TFSC Chapter 5: The Eastern Orthodox Funeral Rite
Orthodox term to describe the deceased
"Fallen asleep in the Lord"
What is the double meaning of Orthodoxy?
"Right belief" and "right worship"
What were the five main Sees of early Christianity?
1. Rome, 2. Antioch, 3. Alexandra, 4. Alexandria, 5. Constantinople
When would the Coptic Church separate from the remaining Christian Communities?
451
How many Coptic churches are in the United States?
93
What signals the end of the committal service?
A closing prayer
What may the final portion of the funeral service include?
A eulogy
When did the first division of Orthodox Communities occur?
After the First Council of Ephesus in 431
Where did the Russian community begin in America?
Alaska
Who is each Orthodox Church governed by?
An independent Council of Bishops, called a Synod
Why is cremation forbidden for Orthodox Christians?
Because it was introduced by atheists and enemies of the Church.
What religious equipment will typically be used during the visitation?
Candles will be placed at each end of the casket, a cross behind the casket, and an icon at the foot end of the casket
a person who accompanies the priest in chanting hymns pertaining to the liturgical service
Cantor
What did the issues arising at the Council of Chalcedon cause?
Caused the emissaries from Alexandria to side with the Greek writings of Cyril against the Latin delegates from the West.
An icon is placed at the foot end of the casket and those seated on the right side of the church may pass the casket, stopping to kiss the icon on their way
Ceremony of the Last Kissing
Greek meaning "Mother of Christ", preferred title for Mary in the Oriental Orthodox tradition
Christotokos
Place of Service:
Church encouraged for funeral
What church is the Mother Church for Egypt and all of Africa?
Church of Alexandria
What were the See(s) of the Orthodox Church?
Church of Constantinople Established by Andrew Church of Jerusalem Established day of Pentecost Church of Antioch Established by Thomas Church of Alexandria Established by Mark
What were the See(s) of the Roman Catholic Church?
Church of Rome Established by Peter
Dressing and Casketing:
Clergy/ religious orders- vestments; parishioners- no restrictions
The committal service:
Committal service at place of disposition with the Trisagion
What disposition method in the Orthodox religion is considered objectionable?
Cremation
Eucharistic celebration in the Eastern Orthodox communities of faith
Devine Liturgy
What disposition usually occurs for Orthodox Christians?
Earth burial or entombment
Where are the Constantinople and Byzantine communities?
Eastern and Southern Europe
List the Eastern Orthodox Church Communities?
Egyptian (Coptic) Church Syrian Orthodox Church and Mar Thoma Syrian Church (sometimes referred to as Oriental Orthodox) Greek Orthodox Traditions: Greek, Russian, Albanian, Hungarian, American
Latin for "from the Son"; the Latin view (Roman Catholic and Protestant) is that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son; the Greek view (Orthodox) is that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father only
Filioque
the proper name given to the Orthodox Church service conducted for the dead
Funeral Service
Office of Christian Burial in the [Greek Orthodox] Church
Great Panachida (Parastas)
What regions does Orthodox church have a lot of adherents?
Greece, Hungary, Albania, Belarus, Romania, Russia
Clergy Notification:
Not required
Is the casket open or closed during an Orthodox funeral service?
Open
Right belief or right worship
Orthodox
How many Orthodox Christian adherents are there in the USA?
Over one million forty
Rubric:
Panachida
rubric for the funeral service; a pamphlet containing the Small Panachida, for the vigil service at the funeral home, and the Great Panachida, the service held at the church; also includes the interment service
Panachida
"watch" or "all-night vigil" over the lifeless body
Parastasis
Eulogy:
Permitted
Flowers:
Permitted
Music:
Permitted
Processional
Priest and cantor lead procession
Who will lead the procession to the burial site?
Priest and the cantor
How will the participants get to the church if the final Trisagion if it is held at the funeral home?
Procession
Recessional:
Same as processional
The seat (sedes) of episcopal or religious authority
Sees
open area before the altar in the Orthodox Church
Solea
When are funerals typically not held?
Sundays and certain Holy Days recognized by the Orthodox Church
An independent Council of Bishops that governs individual Orthodox Churches
Synod
a wax candle lit in the narthex of the Orthodox Church, signifying prayers and petitions being offered up to God
Taper
What Church was formed from the Nestorian Controversy?
The Church of Antioch
What did the leaders of the five main Sees of early Christianity see the Jerusalem Church as?
The First Among Equals
What Church does the American Orthidox Church spring directly from?
The Russuan Orthodox Church
How is the casket turned after the eulogy?
The casket is turned so that it is parallel to the Iconostasis (the portion extending across the front of the church).
What is done with the casket after the eulogy?
The casket is turned so that it is parallel to the Iconostasis (the portion extending across the front of the church). The priest anoints the body with earth or sand and olive oil. An icon is placed at the foot end of the casket and those seated on the right side of the church may pass the casket, stopping to kiss the icon (Ceremony of the Last Kissing) The icon is then moved to the head of the casket and those seated on the left side of the church may stop and kiss the icon before passing by the casket
What were the main issues of the Nestorian Controversy?
The dual nature of Christ (divine and human) and the proper view of Mary (Theotokos or Christotokos)
Who chooses the dress and casket?
The family
Where may the final Trisagion be held?
The funeral home or at the church
Who will typically attend the final Trisagion?
The members of the family and pallbearers
What were the main issues causing the Constantinople Communities?
The use of icons, the filioque controversy, and Rome's claim of Primacy
Greek term meaning "Mother of God"; preferred title of Mary for the Roman Catholic Tradition and Orthodox Communities after 431
Theotokos
What is the European custom for dressing and casketing the decedent?
To shroud the body
What does the family have the opportunity to do after the final viewing and kissing of the icon?
To view one more time before the casket is closed
Three short services or blessings, conducted at the funeral home the evening before the funeral, prior to leaving for the church and at the cemetery following the funeral service
Trisagion
How long will the final trisagion last?
five to ten minutes
When did the final division between the early Church traditions happen?
in 1054
Preparation of Remains:
interment or entombment; cremation objectionable
What order of service does a Orthodox funeral follow?
liturgical
Is notification of the clergy required?
no
Removal:
no restrictions
What are the Orthodox Church have any restrictions on the removal of the Remains?
no restrictions
What are the Orthodox communities practice "last rites"?
no restrictions
Leadership:
pope: spiritual leader of the mother church and those churches who are in communion; bishops, parish priests, deacons
What will the funeral service consist of?
readings, prayers, and hymns from the Panachida (the Byzantine Rite is available as Panachida: The Office of Christian Burial)
Visitation/Wake Parastas
small panachida, free standing cross, vigil lights, icon, flowers permitted
What does the visitation, historical Parastasis begin with?
the Trisagion
What was the Nestorian Controversy focused on?
Nestorious who studied at the School of Antioch. His opponent was Cyril of Alexandria
Do Orthodox communities practice "last rites"?
No
Communion:
None
What concept does Orthodox communities utilize to describe the deceased?
fallen asleep in the Lord
Religious items:
Icon
holy pictures, usually of Christ, the Mother of Christ, and the Saints, found covering the walls, iconostasis, and special shrines around the church
Icon
A solid screen, covered with icons, at the front of the church, dividing the sanctuary from the nave
Iconostasis
When was The Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America granted autocephaly and entered into communion with the Moscow Patriarchate?
In 1970
Where is the funeral service typically held?
In the church
Where and when does the visitation typically take place?
In the funeral home the evening before the funeral home the evening before the funeral service and again the following day immediately prior to the funeral service
Where were the five main Sees of early Christianity located?
Jerusalem
Origin:
Jesus Christ
How is the casket placed in an Orthodox funeral service?
Led feet first down the aisle to the Solea, foot end is near the altar
What will the committal service include?
Litany of readings, prayers by the priest and acantor
Classification:
Liturgical
What is the general order of service?
Trisagion Service, chanted at the funeral home or in the church on the evening before the funeral service and on the day of the funeral, at the graveside following the funeral service, and for memorial services Selection of verses from Psalm 119 (LXX118) in three stanzas: Part I- verses 1, 20, 28, 36, 53, and 63; Part II- verses 73, 83, 94, 102, 112 and 126; Part III verses- 132, 141, 149, 161, 175, 176 Blessings (Evlogetaria) Kontakion and Hymns in each of the Eight Tones Scripture Readings: (a) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and (b) John 5:24-30 Small Litany, Prayers, and Dismissal The Kiss of Peace and the anointing of the body The chanting of the Trisagion Service at the cemetery
Is the use of flowers permitted?
Yes, but it will vary from church to church
Who may accompany the priest during the processional?
a cantor
What will the priest do prior to leading the procession down the aisle of the church?
bless the casket with holy water
What form of disposition is forbidden for Orthodox Christian?
cremation
