Greek Orthodox Funeral Planning Checklist: Timeline From Death to Burial

The Timeline Is Compressed — Plan Accordingly

In Greece, burial traditionally happens within 24 hours of death. In diaspora communities (US, Canada, UK, Australia), the standard is 2–3 days, sometimes extending to a week depending on parish availability and family travel needs. But the funeral cannot be held on a Sunday or Holy Saturday — those are liturgically off-limits.

That compressed window means you're coordinating with the parish, the funeral home, the cemetery, and your extended family simultaneously, all while grieving. A checklist isn't optional — it's the difference between a dignified service and a scramble of last-minute calls.

Hours 1–6: Immediate Actions

Call the priest first. Before the funeral home, before extended family, call your parish priest. If death was sudden and the priest wasn't present, he needs to come read the "Prayers for the Separation of the Soul from the Body" and perform a bedside Trisagion.

If death was expected (hospice, hospital), the priest should have already visited to administer Holy Communion, hear a final confession, and offer Holy Unction in the days or hours before.

Assign a family point person. Designate the most organized family member — not necessarily the most grief-stricken one — to manage logistics, communicate with the municipality, and serve as the single contact for the priest and funeral director.

Verify canonical standing. Confirm with the priest that the deceased is eligible for a full church funeral: baptized and chrismated in the Orthodox Church, and if married, the marriage was blessed by an Orthodox priest. If there are complications (lapsed membership, unpaid stewardship dues, questions about canonical status), the priest will tell you now rather than the day of the service.

Order death certificates. Request 5–10 certified copies from the state or municipality. You'll need them for insurance claims, bank accounts, property transfers, and legal proceedings.

Hours 6–24: Funeral Logistics

Select a funeral home. Choose a funeral director experienced with Greek Orthodox services. They need to handle: the standard open-casket practice throughout the liturgy, east-facing casket orientation, placement of the icon, crown, and Savanon shroud, and the footwear custom. If the funeral home hasn't done an Orthodox funeral before, you'll need to brief them in writing.

Schedule the service with the priest. Confirm the day and time. Remember: no Sundays, no Holy Saturday. Check the liturgical calendar for any feast days that might restrict the schedule. The priest and the chanter (Psalte) need to be available on the same day.

Reserve the cemetery plot. If using a parish cemetery, confirm availability and verify any stewardship dues requirements. If using a secular cemetery, confirm that east-facing orientation is possible.

Publish the obituary. Include the funeral date, church location, and the phrase "in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to [parish name or Orthodox charity]." This redirects well-meaning guests away from sending food to the home (which isn't traditional in Greek culture) toward appropriate charitable giving.

Days 1–2: Preparation

Deliver clothing to the mortuary. Modest, dignified attire. Veterans may wear their formal uniform. Church officials wear vestments. Footwear is often omitted as a traditional regional custom; confirm the local practice with the priest or funeral home.

Purchase or source the required offering items:

• One Savanon (burial shroud) — from an Orthodox supply shop, online, or the parish
• One small bottle of pure olive oil
• One small bottle of sweet red wine
• A tray of koliva (boiled wheat) — preparation starts two days before the service; ask the Philoptochos if you need help

Secure the Makaria venue. Reserve the parish social hall or a restaurant for the post-burial Meal of Mercy. Plan for a fish-based menu (no red meat). The Philoptochos often helps coordinate food for hall events.

Select the casket. For U.S. arrangements, the FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes to provide an itemized price list and allows you to supply your own casket. Outside the United States, ask which local consumer rules apply. You don't need the most expensive option — a dignified wood casket suitable for open-casket viewing is appropriate. The priest doesn't inspect casket quality.

Day 2 (Evening): The Trisagion Wake

The evening before the funeral, the family gathers at the funeral home for the open-casket viewing and the Trisagion vigil — a 15-minute prayer service led by the priest. This is also the time for:

• Lay eulogies and personal tributes (prohibited inside the church)
• Fraternal organization ceremonies (AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope) — these must happen in the funeral home or church narthex, not during the church service
• Extended family and community visitation

Day 3: The Funeral and Burial

Arrive at the church 30–45 minutes early to coordinate with the priest and chanter.

The funeral liturgy runs 45–60 minutes. The standard is for the casket to be open, feet east, in the center of the nave. The service follows the fixed Orthodox funeral rite: Trisagion, Psalm 119, Evlogetaria, St. John of Damascus hymns, Epistle and Gospel readings, the priest's homily, and the Kiss of Peace.

After the Kiss of Peace, the priest anoints the body with oil, sprinkles earth, and seals the casket. The procession moves to the cemetery for the graveside committal.

After burial: Host the Makaria. Fish, salad, lemon potatoes, Greek coffee, paximadia, Metaxa brandy. Personal stories and eulogies are welcome here.

After the Funeral

The checklist doesn't end at burial. Mark your calendar for:

• 3rd-day memorial Trisagion (with koliva)
• 9th-day memorial Trisagion (with koliva)
• 40th-day Mnimosino — the most significant memorial service
• 6-month memorial
• 1-year and subsequent annual Mnimosyna

The Eastern Orthodox Funeral — Greek guide includes a printable day-by-day planning timeline, a funeral director briefing sheet, and a memorial calendar that runs from the 3rd day through the annual Mnimosyna.