Memorial Garden

As Orthodox Christians, it is important that we pray for the dead. We pray that the memories of our departed be eternal in the mind of God. In our efforts to keep the memories of our departed parishioners alive and well, the St Joanna Myrrhbearers provide opportunities each quarter to “picnic with the departed” at their gravesides. On a rotating basis we visit the graves of each parishioner to offer prayers, tend and beautify their graves, share photos and exchange memories.

However, sometimes the grave of a departed St John parishioner or a parishioner’s immediate family member (Orthodox or not) is not available to us either because of distance or inaccessibility. Such instances are:

  1. departed parishioners whose graves we cannot directly pray over;

  2. parishioners' unborn babies—too often, the life of an unborn is lost and grieving parents need a physical place in which to acknowledge and remember that precious life; and

  3. specific non-Orthodox family members (see the FAQs, below).

For such cases, there is a Memorial Garden on the grounds of St John.

St John has made available for purchase by family members customized, small, engraved, stone markers in memory of the departed whose graves we cannot directly pray over.  (Click here to request specific information on purchasing a marker). In addition, the Garden provides a place to gather and “picnic” together, to honor and remember our loved ones. It is our humble hope that this garden will tend to the hearts of the bereaved, as well as to the memories of the departed.

 

FAQs

  • The Garden is cared for by members of the Myrrhbearer Ministry.

  • The stone memorial markers are for three groups of people:

    1) A parishioner’s child who departed this life before birth for any reason.

    2) Parishioners of St John who:

    —Are buried more than 100 miles from St John; or

    —Have no gravesite (including those who departed before birth, or for any other reason); or

    —Are in a cemetery or a plot that has been lost to time.

    3) Immediate family members (see list below) of parishioners of St John (Orthodox or non-Orthodox) who:

    —Are buried outside the state of Texas; or

    —Have no gravesite (including those who departed before birth, or for any other reason); or

    —Are in a cemetery or a plot that has been lost to time.

    NOTE: “Immediate family members” is defined as:

    **Children / step-children / children-in-law;

    **Siblings/ step-siblings / siblings-in-law;

    **Parents / step-parents / parents-in-law; and

    **Grandparents / step-grandparents / grandparents-in-law.

  • If the reposed has family who attend St John, then the family must contact the Myrrhbearer ministry to discuss including a stone in the Memorial Garden. If the criteria for inclusion are met, then the family is responsible for purchasing the stone.

  • Yes. For uniformity and space considerations, the Myrrhbearer ministry can provide you with the name of one or more acceptable vendors. The family must ensure the memorial stone is pre-approved by the Myrrhbearer ministry.

    Contact the Myrrhbearer ministry at:

    myrrhbearers(at)the forerunner.org

  • The cost may range from approximately $40.

  • The Myrrhbearer ministry will purchase the stone.

  • If the reposed parishioner has family members attending St John, the family is responsible for replacing the stone. If there are no remaining family members, the Myrrhbearer ministry will ensure the stone is replaced. The Myrrhbearer ministry is responsible for all other upkeep of the Memorial Garden.

  • Yes. Real flowers only, please, and no other items. The memorial stones will be small, so the flowers would be proportional. Every week or so, the garden caretakers will remove flowers that are no longer alive.