Funeral Practices of the Orthodox Church

Funeral practices are part of Orthodox tradition led by the Holy Spirit.

The Orthodox Church, which has it's roots in Greek culture, was formed in 1054 in Constantinople, now modern-day Istanbul. Funeral traditions in the Orthodox Church are guided by the Holy Spirit. The12 apostles are also important in the influence of traditions in the Orthodox Church.

Condolences

In the Orthodox Church, guests often greet the bereaved with the phrase, "Memory Eternal." They also offer condolences and compassion to the grieving family members. They speak this phrasebecause, according to the Greek Orthodox Church beliefs, death separates the body and soul, and the soul is in eternal memory.

Viewing

Orthodox Church funeral services usually have an open casket, but viewing the body is optional to attendees. If a believer visits the body, he may choose to kiss a cross that sits on the chest of the deceased, but this is optional for nonbelievers of the Orthodox faith.

Ceremony

Men and women are expected to dress in dark colors, and men are expected to wear a jacket with a tie. There is no food served after the burial, and recording devices are not to be used during the ceremony. The service generally tends to last between 30 and 60 minutes. The texts read during the ceremony come from the Divine Liturgy, and these texts are read by a priest.

Flowers

Guests may bring flowers to the ceremony in the Orthodox Church. Each is expected to place a flower on top of the casket at graveside, and nonbelievers are expected to participate along with the congregation of believers. (reference 1)

References

• Funeral Wise: Funeral Customs - Greek Orthodox Church