For the past four (4) decades I have witnessed or participated in more than a thousand Eastern Orthodox Funerals throughout the United States and Canada. On numerous occasions during this time, I have traveled to various locations in the U.S. and Canada to share my expertise with funeral directors and their families when it came to customs, traditions, practices, and rituals in the conduct of funerals in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Few, very few, funeral directors are truly knowledgeable of, and thus are incapable of communicating the customs, traditions, and practices as they relate to visiting hours, funerals, and burials in the Eastern Orthodox Church. What funeral directors are knowledgeable of and quick to note – “Cremation is forbidden in the Eastern Orthodox Church!”
Yes, it is a fact – “Eastern Orthodox Families do not cremate their departed loved ones”, and therefore a full service traditional funeral with all the details that are encompassed therein are the norm. With cremation on the rise, and no one can dispute this fact, Eastern Orthodox Christian funerals are extremely attractive to funeral directors.
It is not just funeral directors throughout the U.S. and Canada that are unfamiliar with the customs, traditions, practices, and rituals in the Eastern Orthodox Church; Eastern Orthodox Christians (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations) themselves are routinely unaware of these aspects when it comes to the loss of a loved one and what is their responsibilities at this time.
“I am pleased to share the information concerning Orthodox Customs, Traditions, and Practices with all funeral directors as well as the general public for their information, knowledge, and understanding prior to and at the time of the loss of a loved one” said Philip G. Haddad, Jr. creator and founder of www.orthodoxcustomstraditionsandpractices.com. I welcome all funeral homes to not only review the content presented herein, but to link to the web site and share the information with each Eastern Orthodox Family doing their advanced planning.
Questions or comments may be forwarded to info@orthodoxcustomstraditionsandpractices.com
