Funeral

The Church stands ready to assist and console in a time of loss by offering funeral services for the departed and counsel for the family to aid with the grieving process. Nothing is rushed; nothing is formulaic. Each life is accompanied by its own prayers.

When a loved one passes at home, please contact the appropriate emergency services first. When a loved one passes in a hospital or medical facility, the attending staff will handle the necessary arrangements. In either case, please notify the parish as soon as possible, both for the offering of prayers and to co-ordinate the Trisagion and Funeral service.

The Funeral Service emphasises the reality of death and the next dimension of life. During this service we pray for the forgiveness of sins and for the repose of the soul of our loved one. Once the service is completed, the entombment takes place at the cemetery, usually followed by a wake in which the family is received and consoled.

For the Funeral Service you will need to prepare a bowl of koliva and a bottle of olive oil mixed with wine. The parish can assist with these preparations if required — please contact us.

The Church does not permit cremation, since it is a deliberate disruption of the integrity of the body, which is created in the image and likeness of God. The tradition of the Orthodox faith is to bury our loved ones. There are rare exceptions: in extreme cases where cremation is unavoidable, the funeral service may be conducted only with permission from the Archdiocese, and the priest will not accompany the deceased to the crematorium.

After the funeral, the Church continues to pray for the departed at the memorial services on the 40th day, at six months, at one year, and at each anniversary thereafter — a quiet, steady remembrance, a reminder that love is not severed by death.

FAQs

When do the Trisagion services take place?

The Trisagion services take place on:

the day of the death,

three days after the death and

nine days after the death.

What do I need to prepare for the Funeral Service?

You will need to prepare a bowl of koliva and a bottle of olive oil mixed with red wine for the funeral service. We can assist you with these preparations, if required, please contact us.

Does the Church allow cremation?

The Church does not allow cremation since it is a deliberate attack on the integrity of the body, which is created in the image and likeness of God. The tradition of the Orthodox faith is to bury our loved ones. There are however exceptions to the rule. In extreme cases where cremation is unavoidable, the funeral service will be conducted only with permission from the Archdiocese however a sermon will not be given and neither will the priest accompany the deceased to the crematorium. Fees

Please Note: Effective as of the 1st of July 2022, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has issued standardised pricing for all sacraments. The below is valid across all parishes and communities under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

Funeral Certificate for the Holy Archdiocese $250

For the church $300

For the priest $200

For the chanter $100

For the altar assistant $50

Total: $900