Do you need immediate help arranging a Russian Orthodox Funeral? Phone Orthodox Funeral Services on 02 9721 1700
Providing a quality service 24 hours – 7 days.
All areas of Sydney, Suburbs, Country, Interstate & Overseas Services.
With the utmost care, we ensure every detail of your loved one’s funeral is handled with empathy, responsibilty and sensitivity.
For immediate care and attention all hours please phone
Antony Jeffrey (02) 9721 1700
Антоний Джеффри (02) 9721 1700
Мы, Русские Православные, мы говорим на русском языке
We at Russian Orthodox Funeral Services are Russian Orthodox, we speak Russian and practice the Russian Orthodox Faith.
Было бы большой честью служить вам и вашей семье в час нужды, когда необходима поддержка.
It would be a privilege to serve you and your family at time when support is needed.
Для немедленного внимания и заботы, мы доступны днем и ночью.
Russian Orthodox Funerals
Every religion has different funeral ceremonies and Russian Orthodox funerals hold such event in a different way. The church of the Russian Orthodox is very attentive when it comes to the spiritual state of the dying and they offer a number of prayers to help the soul pass from our world into God’s grace. The most important and the first one is the need of ensuring that there is a priest to hear the last confession and conduct the holy communion to the dying. This important moment depends on the family of the dying person if they will make arrangements early enough to have a priest visit the person when the dying can still communicate or respond. If the dying cannot communicate, the Holy communion cannot be conducted but will read the Canon for the Departue of the Soul from the Body. During the reading of this, family are not allowed to be present which is why it is important that the family of the dying has a panikhida or requiem sung in the church when the family is all these. Such service is known as the Panikhida of the First Day.
In Russian Orthodox funerals, the burial takes place on the third day upon death. This is because this is the traditional teaching of the church that on the third day, this is the time when the soul leaves the world and embark on its ascension to God. However, there are situations when this is not possible and if there are other arrangements in mind, it may be done in consultation with the priest.
Russian Orthodox funerals have rules as well and one general rule that they implement is that they do not conduct burial service for suicides, cremations or non-Orthodox persons. However, there are exceptions as well and every case is investigated. If an exception is made, it will be granted by the local bishop after all the investigations such as required documents are placed before him by the parish priest. One should not be taciturn to speak to the prient about situations that can effect the chances of a loved one having a Christian burial.
In their tradition, the Church celebrated a panikhida for the deceased on the ninth day when the soul has reached the Throne of God. According to St. Basil the New and the Blessed Theodora, about the Trials of the Toll Houses, the ninth day also marks the start of the period of weighing up of one’s sins and virtues which goes on until the fortieth day. On the last day which is the fortieth day, such tradition teaches that the soul hass received its conditional judgement which remained in place until the Great Day of Judgement at the end of time. Therefore, the Church celebrates another panikhida for the soul’s repose of the deceased beseeching God to be merciful to the deceased and give them a place of spirtual comfort in the Lord’s presence.
Panikhida is celebrated every year on the death anniversary of the loved one. This day has become their birthday in the Eternal Kingdom.
The Russian Orthodox Church teaches the significance of prayers for the deceased because it brings spiritual comfort to their soul. Lighting a candle in Church or having the deceased commemorated during the Divine Liturgy can also bring great spiritual benefit. The giving of alms in memory of the deceased has become a tradition of the Church because this is benificial for the donor and to the person whose name the alms are given.
Russian Orthodox Funeral Rites
Russian Orthodox has different funeral rites like other religions. Before a deceased is laid to rest, he or she will go through a number of steps before he or she reach eternal rest. Here are some of the steps:
- Washing of the body – Russian Orthodox believes that washing the body of the deceased prepares the dead for his or her meeting with the Creator.
- Dressing of the body – they dress the deceased in an all-white clothing but unfinished because it does not belong in this world but on the other world.
- Belt – the dead is to wear a belt during the burial because it is needed when the deceased is ressurected during the Last Judgement.
- Body of the deceased stays in the hours for 3 days – Not inside the coffin, the body is only out into the coffin after the three days.
- Position of the deceased – in Russian Orthodox, they lay their loved ones in a position where the head of the dead is pointed towards the icon corner.
- Funeral – the priest performs the “seeing off” ceremony and prays over the body and allows mourners to throw dirt on the grave. He will place a paper crown on the head of the deceased and mourners are to throw soil or coins.
- After the funeral – mourners will sing laments
Every religion has their different funeral rites and this particular religion, the Russian Orthodox is slightly unusual yet very interesting. It is very significant and symbolizes a lot of things. In fact, every step of the funeral rite has their own symbol which makes the whole funeral very spirtual.
In Russian Orthodox, the coffin is also known as the “new living room” as it is very comfortable and it is very similar to a bed and it comes with a pillow but also comes with birch bark or wood shavings. The friends and family of the deceased are encouraged to place objects in the coffin that they think the deceased will need after death like money and food. The men carry the coffin on their backs to the cemetery.
Meaning of Death to Russian Orthodox
The citizens of Russia are usually Russian Orthodox, a common religion in their country. Just like other religions, every religion has its owb beliefs, culture and tradition. When it comes to funeral rites, Russian Orthodox funerals are different from other religions but also have similarities with other religions. Their funeral rituals are considered one of the most important rituals.
How do Russian Orthodox funerals define death? For them, death is a transformation into the other world, to the world on their ancestors. These ceremonies are supported in the transformation of the dead body and is protected against death for the living.
In Russian Orthodox funerals, there are a couple of steps the deceased must go through before he or she is finally laid to rest. The dead body must be washed to take of his or her life energy and they are put into funeral clothing. In the house, the deceased is laid on a bench with the legs facing the door. This goes on for three days and after three days, the body of the deceased is put in a coffin and the funeral will take place. During the funeral, mourners are encouraged to throw fir branches and juniper after the funeral procession as this covers the tracks of the living. They return from the cemetery using a different route to confuse the evil spirits and for the evil spirits not to know the location of the deceased. One of their rules includes the elderly to prepare a coffin and funeral clothing before the eventual death.
Money and nail cuttings are placed in the coffin with the deceased. This is because money will help the deceased cross the river that separates the living and the dead worlds. While the nail cuttings will help the dead climb mountains.
Another important part of Russian Orthodox funerals is lamentation. Mourners or the family and friends of the dead say their prayers and Psalter and weep over the dead. Lamentation takes place in the house and in the cemetery during the funeral commemoration. The commemoration takes place on the same days as the funeral and in the ninth and fortieth day after death. Ethere is no invitation to the commemoration because everyone is invited. Russian Orthodox believes that the dead is present in spirit during the commemoration.
They also have their traditional food they eat during the commemoration namely, kytia, panckaes, fish pie and oatmeal kissel. Kytia is made of wheat corn with bird cherries and symbolizes revival, consolidation of lif which the corn extended and preserved.
A special towel is kep on the window frame and cup of water on the windowsill during the forty days after the funeral. They believe that the dead’s soul will visit the home and will rest on the towel and take a sip of the water or bath in the water if he or she pleases.
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