Church of Greece forbids services for the cremated

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece has instructed its priests not to conduct funeral or memorial services for people who have chosen to be cremated after their death.

“The incineration of the body is not in keeping with the practice and tradition of the Church for theological, canonical and anthropological reasons,” the Synod said in a statement.

Greece has no cremation facilities though the practice has been legal since 2006. Earlier this year, the Church objected to the creation of crematoria at parish cemeteries in a potential setback to efforts by local authorities in Athens and Thessaloniki to facilitate the practice.