Orthodox Funeral as Immediate Family

Local variation

An Orthodox funeral involves the immediate rites of the Funeral Service and the burial, followed by an extended cycle of Panikhida memorial services. The specifics on this page describe typical US Orthodox practice; the parish priest is the right source for the local customs.

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Orthodox funeral practice is distinctive: cremation is generally not permitted, the body is prepared and shrouded by the parish or family rather than embalmed in some traditions, and the memorial cycle (Panikhida at the 9th day, 40th day, and one-year anniversary) extends the family’s active remembrance over a longer period.

The parish priest can confirm:

The available date and time for the Funeral Service
The jurisdiction’s specific position on cremation (most US jurisdictions: not permitted; some pastoral flexibility in unusual circumstances)
How the body is prepared (in some Orthodox traditions, the family washes and dresses the body in white; in others the funeral home prepares the body)
The Panikhida schedule (9 days, 40 days, 1 year, and on appropriate Saturdays of the year)
Coordination with the funeral home and cemetery

01 The first steps after the death

An Orthodox funeral in US practice normally comes together within two to four days of the death. The first calls are to the parish priest and to the funeral home. The priest will guide the family through the specific Orthodox arrangements; the funeral home handles the logistics. Where the family does not have a home parish, the funeral home commonly recommends an Orthodox priest available for the funeral; the family may also contact a parish directly.

02 The wake and the Funeral Service

The Orthodox wake takes place the evening before the funeral, either at the church or at the funeral home, with the open casket present and chanted prayers (the Trisagion service) led by the priest. The wake is a significant moment for the family; the body is present as the family gathers, prays, and remembers.

The Funeral Service of the Orthodox Church is celebrated the following day, typically at the church. The service includes chanted hymns, scripture readings, the funeral hymns of the Orthodox tradition (including the well-known "With the Saints give rest, O Christ..."), prayers for the deceased, and the final farewell: the moment when the immediate family approaches the casket to kiss the icon placed on the body or the brow of the deceased. The burial follows at the cemetery.

03 Cremation and the body

Cremation is generally not permitted in the Orthodox Church. The body is prepared for burial in keeping with Orthodox tradition: in some jurisdictions and families the body is washed and dressed by the family or by parishioners; in others the funeral home prepares the body following the family's wishes. Embalming is permitted but is not part of the Orthodox tradition itself. The body is normally clothed in white or in the deceased's own clothing, with an icon placed in the casket and a small cross placed in the hands.

04 The memorial cycle

Orthodox remembrance of the deceased extends well beyond the funeral itself. Panikhida memorial services are traditionally celebrated on the 9th day after the death, the 40th day, and the one-year anniversary, and on appropriate Saturdays of the church year (Saturdays of the Souls).

The 40-day Panikhida is the principal memorial service in the immediate cycle. Orthodox tradition holds that the soul undergoes a particular journey during the forty days following death; the 40-day service is the moment when the immediate family begins to return to ordinary life. The yearly Panikhida and the Saturdays of the Souls then carry the remembrance forward into the longer span of family memory.

05 Common questions

Why does the Orthodox tradition not permit cremation?

Orthodox theology of the body and the resurrection holds that the body, having been a temple of the Holy Spirit, is to be returned to the earth whole in expectation of the resurrection. Cremation, in Orthodox understanding, is not consistent with this expectation. Specific jurisdictions vary slightly in pastoral practice; the parish priest is the source for what the local jurisdiction permits in exceptional circumstances.

What is a Panikhida?

A Panikhida (sometimes transliterated Parastas) is a brief Orthodox memorial service for the dead. Panikhidas are traditionally celebrated on the 9th day, the 40th day, and the one-year anniversary of a death, and also on appropriate Saturdays of the church year (Saturdays of the Souls). The service includes chanted prayers and the singing of "Memory Eternal" for the deceased.

What is the 40-day significance?

Orthodox tradition holds that the soul undergoes a particular journey during the forty days following death. The 40-day Panikhida is the principal memorial service in the immediate cycle and is traditionally the moment when the bereaved family begins to return to ordinary life. The custom is observed across Orthodox jurisdictions, though specific practices around the 40 days vary.

Can a non-Orthodox spouse or family member be involved in the planning?

Yes. The Funeral Service is the work of the parish; the planning is normally done by the priest and the immediate family. Non-Orthodox family members are fully involved in the planning conversation and in the wake, the service, and the burial. Communion at the Funeral Service is reserved for Orthodox Christians; non-Orthodox attendees are present as the family of the deceased.

What does the family wear?

Black or dark mourning attire is traditional in Orthodox practice and remains common. The wider US convention of dark formal dress is acceptable. Some Orthodox cultural traditions observe specific mourning customs in the weeks following the funeral (specific clothing, abstention from celebratory events, particular prayer practices).

06 Pastoral and grief support

When to reach out

This site is informational. It is not pastoral care. The work of grieving and the work of arranging an Orthodox funeral both involve conversations a website cannot have for you.

If you are arranging a funeral, the first conversation is with the parish priest or with the funeral home.

For ongoing grief support that does not reach crisis level, the parish priest and external grief support organizations can help. GriefShare and the National Alliance for Grieving Children operate widely available programs in the US. Most hospice organizations offer grief support to family members regardless of where the death occurred.

If grief becomes overwhelming, if you find yourself unable to sleep, eat, or function for an extended period, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day in the United States. Call or text 988.

Before you finalize anything

Orthodox funeral arrangements involve close coordination between the parish and the funeral home. The parish priest is the first conversation; the memorial cycle that follows is part of how the Orthodox tradition holds grief.

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The typical Orthodox funeral and memorial arc, with timing approximate:

Within hours of the death: contact the parish priest; contact the funeral home
One to two days: a wake at the funeral home or church with the body present, chanted prayers (Trisagion service), family time
Two to three days out: the Funeral Service at the church, followed by burial at the cemetery
Nine days after the death: first Panikhida memorial service
Forty days after the death: second Panikhida; in Orthodox tradition this marks a significant transition in the soul’s journey
One year after the death: third Panikhida
Continuing: Panikhida services on appropriate Saturdays of the church year

Last reviewed against primary sources: May 17, 2026