How Do Christians Perform Their Funeral Rites?
Death is an inevitable part of being here on this earth. Death is a part of the cycle of life. In death, a person departs and another gets left behind. The role of the religion for those who are left behind is to perform a ritual of letting go. This ritual is what we know as the funeral.
Funerals around the world are marked by a many traditions and rituals. It is at the funerals that the loved ones make peace with the fate and pray for the deceased’s soul.
Church rules govern funeral rites in Christian communities. However, considering the fact that there are over 200 denominations of Christian communities, the rituals can change depending on the allegiance of the family.
The first and foremost custom in a Christian funeral that is conducted before the actual service is held relates to assembling around the deceased for a night and reciting prayers for the dead. This significant tradition is called wake. According to the present day rituals, this is when the family and acquaintances pay a last visit to the dead person and offer homage for the last time. The body is properly preserved and housed either inside a Church or at the home, and the time of visit is specified. In olden days, the deceased used to be absolved of his sins of his earthly existence by performing the ritual of absolution after wake. This involved placing a cross on the deceased’s chest and offertory in the casket, where presents were kept.
The following stage is the actual service itself in which the deceased is put into a hearse and taken to the Church, where the priests and others chant prayers and hymns from the Holy Bible. This is then followed by the clergy requesting one of the close friends or family to present a eulogy. Some communities have chiming of the bells as a part of the tradition that marks the end of service. When the funeral service is over, the casket with the deceased is transported to the burial site and burial service takes place before the final burial.
Finally, the family members arrange for a lunch for everyone who has attended the funeral. The main purpose of such customs is to provide support to the mourning family and help them overcome their grief and accept the fate.
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