Greek Orthodox Body Preparation: Washing, Shroud, and Casket Placement

Body Preparation Is Theological, Not Just Practical

In Greek Orthodox tradition, preparing a body for burial isn't a task you outsource entirely to the funeral home and forget about. The physical handling of the deceased carries deliberate spiritual meaning — every step references a specific theological reality, from baptism to the burial of Christ. Understanding this helps the family communicate clearly with the mortuary and ensures nothing critical is missed.

The Ritual Washing

The body is washed with warm water, echoing the person's baptism into Christ. In traditional Greek village settings, family elders or close friends of the same gender perform this washing. In modern diaspora practice, the mortuary handles it professionally, but some families still choose to participate in the dressing and final arrangements.

After washing, the body is anointed with olive oil and red wine — mimicking the ancient burial preparations described in the Gospels. If the family is working with a secular funeral home unfamiliar with Orthodox customs, they'll need to provide the oil and wine and explain the anointing process. Most funeral directors are willing to accommodate this if told in advance.

The Savanon (Burial Shroud)

The Savanon (Σάβανο) is a white linen shroud printed or embroidered with iconographic scenes of Christ's burial and resurrection, alongside the Trisagion hymn and the inscription "Jesus Christ Prevails" (Ο Ιησούς Χριστός Νικά).

For most people, the standard Savanon is placed inside the coffin beneath the burial garments. For anyone who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a special printed Savanon brought back from Jerusalem is displayed over the outer clothing — a visible mark of that spiritual journey.

At the close of the funeral service, the priest draws the shroud over the deceased's body and face before the casket is sealed. This is one of the last physical acts of the liturgy.

Savanon shrouds can be purchased from Orthodox church supply shops, online retailers specializing in liturgical goods, or directly from the parish. Some mortuaries that regularly handle Greek Orthodox funerals stock them. The family should have one ready before the body is dressed.

What Goes in the Casket

The family provides several specific items to the funeral home:

• An icon — of Jesus Christ, the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), or the deceased's patron saint — placed on the chest or held in the hands
• A crown — a small wooden, metal, or paper crown inscribed with the Trisagion hymn, placed on the head, symbolizing the crown of righteousness
• The Savanon shroud — either under or over the clothing depending on Holy Land pilgrimage status
• Footwear — often omitted as a traditional regional custom; confirm the local practice with the priest or funeral home

The footwear custom has deep roots. In Greek village life, shoes were stripped from the deceased to be reused by surviving family members. Over centuries, this practical act acquired spiritual meaning: the soul stands barefoot on holy ground, humble before Christ. Because practice varies, confirm the local custom with the priest or funeral home rather than assuming shoes are prohibited.

Open Casket Throughout the Service

The casket remains open for the entire funeral liturgy — not just for a viewing period before the service begins. The deceased is positioned with feet pointing east toward the altar, so that if they were to stand, they would face the direction of Christ's return.

This is the standard church practice. The open casket enables the Kiss of Peace at the end of the service, when mourners file past to place a final kiss on the icon or the hand of the departed.

A family may request a closed-casket service, but whether the parish can accommodate it depends on the local priest and circumstances. If the condition of the body makes an open casket impossible (severe trauma, advanced decomposition), the family works with the priest and the Metropolitan to arrange an exception. The default expectation is open.

Communicating with a Secular Funeral Home

If the funeral home doesn't regularly handle Greek Orthodox services, the family needs to brief them on several non-standard requirements:

1. The standard is for the casket to remain open during the service, not just the viewing
2. The body is oriented feet-east in the church nave
3. The family provides specific items (icon, crown, shroud) that must be placed with the body
4. Footwear is often omitted as a traditional regional custom; confirm the local practice
5. The priest will pour olive oil and sprinkle earth on the body inside the casket during the service — the funeral home should know this closing rite takes place
6. The body may need to be washed and anointed before dressing (or the family may do this themselves)

Writing this down as a one-page instruction sheet for the funeral director saves confusion and prevents last-minute corrections.

The Eastern Orthodox Funeral — Greek guide includes a printable funeral director briefing sheet covering every Orthodox-specific requirement, along with a body preparation checklist the family can use to coordinate with the mortuary.