Orthodox Burial Societies and Parish Roles: Who Does What at a Funeral

An Orthodox funeral is not something a family handles alone. The parish community plays defined roles — washing the body, reading the Psalter, preparing the church, carrying the casket — and understanding who does what prevents confusion during a time when the family is least able to coordinate logistics.

The St. Joseph of Arimathea Society

Named after the biblical figure who claimed Christ's body from Pilate and prepared it for burial, the St. Joseph of Arimathea Society is a lay burial guild present in many Orthodox parishes. Its members perform the practical, physical works of mercy that the funeral requires:

• Washing and preparing the body according to Orthodox tradition (gentle washing with warm water, dressing in the burial shroud or white garments)
• Placing the sacred objects — the venchik headband, the icon in the deceased's hands, the hand-cross
• Coordinating with the funeral home to ensure Orthodox requirements are met (no unnecessary embalming, proper casket positioning)
• Setting up the church for the funeral service (candles, the koliva table, the icon stand)
• Assisting at the graveside with the logistics of lowering the casket

Not every parish has a formal burial society. In smaller or newer parishes, these duties fall to family members, close friends, and whoever volunteers. If your parish does have one, contact the president of the society as soon as possible after the death — they will walk you through everything.

The Myrrhbearers

The Myrrhbearers (named after the women who brought spices and myrrh to Christ's tomb) is a women's guild that specifically handles the washing and dressing of deceased women parishioners. In parishes where this guild exists, female members of the same gender as the deceased prepare the body, with the priest present to offer prayers.

This is a deeply traditional practice that carries real emotional weight — the act of washing the dead is considered a sacred work of mercy, not a commercial service.

Pallbearers

The family selects six pallbearers to carry the casket from the hearse into the church and from the church to the graveside. Choose people who are physically capable of bearing the weight and who understand the solemnity of the role. Pallbearers are typically male family members and close friends, though there is no canonical prohibition against women serving as pallbearers.

In some parishes, the burial society provides pallbearers if the family does not have enough available.

Psalter Readers

The tradition of reading the Psalter (the Book of Psalms) aloud over the casket through the night before the funeral requires multiple volunteers taking shifts of one to two hours each. The parish coordinates these readers, who are typically experienced parishioners comfortable with the reading.

If the deceased was an ordained priest or bishop, the Gospel is read instead of the Psalter.

The Philoptochos and Hospitality Committee

The Philoptochos (Greek for "friends of the poor") is the women's philanthropic society present in most Greek Orthodox parishes. In the context of a funeral, the Philoptochos often coordinates the mercy meal — booking the parish hall, arranging catering, managing the setup and cleanup. Other jurisdictions have equivalent hospitality committees.

Contact them early. They know the fasting calendar, the parish hall capacity, and the preferred local caterers. They will also handle the koliva distribution after the memorial service if the family has prepared it.

Rules About Fraternal and Secret Societies

The Church maintains strict boundaries about non-Orthodox organizations at funerals:

Freemasonry and secret societies: Orthodox canon law condemns Freemasonry as incompatible with the Christian faith. No Masonic aprons, symbols, writings, or secular rituals are permitted inside the church temple or at the funeral home during Orthodox services. If the deceased was a known member, the priest will firmly but tactfully inform the family that only the Orthodox service will be celebrated.

Cultural fraternal organizations (AHEPA, Daughters of Penelope): Greek-American fraternal organizations with Orthodox cultural affiliations are permitted to hold their memorial ceremonies — but only at the funeral home on the evening of the wake, or in the church narthex (vestibule) before the formal funeral service begins. They are strictly barred from entering the nave of the church or interrupting the liturgy.

This distinction — cultural organizations in restricted settings, secret societies excluded entirely — reflects the Church's willingness to accommodate ethnic heritage while protecting the liturgical integrity of its sacred spaces.

The Family's Role

The family retains ultimate responsibility for:

• Selecting the funeral home and casket
• Providing clothing and personal effects for the deceased
• Choosing pallbearers
• Preparing or arranging koliva
• Coordinating the mercy meal
• Submitting the deceased's name for liturgical commemoration
• Managing secular paperwork (death certificates, estate matters)

The parish community carries the physical and logistical burden alongside the family, but the family makes the decisions.

For a complete breakdown of parish coordination, including a role assignment worksheet and funeral home directive templates, the Eastern Orthodox Funeral Guide keeps every responsibility organized.