www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Kissing of the resposed at funerals

Bless, Father Silouan,

Mt. Athos has interesting burial rites for its monks, as I understand.

Met. Ilarion Ohienko in his book on Orthodox Canonization says the reposed Athonite monk is buried in a shallow grave at first.

After three years, his relics are uncovered and examined.

If they have turned black, this means that the monk was a sinner and that prayer must be made for his soul in earnest.

If they have not, or are incorrupt, the relics are laid out as the living monks pray before them.

If miracles or signs result, the monk is locally canonized.

But they do remove the head of the reposed monk and these skulls are placed on racks etc.

The Kyivan Caves Lavra has a collection of Myrrh-bearing skulls of unknown Saints - 61 in all.

Alex

Dear Tammy,

So you've kissed many cold men in your time too?

I'm sure those deadbeats weren't that cold afterward . . .

Alex

Dear Paul,

Funerals always bring me to tears in more ways than one!

Alex

Dear Alex,

I can understand why you are squeamish about kissing the deceased.

This practice is not required. Don't let anyone or any custom pressure you into something you are not comfortable doing.

Maybe you could kiss the casket? Again this is not required.

Praying for the repose of your loved one's soul is the ultimate act of love for them.

Christ's Peace,

Paul

I am somewhat perplexed that some posters have made remarks such as "eew." If we're eastern Christians, we have been taught that our bodies are icons, and we kiss icons, don't we? The body of a deceased Christian is not garbage, but is holy, and should be reverenced. So many today take this fear of the dead to extremes. My uncle thinks it's disgusting just to look at a body in a casket.

Dear OD,

I would never say "eew!" I think it is effeminate, for one thing.

But I'm still sqeamish about kissing the dead.

That is why I also refuse to hug defeated politicians . . .

I have no problem kissing relics of Saints, wearing them around my neck and the like.

There was a time in my life when I could not eat at church suppers following the Liturgy after I gazed upon an icon of Christ on the Cross.

That would make me upset and bring me to tears so much so that I couldn't eat afterwards.

Perhaps I'm just weird?

(Don't feel the need to respond to that if you are busy . . .)

Alex

Don't forget, Old Testament Jews were forbidden to even TOUCH the dead. Doing so made them unclean. (Being a mortician back then must have been a living hell. :rolleyes: ) So it's probably a Protestant sensibility that has permeated our culture (since they like to call on OT traditions when it suits them). I don't pretend to be so set apart from the world that I'm not influenced by it!

Tammy

Alex,

I don't think that's weird at all! I think it is very beautiful that looking at a representation of Our Lord's suffering would affect you that deeply!

Tammy

Alex, some advice from one Orthodox Catholic to another-- never apply for a job in a nursing home.

I've been a CNA for over two years, and I've helped morticians place corpses in the body bags and so forth. Just yesterday morning, I helped clean the body of a poor old woman who passed away. It bothers some people really bad, but never has me. I'm actually somewhat curious about such things, so I guess that makes me equally weird.

Dear OD,

Yes, I went to the hospital when my Godmother died and saw her lying in her bed lifeless . . .

A horrific scene to say the least . . .

Alex