A Greek Orthodox funeral is followed by a long calendar of memorials, from the third day to every year afterwards. Knowing that calendar in advance shapes how the funeral itself is arranged. This guide covers what to expect – before, during and after – and how your local Dignity funeral director can support you to arrange a Greek Orthodox funeral.
Greek Orthodox belief about death is the belief of the Orthodox Church: death is unnatural, overcome by Christ’s resurrection, and the body is sacred rather than incidental.
Greek Orthodox teaching holds that the living and the departed remain united as one Church, so praying for the dead is an ongoing act of love rather than something done once and finished. It’s why the memorial calendar runs for years.
The funeral rite is the Exodios Akolouthia, also called the Nekrosimos Akolouthia, chanted by a priest.
A Trisagion is served at several points: immediately after the death, at home or in hospital; the evening before the funeral, at the funeral home or the church; at the cemetery after the funeral; on the third, ninth and fortieth days; and at the monthly and annual memorials that follow. The vigil takes the form of Matins. Psalm 119 is chanted over the person who has died – the same psalm chanted over the tomb of Christ on Great Friday.
At Dignity, we support families of every faith and background. From serving a Trisagion in our chapel of rest to working around your parish’s calendar, we have the expertise and experience to honour every detail. If you need to arrange a Greek Orthodox funeral, just contact your local Dignity funeral director who will talk everything through with you.
Every Greek Orthodox family is different but here is what you can expect:
Memorial services are not held between the Saturday of Lazarus and the Sunday of Saint Thomas – across Holy Week and the week after Easter – nor on the great feasts of Christ, nor on the Dormition on 15 August, nor on your own parish’s feast day. We will check with your priest before confirming a date.
Boiled wheat with sugar and sultanas, prepared for the fortieth-day memorial and those that follow, and shared at church.
Many Greek families wear black, and in some the custom is observed for a long period. It is a cultural custom rather than a requirement of the Church, and Orthodox clergy commonly wear white at funerals.
You will be invited forward for the final kiss at the end of the rite. You are welcome to take part or to stay in your place, and following the family's lead is always recommended.
The cost of a Greek Orthodox funeral in the UK depends on the funeral director, the church, and the cemetery. Most Greek Orthodox families choose burial, with a Trisagion at the funeral home the evening before and another at the graveside afterwards. The memorial calendar continues for years, from the third day to each anniversary, and is worth planning for from the start. Your local Dignity funeral director can talk you through everything that is included, and the costs.
Our funeral directors are at the heart of their communities, with over 500 branches across the UK. Search below to see if we have a funeral director near you.
At Dignity, we’re here to support people of all religions and none. We can arrange Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Quaker, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Sikh funerals. Call your local funeral director today to talk about your needs.
Reviews for Dignity Group
An Orthodox funeral is a sequence of prayers rather than one occasion, and burial is preferred: what to expect, etiquette, what to wear and costs.
Latter-day Saint funerals, where death is a step in the plan of salvation rather than an ending, with what happens on the day and what it costs.
Chinese funerals, where Buddhist, Taoist and Christian rites may sit side by side, and duty to the family shapes the day – etiquette and costs too.