The funeral service, to take place at a funeral home or Greek Orthodox Church will
include hymns, prayers, and readings from the bible
. … According to tradition, the casket will face east with feet toward the altar.At the funeral service, guests can greet the family with the phrase, “Memory Eternal” or offer condolences.
What happens when a Greek person dies?
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.
How long do Greek Orthodox funerals last?
A bit longer than the average funeral length, A Greek Orthodox funeral service is
about 90 minutes long
. The church ceremony is about one hour and the burial is about 30 minutes.
What do you give at a Greek funeral?
One beautiful example of faith tradition we often see is the use of
flowers
in Greek Orthodox funerals. Flowers are a wonderful gift to a grieving family who follows the Greek Orthodox religion when you wish to express your condolences. White blooms are considered the best option and are chosen the most often.
What happens when someone dies in Greek Orthodox?
Orthodox burial
Cremation is forbidden
in Orthodox funerals. … However, embalming is allowed in preparation for burial. After the service, family and friends approach the casket to pay their last respects before the closing of the casket. A procession to the cemetery will begin as the Trisagion Hymn is sung again.
Does Greek Orthodox Church allow 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.
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.
Where do Greek souls go after death?
The Greeks believed that after death, a soul went on a journey to a place called
the Underworld
(which they called Hades).
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.
What are the three stages of an ancient Greek funeral?
Relatives of the deceased, primarily women, conducted the elaborate burial rituals that were customarily of three parts: the prothesis (laying out of the body (54.11. 5)
, the ekphora (funeral procession), and the interment of the body or cremated remains of the deceased.
How should I dress for a Greek Orthodox funeral?
If you were to attend a funeral at a Greek Orthodox Church, what should you expect? 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.
What color is Greek funeral?
Although
family members of the deceased dress in black
, other mourners may wear neutral colors. Pallbearers carry the casket into the church and place it before the altar. In the Greek Orthodox faith, funerals are open-casket services, with a religious icon and cross positioned on or near the deceased’s forehead.
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 do I wear to the Greek Orthodox Church?
In recent years, Greek Orthodox Churches have gotten a little more casual than they used to be. The general rule is to wear clothes that are classy and not too provocative.
Business casual or a suit and tie for the men
are both acceptable. For women, wearing a dress or skirt that falls around the knee is preferred.
Do Greek Orthodox believe in purgatory?
The Orthodox Church does not believe in purgatory
(a place of purging), that is, the inter-mediate state after death in which the souls of the saved (those who have not received temporal punishment for their sins) are purified of all taint preparatory to entering into Heaven, where every soul is perfect and fit to see …
What are Greek Orthodox rituals?
They are
Baptism, Chrismation (confirmation), Eucharist, Confession, Ordination, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick
.
