|
||||
|
Cremation |
||||
|
Question: Can you please tell me if people in Ukraine ever get creamated like they do in England. Also, what are your views on this? |
||||
|
Answer:
Very Rev. Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org
I have enquired and the answer is: yes,
some people in Ukraine have had cremations. But it was those who were
non-believers or only nominally Orthodox. Devoted Orthodox would not
normally accept this practice.
There is an important reason for this.
The burning of the body of the deceased conveys the message that the
body is of no importance, or of only secondary importance. The
incarnation of Christ, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension have
clearly proclaimed the good news that our body and our earthly heritage,
identity, history are an integral part of the human being - and in
Christ have been redeemed and transfigured!
Our bodies are not just shells or
containers to be disposed of quickly and cleanly as soon as they are no
longer animated by our soul and/or spirit. The bodies of the Saints
continue to convey healing and blessing for millennia after the
departure of the folks in question from this time/space continuum.
This is indeed a most important point.
Our faith is incarnational and mystical. It is only for pastoral
reasons - not to give further pain to the bereaved family and friends of
one who has departed this world leaving instructions that his or her
body be thus disposed of - that the Orthodox Church nonetheless may
permit a quiet, modest memorial service for the repose of the soul.
There are priests and bishops who will not even do that. One should not
think that that is just because they are mean or old-fashioned.
Following the path of faith is not a popularity contest. It may be
quite painful to these pastors who refuse such a service to do so
knowing that it causes pain to those who are already suffering. (It
certainly does not help their economy, for they thereby give up the
honorarium that is customarily given to them for their services).
I hope this answer does not offend - I do
not intend to offend anyone, and personally have, no doubt erred, on the
side of leniency for fear of erring on the side of stringency in dealing
with such situations. I would call upon everyone considering cremation
to ponder long and hard upon the good news that our body is just as
holy, precious and immortal (through the Lord's resurrection and
ascension) as is our soul and/or spirit. A thorough-going conviction
about this will have a beneficial effect not only upon how we view death
but also upon how we view our daily lives.
|
||||
|
Ukrainian Orthodoxy |
||||
