Grave Arrangement

“…for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”(Prayers at Burial) The body of a departed Christian is committed to the earth. Cremation is not permissible in Christian tradition. The grave is arranged simply and modestly. A headstone serves two purposes: to show fellow Christians that a brother in the faith lies buried here,…

Commemorative Memorial Slips (For the Departed)

In memorial slips for the departed (zapíski za upokóy), the names of those who believed in God and passed away in the Orthodox (Old Believer) faith are written—those over whom a priest has performed the funeral rite. In some families, a synodik or pomyannik is compiled, in which the entire lineage of the family is recorded. These commemorative books…

Clothing of the Deceased

To clothe the deceased, new garments are used, resembling those typically worn during church services. For men: underpants, shirt, belt, and kaftan (a long outer garment); for women: a long shirt, sarafan (traditional jumper dress), povoinik (a married woman’s headdress), and a headscarf. Soft slippers are placed on the feet. First, a savan (burial shroud) is placed in the coffin. The savan is made as…