Greek Orthodox Burial Requirements: Cemetery Rules, Caskets, and East-Facing Graves

Earth Burial Is the Only Standard Option

Greek Orthodoxy requires physical earth burial. This is a non-negotiable canonical position rooted in resurrection theology — the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it must be returned to the ground to await bodily resurrection. Cremation is strictly prohibited and results in the denial of a church funeral, graveside committal, and all memorial services.

Above-ground mausoleum entombment is tolerated by some parishes, though traditional cemeteries and certain Metropolitans discourage it. Green burials — where the body is interred without a vault in a biodegradable container — are prohibited in Orthodox cemeteries due to both canonical and structural requirements.

East-Facing Orientation

The standard practice is to orient the casket so that the deceased's feet point east toward the altar. If the deceased were to stand, they would face east — the direction from which Christ is prophesied to return at the Second Coming.

This isn't always straightforward in secular or multi-faith cemeteries where plot orientation is standardized. If the family is burying in a non-Orthodox cemetery, they need to communicate this requirement to the cemetery staff and the funeral director in advance. Some secular cemeteries can accommodate the request; others have fixed row orientations that make it impossible. The family should confirm this before purchasing a plot.

Outer Vault Requirements (Diaspora)

In the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, Orthodox cemeteries require an approved outer burial vault. Accepted types include concrete, fiberglass, stainless-steel, or bronze. This prevents grave collapse and maintains the structural integrity of the consecrated grounds.

Cheaper sheet-steel vaults are explicitly prohibited by many parish cemetery regulations. The typical cost for a compliant vault runs $400–$1,400 depending on material and region.

In Greece, the opposite applies — outer vaults are not used because the body must decompose within 3–5 years for mandatory exhumation (more on that below).

Casket Requirements

There's no single Orthodox-mandated casket style, but the general expectation is a dignified, solid casket — typically wood — suitable for an open-casket service. The standard practice is to keep the casket open throughout the funeral liturgy for the Kiss of Peace ritual; it is closed after the priest performs the final anointing and covers the body with the shroud (Savanon).

Inside the casket, the family places:

• An icon of Christ, the Theotokos, or the patron saint — on the chest or in the hands
• A small crown inscribed with the Trisagion hymn — on the head
• The Savanon (burial shroud) — printed or embroidered with icons of Christ's burial and resurrection
• Footwear — often omitted as a deeply rooted regional Greek tradition. In historical village life, shoes were removed and reused. Over time, this evolved into a spiritual custom: the soul stands barefoot on holy ground before Christ. Confirm the local practice with the priest or funeral home.

The family must provide these items to the mortuary before preparation begins.

Headstone Restrictions

Orthodox cemetery regulations govern what can appear on headstones. A cross is a common marker, but the cemetery's bylaw controls the permitted design. Many consecrated cemeteries explicitly prohibit:

• Masonic symbols or emblems of non-Christian fraternal organizations
• Secular or non-Christian iconography
• Photographs embedded in the headstone where the cemetery's bylaws do not permit them

Check the specific cemetery's bylaw document before ordering a headstone. Parish cemeteries managed by the Metropolis often have stricter rules than sections within larger secular cemeteries.

Cemetery Eligibility

To be buried in a consecrated Greek Orthodox cemetery, the deceased must generally be:

• Baptized and chrismated in the Orthodox Church
• A parish member in good canonical standing (or the family must settle outstanding stewardship dues — which can run up to $6,000 in some parishes for years of back dues)
• Not cremated

A non-Orthodox Christian spouse (Catholic, Protestant) of an Orthodox member can be buried in the consecrated cemetery, provided the couple was married in the Orthodox Church and any children were raised Orthodox. Non-Christians are generally prohibited.

At the graveside, non-Orthodox clergy may read their own prayers after the Orthodox priest has fully completed the committal service. Co-celebration inside the church or concurrent interfaith prayers at graveside are not permitted.

The Greek Exception: Temporary Graves and Exhumation

In Greece, permanent grave plots in urban areas can cost as much as €48,000 — far beyond what most families can afford. The standard arrangement is a 3-year grave lease (up to 5 years in smaller villages).

When the lease expires, the family must attend a mandatory exhumation. If the body has fully decomposed, the bones are washed with red wine, anointed with olive oil, and placed in a small labeled metal box stored in the cemetery's communal ossuary (osteofylakio) for a monthly or annual fee.

If the family doesn't attend or falls behind on ossuary payments, the remains are transferred to a communal pit (choneftirio) and dissolved chemically. This reality is devastating for diaspora families who may not know about the lease expiration or can't travel to Greece in time.

Diaspora communities in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK don't face this — grave plots are permanent deeds with perpetual care included in the purchase price.

The Eastern Orthodox Funeral — Greek guide includes a cemetery comparison chart (Greece vs. diaspora countries), a cost estimator worksheet for burial expenses, and the specific questions to ask cemetery administration before purchasing a plot.