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[[Memorial Services]] (Greek: '' '''ΜνημοσυναΜνημόσυνα''' '' (memorial) or ''' ''Παραστάς'' ''' (wake), Church Slavonic: '' '''паннихида, panikhída''' '') are special prayer services offered for the benefit of the departed.

Praying for the dead could include celebrating the [[Eucharist]] or could be a special service, as it is now, in which the names of the dead were mentioned, or it could be both. St. [[Cyril of Jerusalem]] mentions the prayers offered for the benefit of all who have died in the faith of [[Jesus Christ|Christ]], stating that their souls greatly benefit by the prayers of the Church and by offering the [[Eucharist|Bloodless Sacrifice]] for the repose of their souls. St. [[John Chrysostom]] believes that ''"to mention the names of the departed in the awesome mystery of the [[Eucharist]] results in much benefit for the souls of the beloved."'' Above all, praying for the dead is a deeply rooted practice in the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|Church]] on the belief that the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|Church of Christ]] is constituted not only of her living members but also of her departed ones. The [[Eucharist|Bloodless Sacrifice]] of the Orthodox Eucharist, as articulated in all the [[Divine Liturgy|Liturgies]] in use, is offered for the benefit of both dead and living faithful. A Biblical basis for praying for the dead may be found in the Epistle of St. James, 5:16, by which the ''"prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects."''<ref>Rev. Dr. Nicon D. Patrinacos (M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon)). ''A Dictionary of Greek Orthodoxy - Λεξικον Ελληνικης ΟρθοδοξιαςΛεξικόν Ελληνικής Ορθοδοξίας''. Light & Life Publishing, Minnesota, 1984. pp.249-250.</ref>