it be the prayer to the Lord for the blessing. But, if the slava cake is prepared by someone not living in the house, it should be sprinkled with the blessed water when it is brought to the house.

 

Household errands of preparing for the slava should be thus distributed that they leave enough time to go to church to attend the Vespers and the Vigil (when they would usually bring and give oil and frankincense to the church as their offering, in the memory of the saint).

The celebrants should light a candle in church for their health and the health of their family, and offer warm and honest prayer to the Almighty, asking their saint to delegate for them.

They should remember their bellowed departed, and light a candle for the rest of their souls.

 

If for a special reason they can not go to church, they should all – after the daily work is done – gather in front of their saint’s icon, light an oil lamp for him, and pray to him and God for happiness, health and every well-being.

The host should cense the icon, everyone present and every room in the house with frankincense. He, or someone younger, should read the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary prayer. If they are able they may sing the Troparion to their saint and read a prayer dedicated to him. [10] Let their prayers be honest and from a pure heart, for it is the only way for them to be fulfilled.