post_img

Office of the Dead

The unique Catholic tradition of chanting Latgalian psalms, called mirušo ofīcijs, translated in English as “Office of the Dead” is still practiced today in the eastern – Sēlija and Latgale – regions of Latvia. Although it may sound quite ominous, the purpose of it is benign – to pray and intercede for the souls of deceased relatives, initially during the first days immediately following the death of a relative and before the funeral, and also a year after their passing. The tradition is an important part of the grieving process. It is also increasingly considered a symbol of Latgalian identity.