The funeral service is a special rite, more precisely, a rite, which frees the soul of a deceased Orthodox Christian from the sins he confessed to, and directs him to eternal life. The temple remains the traditional and canonical place of funeral services. However, in case of compelling circumstances, performing this rite is allowed at home, in a ritual hall and in a cemetery. In exceptional cases, an absentee funeral service is permitted, in which the body of the deceased is absent.
What kind of funeral service can be held?
Our service organizes a dignified farewell to the deceased of various religions. You can conduct an Orthodox, Muslim farewell ceremony or a ceremony of another faith. Our manager is familiar with the intricacies of many religions.
You can order a funeral service:
- In a temple or church. It takes place from 10.00 to 15.00 hours. To order a full-fledged service, you need to register it at least one day in advance.
- In a morgue or crematorium. The deceased is buried in a special farewell hall after the body is removed.
- At the cemetery. The farewell is held immediately before the funeral.
- At home. Usually the clergyman arrives at a time convenient for the relatives, but also after the morning service.
- Correspondence. It is carried out if it is not possible to bring the deceased, he is missing or has already been buried without a funeral service.
To order a funeral service for the deceased, you will need a death certificate indicating the cause. It is necessary for the priest to make sure that the deceased did not commit suicide.
Funeral service in an Orthodox church in Moscow
Death is the last earthly destiny of man. No nation leaves the bodies of its dead without care; there is a sacred law on burial and the rituals corresponding to it. We will look at the Orthodox burial rite.
It is now proposed to conduct the funeral ceremony at the morgue where the body of the deceased person is located; a clergyman can also be invited to the farewell hall of the crematorium. The burial usually takes place on the third day. But still, a better solution is to have a funeral service in church.
The coffin with the body can be placed in the church overnight, or a funeral service can be held in Moscow on the day of burial (cremation). To facilitate the transition of the soul of the deceased to the Kingdom of Heaven, memorial services are held, in addition to the reading of the Psalter.
What does the organization include?
Our specialized agent:
- comes to you to clarify the required time and select a suitable place;
- negotiates with the clergyman and orders a prayer service;
- purchases the necessary accessories - a small icon, a whisk, etc.;
- monitors the progress of the service and, if necessary, resolves unforeseen situations.
We understand that you want to observe all traditions and say goodbye to the deceased with dignity, and we do everything to properly organize the farewell to the soul.
Kinds
In Orthodoxy there are 6 rites of burial:
- for the laity (most people perform funeral services according to it);
- infants (applies to baptized children under 7 years of age);
- monks, as well as hieromonks;
- priests and bishops (more solemn service);
- episcopal (a special rite is carried out only according to the will of the deceased);
- Easter (service takes place 1 week after Easter).
The lay ritual lasts approximately 30 minutes. The deceased is dressed in funeral clothes. The funeral prayers mention the name with which he was baptized. The rite of burial for clergy is longer and more solemn. 2 sets of clothes are prepared for clergy. First, they are buried in their usual attire, then dressed in priestly vestments.
If the service is read on Easter Week, then only part of the funeral prayers is heard, so as not to darken the joy of the main Orthodox holiday with lamentation. The so-called Sunday singing over the dead proclaims the hope of eternal life. On Easter and Christmas itself, funeral rites are not held.
How does it go?
Farewell is held on the third day after death, after the morning service and before 15.00. You can choose a convenient time. To conduct the service, you will need a pectoral cross, a small icon, a funeral veil, a corolla and a piece of paper with a prayer of permission.
The coffin lid is placed in front of the church entrance if the deceased is not in a closed coffin. The deceased is placed in the middle of the temple facing the altar. The priest lights four candles, arranges the necessary accessories and conducts the service, at the end of which he reads a prayer of permission. Afterwards, relatives and friends say goodbye to the deceased and ask for his forgiveness.
Funeral service for the deceased in absentia
An absentee funeral service, that is, performing the required rite in the absence of the body of the deceased, is permitted under exceptional compelling circumstances. This happens if the temple is located far from the place of residence, and the funeral organizers do not have the funds and time to transport the deceased. The funeral service for the deceased in this case takes place in the church, in the presence of relatives and friends of the deceased. At the end they receive a whisk, a sheet with the text of a prayer of permission and land. Upon returning home, to the coffin of the deceased, the aureole should be placed on his forehead, the prayer of permission should be placed in his hand, the body should be completely covered with a blanket, the earth should be poured crosswise on top and the funeral should begin.
Features of the event
The funeral service is a prayer service for parting words and seeing off the deceased to another world. It is held within the walls of the sacred monastery and beyond. Any priest can conduct it. There is no funeral service for suicides.
We understand the severity of your emotional state and will do everything so that you can say goodbye to the deceased with dignity. Observe all the subtleties of religious rituals. Our specialist will quickly resolve organizational nuances that correspond to your religion. Contact us in a way convenient for you so we can get started.
What is the price
There is no fixed price for the ritual, since according to the canons it is free. But you may be asked to make a voluntary donation. The ritual is not mandatory, it is performed at the behest of the heart. Remember that the priest cannot refuse to conduct a free funeral service. Voluntary donations range from 2-5 thousand rubles. If you do not want to organize the ceremony yourself, contact our company for help.
Our specialists are ready to answer all your questions around the clock and help in organizing funeral support. Control room telephones
Consecration of the home
From the very first centuries, the holy Christian Church has been trying to bless the life of every believer.
The consecration of the home was no exception. We all want our homes to be full of peace, love, harmony, mutual respect, warmth and comfort.
The rite of consecration is performed by an Orthodox priest in order to ask for God's blessing on the entire house and those who live in it. Therefore, it is believed that your home will be protected not only from evil people who wish you harm, but also from the forces of the devil.
Orthodox Christians also traditionally invite a priest to consecrate a home when a loved one or relative dies in their family, in order to strengthen spiritual strength. It is very important to perform prayer in the place where a loved one died.
Preparatory activities for the funeral ceremony
The church service is held over the prepared body. According to sanitary and hygienic requirements, the deceased can be brought into the temple only after embalming, in order to prevent a bacteriological threat. There must be an Orthodox cross on the neck of a deceased person, preferably a baptismal one. The deceased is dressed in new clothes. For a man - a formal suit without a tie, for a woman - a long dress or skirt with a closed blouse and a scarf that completely covers the hair.
In the coffin, the deceased should lie with his arms crossed (the right hand resting on the left), lips closed and eyes closed. It is important that relatives or responsible persons monitor the vestments at the morgue. Incorrect body position or inappropriate clothing may cause a delay in the ceremony.
Economy burial cost
| Order a burial | 1 service | 3,300 rubles |
| Ordering transport | 1 service | 1250 rubles |
| Ordering accessories | 1 service | 1250 rubles |
| Ritual accessories | (coffin, bed, pillow, blanket) | 8,350 rubles |
| Hearse bus | route (morgue - cemetery) | 9,200 rubles |
| Delivery of supplies to the morgue | 1 service | 3,300 rubles |
| Total: | 26.650 rubles |
Cost of digging a grave
The price of digging a grave depends on:
- time of year (cheaper in summer);
- soil quality (in some cemeteries, groundwater is so close that those who dig a grave have to do it while standing in the water);
- type of burial - a new grave or they plan to bury in an old burial (husband and wife, close relatives are usually buried nearby or in the same grave, if sanitary standards allow);
- the presence of trees and bushes in the selected location that prevent digging (you will have to pay extra for cutting them down and uprooting their roots).
For digging a grave in the summer they pay up to 9 thousand rubles, in the winter 10-11 thousand.
A place in the cemetery is provided free of charge; the relatives of the deceased enter into a special agreement with the cemetery administration for indefinite use. But if no one has been caring for the grave for a long time, it can be terminated, transferring the place to someone else. This happens no earlier than in 15-20 years.
You can negotiate the digging of the grave with the cemetery administration or order it at the funeral home. Its maximum required depth is 2.2 meters, width and length depend on the size of the coffin, but not less than 1 meter wide and 2 meters long. The final cost is influenced by the type of burial and the category of the deceased. So, digging a hole for an urn or for burying a child is much cheaper.
Production of monuments, prices
The monument is not obligatory; it can be omitted, limiting itself to a cross. But the presence of a monument on the grave makes it more well-groomed. The headstone must be installed no earlier than 1 year after burial. The earth must settle; if this does not happen, then the heavy monument may, after some time, partially fall into the grave and become bent.
Monuments are erected in cemeteries from spring to mid-autumn; in winter such work is not carried out; the responsible persons supervising cemeteries simply do not allow them to be done.
The cost of the monument depends on:
- quality of materials used;
- complexity of the work performed;
- the presence of additional elements (tombstone, flower bed, bench, table);
- size.
The cheapest monument will cost 5-6 thousand rubles including work. Such a tombstone is made from low-quality artificial stone; it quickly fades and loses its external shine. For a tombstone made of natural stones you will have to pay several times more.
Monuments made of granite and marble cost at least 20 thousand rubles. Additionally, you will have to pay the installation cost. This is approximately 30% of the base price of the tombstone. You can save money on a monument if you choose the right time to order it. Since it is prohibited to install tombstones in winter, many people who want to do so do not apply to the appropriate establishments at this time of year, which is why they lose income and workers sit idle. By ordering a monument in winter, you can get a significant discount. They make it within 2-3 months, so it can be installed in the spring.
Meaning in Orthodoxy
The essence of the ritual is closely related to the idea of the imminent meeting of the deceased with God. Earthly life becomes a prologue to eternity, and the funeral service makes the transition easier for the soul. Its separation from the body is perceived as temporary. After the Second Coming of Christ and the Day of Judgment, all the dead will be resurrected to eternal life. The soul will return to a renewed body, no longer subject to aging, disease and decay. The ritual itself does not mean that after it the deceased will go to heaven. However, believers are convinced that the prayers of the living will reach God, and they do everything in their power to help the deceased.
The deceased is covered with a shroud, symbolizing the purity of thoughts and the protection of the parishioner by the cover of the Church. A paper aureole with images of the Savior, the Mother of God and John the Baptist is placed on the forehead of the deceased. This is a sign of the Heavenly Crown, which will be rewarded to all who lived according to the covenant of God. An icon of the Savior not made by hands is placed on the chest of the deceased, and a cross, a symbol of victory over death, is placed in the right hand.
On the eve of the ceremony, the Psalter is read over the deceased. During the ceremony itself, the coffin is brought into the temple with its feet towards the altar. Lighted candles are placed in the four corners. Immediately after the ceremony, the burial is performed and a memorial meal is held.
Cost of organizing a funeral
The cost of a funeral depends on where exactly it takes place. If at home, then to organize a beautiful table you will need an amount equal to 10-12 thousand rubles. Often funerals take place in a restaurant or cafeteria. In this case they pay:
- rental of premises;
- services of a cook, waiters;
- products;
- a bus on which those wishing to take part in the memorial dinner are transported to the venue.
How much funerals and wakes cost people is directly related to the restaurant's price list. Sometimes they pay up to 20 thousand rubles or more for lunch. But such a cost is completely justified; relatives saddened by what happened do not always find the strength to prepare the required dishes, make orders for purchases and other things. The funeral service is organized immediately on the day of the funeral. Sometimes they are also commemorated on 9 and 40 days. In the first case, they also order a restaurant; in the second, they usually get by with a family dinner. 1 year after the death of a relative, they can also organize a memorial “grandmother’s” dinner.
Who shouldn't have a funeral service?
In certain situations, the church canon prohibits the ritual and subsequent commemoration of the deceased. The farewell ceremony is accompanied only by a civil funeral service. The ceremony is not performed:
- For suicides. A person who commits suicide commits a grave sin. He refuses the gift of God and loses the opportunity to repent. Previously, suicides could not even be buried in a cemetery. Now there is no such restriction, but church services are still not held for them. Exceptions are made for people who gave their lives to save others, and for mentally ill people who are not aware of their actions. Permission to conduct the ceremony must be obtained from the bishop.
- Representatives of other faiths. People who professed a non-Orthodox faith are buried according to the canons accepted in their religion.
- Unbaptized, atheists or atheists. The funeral ceremony is performed for persons who have come under the protection of the church. If a person has not accepted Orthodoxy or renounced it, then the sacrament of the ritual is not important to him.
Relatively recently, the church made a relaxation and allowed funeral services for unbaptized infants. Previously, the rite of burial was not performed on them. For believing parents who did not have time to baptize their children for some reason, this was another blow. Now such babies are buried and remembered in a special way.
