Protestant Funeral Rites

1. Protestant Funeral Rites Liturgical vs. Non-liturgical

2. Liturgical (Eucharist-centered)Worship • “a prescribed order or form of worship specific to a particular denomination which will have the Eucharist or Holy Communion as its central element” • Rubrics: “stated directions in a prayer book or liturgical manual regarding the order of service as approved by the denomination” • Gospel lectern vs. Epistle lectern

3. Liturgical Architecture • Transepts: “wings of the main part of the church which may serve as small chapels for baptism, weddings, and even small funeral services”

4. Liturgical Protestant Funeral Rite • Notification of the Clergy • Removal of Remains • Preparation of the Remains • Dressing and Casketing Remains • Pre-service Considerations: honorarium • Funeral Service: pall, crucifer, chancel, name, narthex, vestments, acolytes • Committal Service

5. Episcopal Funeral Rite • Priest: “a title conferred by ordination” • Deacon: “a subordinate officer in a Christian church”

6. Lutheran Funeral Rite • Synods

7. Non-liturgical Protestant Funeral Rite • Non-liturgical (scripture centered) worship: “a form or order of worship which has the scriptures as its central element; the actual form or order of the worship service is left to the discretion of each individual church and/or minister”

8. Non-liturgical Funeral Rite (cont’d) • Notification of the Clergy • Removal of Remains • Preparation of Remains • Dressing and Casketing • Pre-service Considerations • Funeral Service • Committal Service

9. Protestant Funerals in Other Facilities • What are some examples of facilities that may be used for funerals? • What are some of the considerations the funeral director must attend to?

10. Roman Catholic Funeral Rite

11. Glossary Terms • brother, celebrant, Christian Burial Certificate, crucifix, crucifer, diocese, eucharist, final commendation, genuflect, holy water, mass, mass cards, nun, pall, paschal candle, priest, prayer cards, priedieu, rosary beads, rosary prayers, rosary service, sanctuary, scapular/amice, spiritual bouquet cards, vigil lights, wake, wake service

12. Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop Monsignor Priest Deacon Eucharistic Minister

13. Roman Catholic Funeral Rite • Notification of the Clergy • Sacrament of the Sick • Removal of the Remains • Preparation of the Remains • Dressing and Casketing the Remains

14. Roman Catholic Funeral Rite Considerations • The Wake (Rosary Service, Vigil Service) • The Funeral Mass • Recessional

15. Committal Service Cremation

16. Fraternal Organizations • What are some important considerations for the funeral director when fraternal organizations with to conduct a ceremony?

17. Veterans Organizations • What are the responsibilities of the funeral director when working with Veterans organizations who are participating in the service?

18. Orthodox Church Funeral Rites Greek Orthodox Church Russian Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox church Orthodox Catholic Church

19. Government • Council of Bishops called a synod • Majority of members belong to the Greek Orthodox churches.

20. Terms • Cantor • Deacon • Divine Liturgy: liturgical celebration of the Eucharist • Icon: holy picture • Iconostasis (Iconostas, Iconostation): partition that extends across the front of the church separating the sanctuary from the solea

21. Terms (cont’d) • Parastas: vigil service • Royal Doors: in the center of the Iconostasis leading directly to the altar; only ordained clergy are to go through these doors • Trisagion: 3 short services/blessings that are part of the funeral rite

22. Notification of the Clergy • no restrictions • no “last rites” are administered • FD does not need to contact the priest unless requested to do so

23. Removal and Preparation of Remains • no restrictions • majority will choose a traditional funeral service • generally disapprove of cremation

24. Dressing and Casketing • no restrictions • deceased priests may be dressed by priests

25. Pre-service Considerations • begin with Trisagion • held in the FH the evening before the funeral service and again the following day • normally, candles placed at each end of the casket, cross behind the casket, and an icon at the foot end of the casket

26. Funeral Service • generally not on Sundays and certain Holy Days • Trisagion held at the FH immediately before the funeral service • service is short and then attendees move in procession to the church for the funeral service

27. Arrival at the Church • flowers may not be allowed • casket and family move into the church and are met by the Priest • Priest blesses the casket with holy water • Cantor will accompany the Priest • casket is led feet first

28. Funeral Service • casket is usually open • service will follow a liturgical order (Parastas/Great Panachida) • eulogy may be offered towards the end • after eulogy, casket turned parallel with Iconostasis • Priest anoints body with earth/sand and olive oil

29. Icons • very important • may be placed in the casket, on the breast or arm of the deceased • generally placed at the foot end of the casket

30. Ceremony of the Last Kissing • those seated on the right side of the church may pass the casket, stopping to kiss the Icon • Icon is then moved to the head end of the casket and those seated on the left side of the church may stop and kiss the Icon

31. Committal Service • Usually earth burial or entombment • Priest will lead the casket in the procession to the burial site • Cantor will accompany the Priest • readings and prayers, ending with a closing prayer