Greek Orthodox Casket Traditions and the Last Kiss

The open casket is one of the things that catches people off guard at a Greek Orthodox funeral. If you're coming from a tradition where closed caskets or cremation are standard, the idea of approaching the body, bowing, and placing a kiss can feel deeply unfamiliar. But the open casket, the objects inside it, and the ritual of the Last Kiss are all rooted in specific theological beliefs about the body, death, and resurrection.

Why the Casket Is Open

Greek Orthodox theology treats the human body as the temple of the Holy Spirit — not something to be hidden away after death but honored and reverenced until burial. The casket remains open throughout the evening wake (Trisagion vigil) and the funeral service the following day.

The open casket serves three purposes: it affirms the reality of physical death rather than sanitizing it, it allows the community to pay their final respects directly to the deceased, and it enables the climactic ritual of the funeral service — the Last Kiss.

Some families, particularly those with non-Orthodox members or in cases of traumatic death, may request a closed casket. This requires a conversation with the parish priest, who can confirm whether the local parish can accommodate it, though a fully open casket remains the standard church practice.

What Goes Inside the Casket

The items placed inside and on a Greek Orthodox casket are not decorative — each carries liturgical meaning.

The Icon: An icon of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary (Theotokos), or the deceased's patron saint is placed on the chest or in the hands of the departed. The icon represents Christ's presence with the soul and the deceased's connection to the faith they professed in life.

The Cross: A small cross may also be placed in or near the hands. In some parishes, the hands are folded around both the cross and the icon. The positioning varies by local custom.

The Funeral Crown: A wooden, paper, or metal crown inscribed with the Trisagion hymn is placed on the deceased's head. This represents the crown of righteousness that the faithful have "fought the good fight" to receive — an allusion to 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

The Savanon (Burial Shroud): A white linen shroud printed or embroidered with iconographic images of Christ's burial and the Trisagion prayer is placed inside the casket beneath the burial garments. Shrouds brought from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Jerusalem are especially prized and may be displayed over the outer clothing. At the close of the service, the priest uses the Savanon to cover the deceased fully before the casket is sealed.

Olive Oil and Earth: During the final prayers, the priest pours olive oil and sprinkles earth or ash over the body in the sign of the cross. These are not placed there beforehand — they're part of the closing liturgical rite.

Families should not place personal items like letters, photographs, or secular mementos inside the casket without first checking with the priest. Some parishes are flexible about personal additions; others maintain strict adherence to canonical items only.

Casket Positioning in the Church

The casket is placed in the center of the nave with the deceased's feet pointing east toward the altar. The theological reasoning: if the deceased were to stand, they would face the Holy Altar, looking toward the east from which Christ is prophesied to return at the Second Coming. The funeral home staff typically handles this placement, but it's worth confirming with the sexton (Neokoro) ahead of time if the parish has specific positioning requirements.

The Last Kiss (Kiss of Peace)

Near the end of the funeral service, the priest invites the entire congregation to approach the open casket for the Aspasmos — the Last Kiss, also called the Kiss of Peace. This is the emotional peak of the funeral.

The congregation files past the casket one at a time. Each person bows and places a kiss on the icon resting on the deceased's chest, on the hand of the departed, or on the edge of the casket. Immediate family members typically kiss the deceased directly — on the forehead or cheek. While the line moves forward, the choir chants farewell hymns that express love, forgiveness, and the hope of reunion at the resurrection.

The Last Kiss is not performative grief. It's understood as a physical act of final communion between the living and the dead — an expression of love that acknowledges the body's sanctity even in death. It's also the moment when many mourners experience the deepest emotional release of the service.

What If You Don't Want to Kiss the Deceased

If you're a non-Orthodox guest or simply uncomfortable with the practice, you are not obligated to participate. You can approach the casket, pause briefly, bow your head, and step aside. No one will confront you or demand an explanation. The priest may gesture for the line to continue.

You can approach the casket and pause without kissing, or remain in your seat; non-Orthodox guests are not expected to participate in the final kiss.

Casket Selection: Simplicity Over Display

There's often family tension around the casket itself. Greek Orthodox tradition favors dignified simplicity rather than display. The Church doesn't prescribe a specific casket material, but the cultural expectation leans away from elaborate, ornate caskets that draw attention to worldly expense.

That said, social pressure within the community can push families toward more expensive options. Older relatives or parish members may interpret a modest casket as insufficient honor. If you're managing the funeral and facing this tension, frame the choice in theological terms: Orthodox theology emphasizes the temporary nature of the body and the hope of resurrection, not the grandeur of the vessel.

Our Eastern Orthodox Funeral — Greek guide includes detailed scripts for navigating exactly these kinds of family negotiations, along with a cost-tracking worksheet that helps you make informed decisions under pressure without overspending.