Greek Orthodox Church members believe that death – what they refer to as “falling asleep” – isn't the end. They
believe life is everlasting, and that the soul is reunited with the body and with Christ
. This provides hope in the midst of loss.
What do Greek Orthodox do when someone dies?
The funeral service
, to take place at a funeral home or Greek Orthodox Church will include hymns, prayers, and readings from the bible. The priest may also offer a sermon and speak about the deceased. The casket will likely be open with a viewing of the deceased optional.
What happens when a Greek person dies?
When someone died in Ancient Greece,
they would be washed
. A coin would be placed in their mouth, to pay the ferrymen who took the dead across the rivers in the different parts of the Underworld. … They used simple boxes for burying their dead or the deceased would be burned, and their ashes buried in a special pot.
Do Greek Orthodox pray for the dead?
Orthodox Christians offer particularly
fervent prayers for the departed on the first 40 days after death
. Traditionally, in addition to the service on the day of death, the memorial service is performed at the request of the relatives of an individual departed person on the following occasions: Third day after death.
Do Greek Orthodox believe in cremation?
According to the law, Orthodox
Greeks can choose cremation as long
as they have stated this in writing before their death or their immediate relatives wish it. “A pre-condition for the cremation is the clear, unequivocal statement of the deceased, or their relatives,” that they wish to be cremated, the law said.
Where does the soul go after death Greek Orthodox?
The Greek Orthodox believe that when an individual dies, the soul and body are separated. The body is
returned to the earth
and decomposes but is not lost to the soul. The soul does not “return” to heaven, it meets God for the first time and awaits the body's resurrection.
Why do Greek Orthodox celebrate 40 days after death?
The 40 days is
an opportunity for judgment before God
. It's believed in Eastern Orthodox religions that the soul completes many obstacles known as the aerial toll houses. The soul passes through the aerial realm, which is home to evil spirits.
Why do Greek Orthodox not get cremated?
The burning of the dead has been frowned upon by Greek clerics since a long way back because it
is associated with all manner of cults
, modern-day pagans, agnostics and atheists. They have their rights, of course – even the archbishop said so.
What type of religion is Greek Orthodox?
| Greek Orthodox Church | Classification Eastern Orthodox Church | Scripture Septuagint, New Testament | Theology Eastern Orthodox theology | Polity Episcopal |
|---|
What should I bring to a Greek funeral?
Those
attending dress in dark, modest clothing
. Typically, men wear suits and women wear dresses, as the church encourages everyone to cover their arms and legs. A traditional Greek Orthodox funeral includes five parts, beginning with a brief prayer service, or Trisagion, typically held the night before the funeral.
Why do Orthodox pray to saints?
Intercessory prayer to saints also plays an important role in the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. … The Catholic doctrine of intercession and invocation was set forth by the Council of Trent, which teaches that “…the saints who reign together with Christ offer up their own prayers to God for men.
What is a Greek Trisagion?
The Trisagion (Greek: Τρισάγιον; ‘Thrice Holy'), sometimes called by its opening line Agios O Theos, is
a standard hymn of the Divine Liturgy in most of the Eastern Orthodox
, Western Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic churches.
What does the Orthodox Bible say about cremation?
The
Bible neither favors nor forbids the process of cremation
. Nevertheless, many Christians believe that their bodies would be ineligible for resurrection if they are cremated. This argument, though, is refuted by others on the basis of the fact that the body still decomposes over time after burial.
What does the Orthodox Church say about cremation?
The Eastern Orthodox
Church forbids cremation
. Exceptions are made for circumstances where it may not be avoided as in when civil authority demands it, during epidemics or other similar necessary cases.
What are Greek Orthodox rituals?
They are
Baptism, Chrismation (confirmation), Eucharist, Confession, Ordination, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick
.
What happens immediately after death?
Decomposition
begins several minutes after death with a process called autolysis, or self-digestion. Soon after the heart stops beating, cells become deprived of oxygen, and their acidity increases as the toxic by-products of chemical reactions begin to accumulate inside them.
