Receive A Free Gift On Orders Over $75

Eastern Orthodox Views on Cremation: What the Church Teaches Today

Updated September 3, 2026 · Written by Jordan Colton, founder of Cherished Emblems · Reviewed against current official sources

Golden domed Orthodox cathedral under a dramatic sky, illustrating Eastern Orthodox views on cremation

Does the Eastern Orthodox Church allow cremation?

No. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not allow cremation, and a person who chooses to be cremated is generally not given an Orthodox funeral service. Burial of the body is the only form of Christian burial the Church recognizes as its own.

This has been the Orthodox position since the early centuries of Christianity, and it is restated today by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Orthodox Church in America, the Church of Greece, and the Russian Orthodox Church. The one caveat is pastoral: when cremation happens against a person's wishes, by legal requirement, or is otherwise unavoidable, a bishop can apply economia (a pastoral relaxation of a rule for the good of a soul) and allow certain prayers. That is granted case by case, and it never makes cremation an approved choice.

Key facts at a glance

  • Official position: Cremation is not permitted. The Orthodox Church in America says the practice "is not a Christian one and is to be discouraged," and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America states that when a body is cremated, "the funeral service cannot be conducted."
  • Since: The prohibition dates to the early Church and Byzantine canon law; it has never been reversed. Recent restatements include the Russian Orthodox Church's "On the Christian Burial of the Dead" (Holy Synod, May 5, 2015), the OCA Guidelines for Clergy (2023), and the Church of Greece pamphlet "To the People" (November 2019).
  • Burial preferred? Burial is not just preferred, it is the only practice the Church endorses. The body is buried facing east in expectation of the Resurrection.
  • Scattering ashes: Not accepted. Where cremation has already happened, the Church asks that ashes be buried in the ground.
  • Keeping ashes at home or in jewelry: Not accepted. Orthodox guidance directs cremated remains to burial, not to a shelf or a pendant.
  • Funeral with cremated remains present: No. The OCA states that "cremated remains are not to be brought into the temple for a burial service or for any other reason." Only limited prayers may be said at the burial of ashes.
  • Pastoral exceptions: When cremation was forced by law, disaster, or a family acting against the deceased's wishes, a bishop may permit a Trisagion or memorial service. Approval comes from the bishop, not the parish priest alone.
  • Who decides: The bishop of each diocese or metropolis, applying the Church's canons; families are not free to choose cremation and still expect full Orthodox rites.

On this page

What the Eastern Orthodox Church officially teaches about cremation

Eastern Orthodoxy is a family of self governing churches that share one faith and one sacramental life: the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and its Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), the Antiochian Archdiocese, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Church Abroad (ROCOR), the Church of Greece, and others. On cremation they speak with one voice. The Oriental Orthodox churches (Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopian, Syriac) are a separate family with their own history, and they will have their own page here.

The historical position

Christians buried their dead from the beginning, following the burial of Christ himself. The OCA explains that the ban on cremation arose because burning the body "was commonly practiced" among pagans and gnostics, groups whose teaching "denied the value of physical creation, and specifically the human body." Burial was the visible sign that Christians believed something different: the body is good, God made it, and it will rise. That teaching passed into Byzantine canon law and has never been set aside (OCA, Questions and Answers on cremation).

Why the body matters so much

Three ideas sit underneath the rule. First, the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). It was washed in baptism, anointed with chrism, and fed with Holy Communion, so it is not a shell the soul leaves behind but part of the whole person who was sanctified. Second, Orthodox Christians confess the resurrection of the body. The OCA notes that "the image of the body being buried as it awaits the resurrection is more in keeping with the image given to us by Christ, Who likens burial with the planting of seed." Third, the Church venerates the relics of the saints, whose bodies are honored because grace touched them. A Church that kisses the bones of saints cannot treat any Christian body as something to be reduced to ash. The Church of Greece put it bluntly in 2019: "Dead bodies are not garbage," and the Church "views the human body as sacred, calling it the temple of the Holy Spirit" (Orthodox Times).

What the jurisdictions say today

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America states that cremation "goes contrary to Holy Scripture" and "desecrates the body," and that if "a body is cremated, lost at sea, or otherwise absent," the funeral service cannot be conducted. It adds that carrying out a person's request for cremation places "the wishes of the deceased" above "the divine blessing of the Holy Spirit" (Regarding Suicides and Cremation, goarch.org).

The Orthodox Church in America is equally clear in its 2023 Guidelines for Clergy:

"The practice of cremation is not a Christian one and is to be discouraged. Cremated remains are not to be brought into the temple for a burial service or for any other reason. Although cremation is not encouraged, and the Funeral Service over cremated remains is denied, the remains may be buried only with the hymn Holy God."

Guidelines for Clergy, Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America (2023)

The Church of Greece responded to Greece's legalization of cremation in 2006, and to the opening of the country's first crematorium in 2019, with a pamphlet distributed in every parish. It said the Church "does not force any person to observe its traditions" but that those who choose cremation "will not benefit from the Church's funeral service" (Neos Kosmos, Greek Reporter).

The Russian Orthodox Church adopted "On the Christian Burial of the Dead" on May 5, 2015. It holds burial in the earth as the norm, but adds a note of pastoral mercy: "The Church, regarding cremation as an undesirable phenomenon and not approving of it, may nevertheless treat the fact of cremation with forbearance. After cremation, the ashes must be committed to the earth." It allows cremation only where burial is prevented by local law, transport, or similar objective reasons, and tells clergy to keep offering prayer and consolation to the family (full text, Foma). The Russian Church Abroad has held a stricter line since its 1956 Sobor of Bishops, which forbade cremation, withheld the funeral service from bodies designated for cremation, and allowed memorial services (Panikhidas) no earlier than the fortieth day, with exceptions only where cremation was forced and the bishop approved (ROCOR Studies).

Economia: the pastoral exception

Orthodox bishops have long used economia to soften a rule when strict application would harm a soul. The OCA acknowledges that "in a few cases in recent times, for good cause, cremation has taken place with the knowledge of the Church," but the cremation "did not occur until after the funeral service at which the body of the deceased has been present," and this "does not represent standard practice." Qualifying causes include a state requirement (Japan is the example given), epidemics, or fear of disease (OCA, Cremation [2]). Serbian parishes describe the same principle: memorial prayers "with the blessing of the Bishop in cases of unwilling cremation" (St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church). The line the Church draws is between a person who chose cremation against its teaching and a person to whom cremation was done.

How Eastern Orthodox members approach cremation today

Orthodox Christians in the United States live inside a culture that has moved decisively toward cremation. The Cremation Association of North America reports a national cremation rate of 62.8 percent for 2025 and projects 69.1 percent by 2030 (CANA Industry Statistics). Orthodox Christians are about 1 percent of American adults according to the Pew Research Center's 2023 to 2024 Religious Landscape Study, and no jurisdiction publishes a cremation rate for its members. What parishes report is pressure: adult children who are not Orthodox, prepaid cremation plans signed years earlier, and the cost gap between burial and cremation.

The Church's answer has been to explain rather than to bend. Greek parishes in America publish funeral guidelines that spell it out: the priest will not serve the funeral if the body is to be cremated before or after the service, cremated remains should be buried in the ground, and, "with prior permission from the Metropolitan," a Trisagion may be prayed at the funeral home before a cremation that cannot be avoided (Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Salt Lake City). In Greece, cremation was legal for thirteen years before the first crematorium opened, and families who wanted it traveled to Bulgaria. Burial remains the expectation across Greek, Slavic, Arab, and Romanian Orthodox communities, and the memorial customs around it (koliva, the forty day memorial, yearly Panikhidas) all assume a grave to visit.

A typical Orthodox burial looks like this. A priest is called, ideally before death, for confession and Communion. After death the Trisagion (a short prayer service named for the "Thrice Holy" hymn) is prayed, often at the funeral home the evening before. The funeral takes place in the church with the open casket facing the altar; the priest meets the body singing "Holy God," and mourners offer a final kiss. The body is buried facing east. Memorial services follow on the third, ninth, and fortieth days, at three, six, and twelve months, and each year afterward, plus the Soul Saturdays before Lent and Pentecost (A Few Brief Comments on the Funeral Rites, St. Tikhon Orthodox Church).

When cremation has already happened, the picture changes but does not go dark. A family can still ask the priest to bury the ashes with the hymn "Holy God," to serve a memorial on the fortieth day without the ashes present, and to commemorate the departed at the Liturgy. Those prayers remain open.

Common questions families ask

My Orthodox loved one was cremated. Can we still have a church funeral?

Usually not the full funeral service, but the Church does not close its doors. The OCA and the Greek Archdiocese both state that the funeral is not served over cremated remains and that ashes are not brought into the church. A priest can bury the ashes with the hymn "Holy God," serve a memorial on the fortieth day or another suitable date without the remains present, and commemorate your loved one at the Liturgy. If the cremation was done against their wishes or by legal requirement, tell your priest; the bishop may grant a Trisagion or memorial service under economia.

Can cremated remains be buried in an Orthodox cemetery?

Yes, in most jurisdictions, and burial in the ground is exactly what the Church asks. The OCA Guidelines for Clergy allow the remains to be buried "only with the hymn Holy God," and Greek Archdiocese parish guidelines instruct families to bury cremated remains in the ground. Some parish cemeteries have specific rules about urns and plots, so ask the cemetery office and your priest before you make arrangements.

Can we scatter the ashes?

No. Every Orthodox statement on cremation directs the ashes to the earth; the Russian Orthodox Church's 2015 document says plainly that "after cremation, the ashes must be committed to the earth." Scattering at sea, in a garden, or in the mountains, however loving the intention, does not fit Orthodox practice. If scattering has already happened, that does not put your loved one beyond prayer; speak with your priest about memorial services.

Can we keep the ashes at home or divide them among family members?

No. The Orthodox Church treats the body, and by extension the ashes, as something to be buried whole in one place, in the same way a body is. Keeping an urn at home or dividing ashes between siblings is not part of Orthodox practice, and a priest will encourage the family to bury the ashes together. The reason is the same one that underlies the whole teaching: the body is honored as a temple and laid to rest to await the Resurrection.

Is cremation jewelry acceptable for Orthodox Christians?

No. Cremation jewelry holds a portion of ashes, and Orthodox teaching directs all cremated remains to burial, so keeping ashes in a pendant does not fit Orthodox practice. Families who want to keep their loved one close in a wearable way usually choose something without ashes: an engraved cross, a pendant with a name and dates, or a keepsake that holds a lock of hair or a photograph.

Can the Trisagion or a memorial service be held if the body has been cremated?

Sometimes, with the bishop's blessing. Greek parish guidelines note that "with prior permission from the Metropolitan, the Trisagion Service for the dead may be recited at the funeral home or other appropriate location before the cremation takes place," and a Trisagion may be served at the forty day memorial. The OCA allows a memorial service "without any cremated remains present" on the fortieth day or another appropriate date. The Russian Church Abroad permits Panikhidas from the fortieth day on. These are prayers for the soul, and they are not withheld.

Does the Orthodox Church allow embalming, viewing, or organ donation?

Yes to all three, within limits. Orthodox funerals normally take place with an open casket in the church, so embalming is common in the United States and is not forbidden. Organ donation is generally accepted as an act of love as long as the body is treated with respect and is still buried. Whole body donation to science is handled case by case, since the body usually is not returned for burial for a long time and may be cremated afterward; ask your priest before signing anything.

What if my loved one asked to be cremated?

The Church's answer is that a request for cremation should not be carried out. The Greek Archdiocese says that fulfilling such a wish puts "the wishes of the deceased" above "the divine blessing of the Holy Spirit," and the Russian Church Abroad taught in 1956 that such a directive is "morally nonbinding" on relatives. That can be painful to hear when you are trying to honor someone. Talk with your priest before the arrangements are final; many families find that a simple burial, and the memorial life that follows it, gives them more to hold onto than they expected.

Where personal choice and memorial keepsakes fit

The Orthodox Church does not permit keeping a portion of ashes, so we will say what is true: cremation jewelry is not a fit for an Orthodox family, and we would rather tell you that than sell you something your priest would ask you to bury. What the Church gives instead is a whole rhythm of remembering. The third, ninth, and fortieth day memorials, the yearly Panikhida, the name on the list you hand to the priest before Liturgy, the koliva shared afterward, the grave you tend on Soul Saturday: these are how Orthodox Christians keep their dead close, and none of it depends on an urn.

If you want something to carry as well, there are keepsakes that honor both your loved one and the Church's teaching. A cross or pendant laser engraved with a name, a date, or a few words from the funeral hymns is worn by Orthodox Christians every day. A keepsake locket can hold a lock of hair or a photograph rather than ashes. A candle, an icon of their patron saint, or a tree planted in their memory works the same quiet way. If you are unsure whether a keepsake is appropriate, ask your priest.

And if the cremation has already happened, and the ashes are already in an urn on a shelf, there is no need for shame. Bury them with the hymn "Holy God," ask for the fortieth day memorial, and let the ordinary prayers of the Church do their steady work. There is no right or wrong way to carry a loss. There is only the way you find, and the Church walking beside you in it.

Sources

  1. Regarding Suicides and Cremation, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
  2. Guidelines for Clergy, Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, 2023
  3. Cremation, Questions and Answers, Orthodox Church in America
  4. Cremation [2], Questions and Answers, Orthodox Church in America
  5. On the Christian Burial of the Dead (full text), Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2015
  6. On the Question of Incineration of Bodies of the Departed in Crematoria, Sobor of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, 1956 (ROCOR Studies, 2017)
  7. Holy Synod of the Church of Greece: Dead bodies are not garbage, Orthodox Times, 2019
  8. Orthodox Church of Greece warns that those who choose cremation would not benefit from Church's funeral service, Neos Kosmos, 2019
  9. Church of Greece Says Will Deny Funeral Services to the Cremated, Greek Reporter, 2019
  10. Sacramental Guidelines, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Salt Lake City (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)
  11. Orthodox Christian Beliefs on Cremation, St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Monroeville
  12. A Few Brief Comments on the Funeral Rites for Orthodox Christians, Fr. Dustin Lyon, OrthoChristian
  13. Funerals and Memorial Services, St. Tikhon Orthodox Church, Chattanooga
  14. Industry Statistical Information, Cremation Association of North America, 2025
  15. Orthodox Christians, Religious Landscape Study, Pew Research Center, 2025

This page is educational and reflects official positions as published by the tradition at the time of the update. Individual parishes, congregations, and clergy may hold stricter or more permissive views. When in doubt, ask your priest, pastor, rabbi, or congregation leader.