concept
For the Living, For the Dead
o zdravii / za upokoy
also: о здравии, за упокой
The two standard headings on Orthodox commemoration slips submitted before a service — one listing names to be prayed for among the living, the other among the dead. The story's whole comedy turns on the sexton and the old woman losing track of which name belongs on which list.
Reading notes
- The Rigmarole §5 for the living
Orthodox commemoration slips are submitted before a service under one of two headings — 'for the living' (for the health of named persons) or 'for the dead' — read aloud or silently by the clergy. The entire story is a farce of names sliding between the two.