By Very Reverend Michael Fourik
"I judge as I see": These words are said about the Second Coming and Great Judgment. The Holy Church is giving a very special attention to the near to death state because it is almost a deciding condition for a Christian person for the future everlasting life.
In the case of the death of the Orthodox Christian following ceremonies are done.
At the time of departure of a Christian from this world the following special canon is read, it can be of two different kinds.
1. When death is peaceful the "Canon of Supplication... at the parting of the soul from the body of any orthodox" from a Trebnik is read.
2. In the case of a painful sufferings of the dying, From Priest Book of needs "Office at the parting of the soul from the body, when a man has suffered for the long time."
After the death a body of a departed person is cleansed with water. It is done to symbolize that the body has to appear before God in cleanness and -purity. After that the body is clothed in new clothing. It symbolizes faith in the future renewal of the body at the resurrection. Clothing has to be according to the rank or kind of service of the departed because at the Great Judgment everybody will give an answer not only according to the Christian duty, but also according to the duty of service.
For Christian woman clothing has to be white as a symbol of bright afterlife. If an infant dies then baptismal clothing is put on.
After the body of the departed is placed into the coffin - a paper strip (venchik), with a picture of Jesus Christ, Mother of God and John the Baptist, is placed on the forehead of the departed. It is done as a sign of victory of the departed over lusts and spiritual enemies. On the strip is an inscription: " Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us." On the chest of the departed an icon of the Savior or Mother of God is placed as a sign of faith of the departed in Christ, giving him his soul for the Judgment. On the neck the cross that belonged to the departed is placed. Whole body of the departed is covered with a church cover as a sign that this person is under cover of Christ and His Holy Church.
If the coffin stands at home it is placed in the middle of the room in front of the home icons. It is placed so the head of the departed is facing icons and face facing exit. Around the coffin four candles are placed in the manner so that they resemble a cross. They are lit as a sign that departed person has gone to the domain of light - to the better afterlife. Candles have to be burning until the body is taken out to the church. The first Panikhida (special) has to be served immediately after the death.
This Memorial Service (Panikhida) is served according to a special "Office after the departure of the soul from the body." This Office is at the end of a church book - Psaltyr (Psalms). The following Panikhidas are sung as usually. The Office and rule for reading of the Psalms is in the Prayer Book. At the coffin "Psalter with addition of the prayers after the departed is read". Psalter is read from the moment of the death until OTPEVANIYA. The reading of the Psalter serves as, a prayer for the departed and also as a consolation and edification for alive.
The Psalter has to be read in the standing position because it is a prayer. The order of the reading of the Psalter is:
Beginning: 'Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us." After that "Holy God..." after "Our Father...", "Lord have mercy" 12 times, "Glory and Now and Ever", "Come and bow..." and first kafizma. After every "Glory..."following prayer is read: "Remember O, Lord, our God...", which is at the end of the "Office after the departure of the soul from the body." Or brief prayer from the Panikhida "With the Saints give rest..."
The name of the departed is mentioned in those prayers. After the end of every kafizma following prayers are read "Holy God..." after "Our Father..." After that a tropar and prayer that follow the kafizma. A new kafizma is started with words: "Come bow..." Reading of the Psalter after departed can perform any godly lay person.
After that the coffin with the body is brought to the church for the burial. Burial is a funeral service as well as consignment of the body to the soil. Members of the family (or parishioners) should immediately notify their parish priest about death of the person. Guilty of burial of an orthodox Christian without proper ceremony are subject to a strict punishment (epetimya), except cases when it was really impossible to invite a priest. The burial should be necessarily done by the parish priest (rector of the church), priest from other parishes, invited by family, can only participate in the service and help the rector.
If desired and possible a coffin can be left in the church for the night.
When the coffin with the body of the departed is brought to the church, it is placed in the middle of the church, in front of the Holy Gates with open face and facing east (feet facing the altar). It is done so the departed soul could pray with brothers that are alive on the earth.
During funeral service people have to stand facing or standing to the side of the altar so the coffin is visible. A candle should be in the left hand and the right hand should be used for crossing. During funeral service everybody has a lighted candle and is praying not only about departed but also about himself or herself. Unfortunately, very often, people object that Panikhida and Funeral Service are too long. Some even ask to make service shorter because of older people and feelings of surrounding relatives. Sometimes I hear ignorant questions that only unbelieving person can ask. I will give only one example. Question for me after the funeral service: "Father Michael, was she (name) really so sinful that you had to pray for so long?" Honestly speaking I am very sorry for a person that cannot understand meaning of prayers. A feeling arises that this people are trying (want) to get away from the coffin as soon as possible as from an unpleasant sight of death. Because of our little faith and spiritual laziness, we forget that there is nothing more comforting for the soul of the departed than warm prayer for him or her. It is the last service, last thing that we can do for our brother. The burial service, that is performed according to the rules, without shortening and distortion, eases mourning of the close ones that surround the coffin. It calms their souls, diminishes their grief and sorrow, hi these cases I, as a priest, prays and asks the Lord to grant only one thing to this people - spiritual enlishtment.
After the priest reads the Scriptures the Prayer of Absolution is read. After this prayer, candles in hands of present people are blown down as a sign that earthly life, which is burning like a candle, should go out as well. The Prayer of Absolution is read at the feet of the departed and facing to him or her and people.
After reading of the absolution, stihiras of the last kissing are read. At this time praying people ask the Lord for the repose of the newly departed, about housing him or her in the heaven where righteous are, where there is no sickness or sorrow.
At the end of the funeral service relatives and close people are coming to say good-bye to the dead. Usually icon or cross on the chest of the departed are kissed and forehead, where venchik is. If the funeral service is done with a closed coffin, then cross on top of the coffin is kissed. Icon or cross from the chest of the departed are taken home or left in the church for forty days and after that they are taken home.
The body of the departed is fully covered with the cloth and with singing "Holy God..." it is taken to the cemetery. It is responsibility of the priest to accompany the body to the grave. Short litiya is read before letting down the body to the grave. During litiya a coffin is put down into the grave. It is put in the manner that the feet of the departed are facing east, waiting for the morning of eternity, Second Coming of Christ. At the end of the litiya, when a coffin with the body is put into the grave, the Holy Church consigns the body to the ground. For this priest takes soil and puts it on top of the coffin in the form of the cross. If Unction was performed during the life of the departed, then priest pours holy oil on the coffin. After that "Memory eternal" is sung. During this the priest is censoring and sprinkling the grave with Holy Water from four sides.
If a priest, due to a valid reason, cannot attend to the cemetery, this ritual is done in the church during singing of "With spirits of righteous..." Also, during singing of "Memory eternal" relatives of the departed throw handful of soil to the grave. It is, not customary to put money into the grave because it is a pagan ritual. After burial relatives can remember the dead person with some kutya or candies. In some churches there is a tradition to make a commemoration at home. On the Christian grave a cross is erected as a symbol of victory of Christ over death. Simple, humble metal or wooden cross is more appropriate for a grave of an orthodox Christian than expensive monuments. People that committed suicide are not remembered in prayers and burial ritual is not performed after them. People that died due to an accident (poisoning, killed at work and drowned) are not considered as committed suicide. If there is proof that suicide was committed because of the psychiatric illness then documents proving this should be brought to the diocese office and permission of a ruling bishop should be obtained for the ritual. In case of doubts that relatives hid real cause of death, priest can refuse the ritual.
Holy church does not pray for unrepented sinners and people committed suicide because they being in the state of despair, obstinacy are guilty of sin against the Holy Sprit. By the teaching of the Holy Church, sins against the Holy Sprit will not be forgiven nether in this age or in the coming age. Over dead baptized babies (before seven years of age) a special funeral service is done, as over unsinful and those for whom Church is asking to grant acceptance to the Heavenly Kingdom. Over children that were not baptized the funeral service is not performed because they are not cleansed from the first sin. About future destiny of infants that died without baptism, holy Gregory the Theologian says that they will not be punished and they will not be glorified. (Word 40th about baptism)
Baptized children can be remembered in the church. Adults that were not baptized are not remembered in the church and ritual is not performed over them. When the body of the departed is not brought to the church because of some reasons (views), then relatives that want this can ask for a funeral service in the church. They receive text of the resolving prayer and venchik. Venchik is placed on the forehead of the departed, prayer in his / her right hand and icon is placed on the chest. After farewell icon is taken away, face is covered with a cover and it is covered with soil in form of the cross. Burial is not performed in the first days of Pascha and Nativity of Christ, before the Great Vespers.
Departed has to be necessarily buried in the ground. Cremation is not Orthodox tradition, taken from the eastern cults. It is not wrong to bury a person even though they wished to be cremated. We will talk about this in the article about cremation.
Orthodox Church has an old tradition to pray for the departed on the third, ninth and forties days of their death. It is customary in the Orthodox Church to bury dead on the third day after death as a symbol of the third day resurrection of Jesus Christ and three faces of the Holy Trinity. Departed should be remembered every year at the day of their death. Very often people ask me , why this days are constituted. This question holy Makarius of Alexandria asked Angeles that accompanied him to the desert. Angel answered:" God did not allow His Church to do something unimportant and unneeded but established sacraments and told to obey them."
On the third day (day of the funeral service), when prayers are exalted in the Church, the soul of the departed receives relieve in mourning, that soul feels because of the separation with body. By the teaching of the Holy Fathers and of the Church is that the soul and Angels, that are near it, are allowed to walk on the Earth for two days. A soul that liked its body, wonders around the house, where it separated from it, sometimes near the coffin. Virtuous souls walk in places where they have done good things. On the third day soul goes to worship God and we pray that Christ, resurrected on the third day, resurrect departed for the eternal life. After worshiping God the soul is taken to the heaven for evince of its beauty. The soul is looking at all this for six days. It glorifies God and forgets the sorrow that it had when it was in the body. But if the soul is guilty of sins, then when it sees all this it start to mourn over its sins. The soul stays in this state for six days - from day three to day nine.
On the ninth day Lord is telling Angels to bring the soul for second worship to him. That is why Christian Church has a commemoration of the dead at this day, in the honor of nine Angelic ranks. On this day we pray that by the intercession of nine ranks of the bodiless powers of the Hosts (Angels, Archangels, Principalities, Powers, Virtues, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubims and Seraphims). Lord forgive sins of the departed and number him / her among saints. After second worship of God the soul is brought to the hell and is shown torments of unrighteous. Form the ninth to the forties day the soul is going through MYTARSTVA. During them all sins of that person are tried.
On the forties day the soul is brought for the worship to God for the third time, and then the Judge designate a place for it to be before the Great Judgment. And the Church is praying for the departed to ease its way through MYTARSTVA and that He, in the forties day ascended to heaven, ascend the soul of the departed to the heavenly mansions. That is why souls of the departed, until universal resurrection, stay in different places: souls of righteous stay with Christ and of unrighteous in a tormenting state
Commemoration of the dead on the forties day is based on the forty day cry of the Israeli over death of Moses. It is known that Moses had a blessing to talk to God on the mount Sinai and received the Law only after forty day fast. Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heavens on the forties day after His resurrection. As we can see, the forties day is very important in the tradition of the Church as a day of preparation for receiving of a special, godly gift, for receiving help form the Heavenly Father.
Souls of those departed in faith, but prayers of family and close ones can help who did not bring the benefits that deserved repentance. Therefore, coming to a temple on the third, ninth, fortieth days, the anniversary of death, the birthday of the deceased, the name day, it is necessary to submit a note about (upokenii). Until the fortieth day, "newly departed" is written in the note, after forty days, in days of remembrance (prisnopamiyatniy).
It is possible to order a Panikhida. Panikhida is a praying for the deceased. A Panikhida is performed in the house, where the body of the deceased is placed, and in the temple, and on the grave. At a Panikhida it is possible to pray for one or more defunct Christians, but in the days of remembrance of the departed -only for him/her! It is possible to order a Panikhida by turning to the "candle room" or directly to a priest. A Litiya can be performed for departed. Litiya (Greek) - "strengthened (intensified) praying». This service is shorter than a Panikhida. It is also performed by a priest by request of the family before the bringing of the body out of the house, (pri vstreche tela v pritvore Hrama), when the relatives come back at the house after the burial, at the grave and in the temple.
At the Litia, as well as at the Panikhida in the remembrance days of the deceased, Kolivo is brought and put on a special table next to a canon. Kolivo is also called "Kutia", which is boiled wheat mixed with honey. Kolivo serves as a reminder of the departed. As a grain, which should be placed in soil and decay to give fruit, the body of the deceased should be placed in soil, and through the decay rise imperishably for future life.
Honey signifies spiritual sweetness of the Eternal Life's goods. Now boiled rice is used instead of wheat It is either mixed with raisins, or is decorated with raisins on the top, in form of the cross for example. Kutia and other gifts are blessed by the priest (sprinkled by holy water) after the Panikhida, or on the grave, or at home, before the funeral repast, and are distributed between those who came to pray for the deceased. Usually deceased are remembered by something sweet: Kutia, kissel, honey, pancakes, etc. At the cemetery it is forbidden to offend the memory of the deceased by drunkenness, by pouring vodka on the grave. It is more appropriate to light a candle, pray and clean the grave.
In memory of the departed, in accordance with a conventional custom, we put a candle "on canun". Canun (canon) is usually situated in the central part of a temple north (left) side. Canun is a table with the Cross-, on which candles are placed. Canun with candles signifies by itself that faith in Jesus Christ can make all departed orthodox Christians the participial of divine Light, Light of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, when we light a candle (za upokoy) "on canun", it is necessary to offer up a prayer for the deceased, who we want to pray for: "Remember, Lords, souls (soul) of Your deceased (rabov) and all my relatives, and forgive all their trespasses voluntary and involuntary, grant them the Kingdom of Heaven and communion of Your eternal blessings, and (sotvori) them endless remembrance". Usually candles are placed and lightened not at will, but during the performance of the service, a prayer. There are days, when candles are not place and (nepominayut za upokoy). These are the days of Holy Week, when hearts of the faithful are filled with sorrowful feelings of the memory of Lord's (Strastey); and the days of the Bright (sedmici), when everything celebrates and rejoice in the Resurrected Savior, thus making it not opportune to pray for the departed.