Interrupted Life: A Symbol of Sorrow
The black stripe on a mourning photo serves as a symbol of an interrupted life, reflecting deep sorrow and loss. According to one source, "The black stripe, affixed to the mourning photo portrait, may be regarded as a symbol of an interrupted life. This tradition has its roots in the distant past and symbolizes deep sorrow and loss. (As is known, what the holy Fathers call mortal memory—a recollection that, once ingrained in the soul, severs its friendship with sin and all sinful pleasures.)" (source: link txt).Thus, this black stripe is not merely a decorative element, but an important ritual sign that indicates a person's life was cut short, thereby emphasizing the sense of tragic loss and the painful rupture between their past existence and the current reality of those left behind.Supporting citation(s):"At the moment when a person dies, his soul leaves the body and departs to another dimension. For the relatives, only the body remains, which must be buried according to tradition. The black stripe, affixed to the mourning photo portrait, may be regarded as a symbol of an interrupted life. This tradition has its roots in the distant past and symbolizes deep sorrow and loss. (As is known, what the holy Fathers call mortal memory—a recollection that, once ingrained in the soul, severs its friendship with sin and all sinful pleasures.)" (source: link txt)