Ethnic Funerals
Orthodox Funeral Service
The life and the body of every baptized Orthodox are considered
sacred because they contain the Holy Spirit he or she received on
the day of Baptism. During his or her life the body and soul co-existed.
At the time of death the soul departs from the body to go to judgment
and the body returns to the earth. Only people who are baptized
in the Orthodox Church are entitled to an orthodox funeral. It is
strictly forbidden to cremate or burn the bodies, as they have to
be buried and decay in the ground from where they came from.
When somebody is seriously ill and his or her days are numbered,
the family calls upon the priest to read prayers and if the sick
person is of sound mind, the priest asks him or her to Confess and
gives them Holy Communion ("Last Rights"). If the end
of his or her life is one of extreme suffering, the priest is called
upon to perform a special service where he commands the spirit to
go to rest with the company of the angels and end the patient's physical
suffering.
France Family Funerals has a proven track record of preparing the
body of the deceased according to the Orthodox tradition and can
arrange for the Family Viewing and the short memorial where family
and close friends pay their final respects. The Orthodox Funeral
Service is steeped in symbolism. The body even at the death is respected,
as it was the vehicle that carried that spirit during life. And
the body is brought to the Church where he or she was baptized and
married.
At the graveside the priest reads a short memorial service and the
body is lowered to the ground. The people who are around the grave
throw dirt or flowers on the casket. Later the family invites people
for makaria (memorial luncheon) in memory of the soul of
the deceased.
At the Orthodox funeral service, mourners are expected to wear navy
blue or black, formal clothing. Widows are expected to wear black
clothing for up to two years after the death of their spouse. Memorial
services for the deceased are held on the Sunday closest to the
40-day mark after death and on the first anniversary of the death.
Catholic Funeral Service
Pre Liminal
In the Catholic denomination this involves the last rites for the
dying person (confession of sin, absolution by a priest, anointing
with oil and communion). A short service at the home of the deceased,
at a funeral home or at the Church the night before the funeral
(called the Vigil) marks the separation of the dead person from
the realm of the living.
Liminal
The main features of the funeral service are:
• Blessing of the coffin with Holy water
and incense in Catholic funeral
• The person's Baptism is recalled and belief in the resurrection
is reiterated
• Prayers for the deceased
• Prayers of thanks to God for the life of the person
• Eulogy is given by someone who knew the deceased well
• The coffin is then taken from the church to the cemetery
or crematorium, where the burial or cremation service is held.
Post Liminal
At the burial or cremation service it is recalled that death is
but a parting and hope in the resurrection is proclaimed. In the
Catholic denominations there are also formal celebrations on the
anniversaries of the death.