What Happens at a Greek Orthodox Funeral: Service Structure and Key Moments

The Service Runs 45–60 Minutes, Almost Entirely Standing

A Greek Orthodox funeral is a formal liturgical rite, not a memorial program with speakers and slideshows. There are no lay eulogies inside the church — the Archdiocese explicitly reserves all speaking in the nave for ordained clergy. If the family wants friends and relatives to share personal tributes, those happen at the evening wake beforehand or at the Makaria meal after burial.

You'll stand for most of the service. Traditional Greek Orthodox churches have minimal or no pews. You'll be handed a lit beeswax candle at the entrance — keep it lit throughout. The church will be filled with frankincense from the priest's hand-held censer (thymiato), representing the ascent of prayers to God.

The Open Casket

The casket is placed in the center of the nave with the deceased's feet pointing east toward the altar — symbolically positioned to face Christ at the Second Coming. The standard practice is for the casket to be open. An icon of Christ, the Theotokos, or the deceased's patron saint rests on the chest or in the hands. A small crown inscribed with the Trisagion hymn is placed on the head, representing the crown of righteousness.

This is one of the moments that catches non-Orthodox guests off guard. The open casket isn't a viewing period that closes before the service starts — under the standard practice, it remains open throughout the entire liturgy and is the focal point of the final ritual.

The Liturgical Structure

The service follows a fixed sequence. Here's what you'll hear and see:

The Trisagion prayers open the service — the congregation chants "Agios O Theos, Agios Ischyros, Agios Athanatos, eleison imas" (Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us) three times. This is the foundational prayer of the entire funeral rite.

Psalm 118 (119) — the Amomos follows, chanted in three stanzas. It's the longest psalm in the Bible, and its opening verse reads "Blameless in the way." The chanting includes litanies pleading for the soul's rest "in the bosom of Abraham."

The Evlogetaria are hymns of praise that contrast humanity's fall with the hope of bodily resurrection, each prefaced by "Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me Your commandments."

The Hymns of St. John of Damascus are the emotional center of the service. Chanted in the Eight Modes of Byzantine music, they confront the reality of death head-on — the vanity of earthly wealth, the tragedy of physical decay, and the promise of eternal life. If you've never heard Byzantine funeral chanting before, the effect is striking. All music is strictly vocal; no instruments, organs, or recorded audio are permitted inside the church.

The Scripture Readings include the Epistle (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17, instructing the faithful not to grieve "as those who have no hope") and the Gospel (John 5:24–30, on Christ's power over judgment and resurrection).

The priest's homily follows the readings — a brief theological reflection, not a personal eulogy about the deceased.

The Kiss of Peace

This is the culmination of the service. The priest invites the congregation to approach the open casket one final time. The choir chants farewell hymns while mourners file past, bowing and placing a kiss on the icon of Christ resting on the deceased's chest, or on the hand of the departed.

If you're not Orthodox, you're not expected to participate. You can remain standing in your place or step into the line and simply bow your head respectfully at the casket without kissing anything. Nobody will confront you. But know that for the family, this moment is the final physical farewell — give the people ahead of you time and space.

The Sealing

After the Kiss of Peace, the priest performs the final anointing. He pours olive oil over the body in the shape of a cross and sprinkles earth, reciting Genesis 3:19: "For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." The shroud (Savanon) is drawn over the deceased, and the casket is closed for the last time.

The Graveside Committal

The procession moves to the cemetery. At the graveside, the priest reads the final committal prayers. Family members may place flowers or earth as directed before the casket is lowered. The east-facing orientation described above applies to the casket in the church nave; ask the cemetery whether the grave can accommodate it.

In the diaspora (US, Canada, Australia, UK), graves are purchased permanently. In Greece, grave plots in urban cemeteries are leased for 3–5 years, after which the family must attend an exhumation and transfer the bones to an ossuary.

After the Burial: The Makaria

Immediately following the committal, the family hosts the Makaria — the Meal of Mercy — at the church hall, a restaurant, or the family home. The main dish is baked or broiled fish (representing Christ's post-Resurrection meal with the disciples). Red meat is avoided. Guests are served Greek coffee, paximadia biscotti, and Metaxa brandy for a silent toast.

Personal eulogies and stories that were prohibited inside the church are welcome at the Makaria. This is where the community actually gathers to remember the person.

What Not to Do

• Don't take photos or video inside the church
• Don't attempt to give a eulogy during the service
• Don't leave your candle unlit
• Don't wear bright colors or casual clothes
• Don't send food to the family's home (donate to the parish or an Orthodox charity instead)

The Eastern Orthodox Funeral — Greek guide walks through every phase of the funeral timeline — from the moment of death through the 40-day memorial — with printable checklists for the family and a separate guest etiquette sheet for non-Orthodox attendees.