The Metropolis of Thebes and Livadia warned that it will not hold funeral services to the deceased who have been cremated and not buried. The Metropolis argues that the cremation deprives the dead of the hope for Resurrection and the Second Coming.
“The burial of the dead body of man on earth presupposes and implies faith in the Resurrection of the dead at the Second Coming and means the hope and eschatological expectation of the life of the future century”, the Metropolis said in a statement following a voting.
“On the contrary, cremation and incineration signify the lack of faith and hope, as it means the complete extinction and annihilation of the human being” the clergy of Thibes and Livadia adds.
Point out at the problems for the environment and the public health cremation facilities create, the statement adds that for the Church the issue has other implications. ”
“The Church does not accept the incineration of the body for its members, for it is a temple of the Holy Spirit, an element of the image of the fallen man in the likeness and likeness of God and surrounds it with respect and honor as an expression of love for the anointed member. and as a manifestation of faith in the resurrection common to all.’
“It is inconceivable for a conscientious Orthodox Christian to deny burial and opt for incineration,” the statement said.
“We, the Clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Thebes and Levadia … we cannot accept to hold a funeral service in favor of resting in peace of the soul of a person who has decided and requested, himself or his family, for the cremation and not the burial of his dead body.”
The decision comes three weeks after the first cremation facility went in operation in Ritsona, 75 km away from Greek capital Athens. The facility is also geographically close to the Prefecture of Viotia, where the Metropolis has its seat.
