What to do with the things of the deceased Orthodoxy 🥝 where to give away the clothes of a deceased relative

The loss of a loved one is an extremely spiritual and momentous occasion in Orthodox Christianity. Families frequently have to make the practical decision of what to do with the deceased’s possessions in addition to dealing with grief and mourning. Making this choice can be difficult because clothing and personal belongings can have emotional significance.

Many are curious about how these things should be handled in accordance with Orthodox customs. Is it better to keep them, donate them, or even give them to someone in need? Answering these questions can be challenging, particularly when attempting to respect religious traditions as well as the memory of the departed loved one.

This article will walk you through the Orthodox customs surrounding the handling of a deceased relative’s belongings, providing well-considered advice on where to donate clothing and other items in a way that honors the faith and the deceased.

What is left as an inheritance?

A person literally gets overgrown with possessions during his life. His home is furnished with books, picture albums, relics, and furniture. He has recently purchased as well as old clothing and shoes. He has a lovely vase, a rug he made himself, a cabinet he inherited from his grandmother, and a favorite microwave. We have the solution for you regarding what to do with all of this.

Generally speaking, everything that remains after the deceased can be categorized:

• clothes and shoes;
• furniture;
• bedding;
• jewelry;
• items that a person carries with him;
• household appliances;
• things made by hand;
• photographs.

You have to make decisions about what to do with the deceased’s belongings for each category of items separately.

What to do with the clothes and bedding of the deceased?

Even though it may have seemed like he always wore the same thing during his life, a person’s closet will almost always contain their entire wardrobe after they pass away. Are these items wearable? Family members will probably find it challenging. However, in the past, clothing was worn by numerous generations; exquisite gowns were handed down from grandmother to granddaughter, so leaving some lovely items behind is not particularly noteworthy.

It is undoubtedly preferable to get rid of some items immediately, though. from the clothing and undergarments that a person was killed in or died in. It is said that throughout life, objects accumulate the energy that each individual possesses. It is difficult to determine what known and unknown forces are at work at the moment of death because nobody really knows what happens at that point. It is therefore preferable to avoid taking chances.

Crucial! It is simply necessary to burn the clothes that were given to you in the hospital after a serious illness.

Certain religions advise preserving a deceased person’s clothing. In Soviet times, this was occasionally done if family members received a cap or tunic that was bullet-ridden. However, this is generally not a good idea; it is preferable to donate these items to a museum.

What to do with the rest of the clothes?

Items that the deceased did not wear at the time of death can be handled in one of three ways:

• put them in a remote corner of the closet and leave for a while;
• throw away;
• give to those who need it.

What can be left?

Things that are well-made or elegant can be preserved for your descendants. Why give away an opulent blouse that your grandmother embroidered, for instance? However, you should wait to wear it. For several years or even decades, let it rest in a chest. One day, your granddaughter will be delighted to take it out.

The bad energy eventually dissipates, and items belonging to the deceased won’t bring back any memories for those who weren’t close to him. Old, designer skirts and shirts will be treasured relics for your grandkids, who will marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship and unusual design as well as the superior quality of the embroidery. Who knows? Perhaps this blouse will be the first display in the recently opened museum.

Crucial! It is definitely best to discard old and frequently sewn clothing. Put them in a bag and simply take them to the trash, without following any rituals. If the right circumstances are present, you can also burn them. All of this cannot be left in the house.

You can donate nice clothes. People will always find a way to remember the people who once wore a jacket or a warm sweater they happened to get, and the people who chose to give it to someone in need, when they put it on. However, the attire ought to be:

Where are the deceased’s shoes and clothing available for pickup? These kinds of organizations are numerous. Items that are older but of superior quality are accepted more easily than others:

• church;
• shelter or warming point for the homeless.

Additionally, you can pick out nice items and place them somewhere, like in the doorway of a neighboring house or on a bench in their yard.

Crucial! It is unlikely that anyone will take the deceased person’s belongings out of your yard or entrance, as the neighbors have most likely seen them on your relative.

What to do with furniture after the deceased?

It’s time to proceed with the remaining inheritance as soon as you’ve determined what to do with the deceased’s clothing. The primary furniture item that bewilders the departed’s family is the bed or sofa he used for sleeping. In this instance, a lot relies on the manner of death:

• at home on this very bed;
• in the hospital;
• died.

Crucial! Like everything else, furniture absorbs an individual’s energy. It is preferable to discard the bed if a relative suffered greatly and was unwell for an extended period of time. Is there anywhere that can catch fire? After that, simply disassemble and remove as large waste.

And if someone died in a hospital, what would you do with their sofa? Here, your mindset determines everything:

• If the person was ill before this, it makes sense to remove his bed from the apartment, at least for hygienic reasons – the nature of many dangerous diseases has not yet been fully studied.
• If a relative was healthy, but died as a result of a car accident, an accident at work – the sofa or bed of the deceased person can safely be left at home. Here everything depends on the attitude of the rest of the household. Some people simply cannot bear to look at the empty place where the person they loved used to sleep. For others, on the contrary, this item will mean a lot.

Crucial! If the owner of the sofa passes away somewhere else, the sofa itself has no connection to the moment of death. It is advisable to speak with a clergyman from your denomination if there isn’t agreement within the family. Maybe he will follow certain rituals to ease the pain of remembering a loved one.

Orthodox custom dictates that handling a deceased relative’s possessions is a deliberate procedure that upholds their memory and provides solace to the bereaved. Giving away clothes and other personal belongings as a charitable act represents the passing of worldly possessions to benefit those in need. This practice helps the recipients of the items as well as the grieving family, who can find comfort and closure in the knowledge that their loved one’s possessions are being used for a worthwhile cause.

What to do with the bed linen of a deceased person?

Once again, a lot of factors determine this. It is not necessary to discard pillows, sheets, and duvet covers if they were just in the closet when the person passed away because they do not contain any energy.

The items that were on the bed when its owner passed away should absolutely be removed. Furthermore, it is preferable to discard everything:

• mattress;
• blanket;
• pillow;
• sheets;
• pillowcase;
• duvet cover.

Naturally, nothing needs to be thrown away if a relative has passed away and the linens he used are typically found among the other family members’ bedding. If you’re worried that the linens and pillowcases will bring up memories of the departed, then all you need to do is take them off and give them a wash. The bed linens of someone who passed away in a hospital can be used in the same way. It’s highly likely that you’ve already cleaned everything, so there’s no need to recall which sheets were on the bed when the person was taken away in an ambulance.

Crucial! Just as with clothing, you can reuse the deceased’s personal linens. To begin with, you must empty the closet and separate the good linen from the old. Toss the outdated items and donate the useful ones to a local Christian parish or shelter; they’ll undoubtedly find a purpose for them.

Other furniture

If, for a while after a loved one passes away, you feel as though his favorite chair is empty and nobody wants to eat at the table for an extended period of time, don’t be upset about it. That’s how things ought to be.

The only solution is for others to take up the spaces that appear vacant. The earlier this is completed, the better.

Crucial! Among other things, furniture that the departed particularly enjoyed using ought to "dissolve."

Personal belongings

It is acceptable to leave the deceased’s personal belongings behind. These could be:

• jewelry;
• tools;
• awards;
• collections.

All of this will become family heirlooms over time:

• Awards – always kept. And you and your children can continue to replenish the collections. Stamps, badges, postcards, calendars, watches – the value of all this grows over time, although, perhaps, now you do not want to think about it. But such things should certainly be left, in extreme cases, they can be donated to a museum.
• A box with grandmother"s jewelry will certainly someday arouse great interest in your granddaughter, even if the jewelry itself does not represent any material value.
• And if the deceased loved to wear gold or silver rings and earrings? All the more so it is worth leaving. In the most extreme case, if you do not want these things to remind you of your relative, you can give them to a jeweler and remake them into other jewelry.
• You can also leave leather wallets, handbags, bracelets, and other things in good condition. You can give something to the friends of the deceased – it may well be that they will be pleased to keep a cigarette case or a vase.
• A separate topic – tools. They can be both a relic and something that has practical value. This is decided individually – a plane made by a skilled cabinetmaker for himself and ordinary garden shears are things of different plans. This is how you should treat them, that is, store them carefully or work as your relative worked.

If you are afraid

People who are still alive often fear dying. Carry out a purification ritual if the deceased’s belongings make you feel bad but you don’t want to discard them.

How can the energy associated with the deceased’s clothing be purified? The approach is determined by your beliefs. All Christians, regardless of denomination, typically invite a priest to their home, where he will read a prayer suitable for the situation, sprinkling holy water all around, and casting out any bad energy.

Crucial! Similar rituals are also used by some psychics. They have their own techniques; they can use water, smoke, and fire to purge an object of negative energy. Any approach that enables family members to regain composure and carry on with their regular lives is beneficial.

Making decisions about a deceased loved one’s possessions can be difficult emotionally. It is important to treat these objects with care and respect in the Orthodox tradition. Donating clothing and other personal belongings to people in need represents an act of kindness and charity that continues even after a person passes away.

Some decide to have the items blessed or prayed over by a priest prior to donation, which provides spiritual solace to both the giver and the recipient. Giving out clothes to close friends or family members is another popular way to preserve the memory of the departed.

The final decision about what to do with the deceased’s possessions should take into account both religious and emotional sentiments. It’s a means of comforting those left behind and paying tribute to their memory.

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