Orthodox Burial Resources
A Guidebook
A Christian Ending is a hands-on, step by step manual for the preparation of a body for burial without the assistance of a licensed funeral director.
The book quickly but carefully instructs the reader on how to deal with the local coroner, hospitals, nursing homes and how to organize a group to perform funerals. The step by step instructions for washing, anointing, dressing and transporting a dead body are clear and concise, leaving little for the reader to discover on their own. Several groups have used these instructions alone to successfully prepare bodies for burial and conduct and in-house funeral.
Mark and Elizabeth Barna live in Charleston, South Carolina where Mark serves as an ordained Deacon in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC. They have cared for both of their sets of ailing parents in their home. They have used the techniques described in the book many times for friends, family, and strangers, accepting no payment for their services. In 2011 they were asked to prepare the beloved Archbishop DMITRI of the Diocese of the South (OCA) for burial in Dallas, TX.
You may visit Deacon Mark Barna's website, read his blog, or listen to his podcast to learn more about this important resource.
End-of-Life Forms Packet (August 25, 2022)
Download the End-of-Life Forms packet here:
For My Loved Ones (incl. Texas-specific forms)
Prayers for the Dead
Why we pray for the dead
…when we pray for the living, the very heart of our prayer is for the forgiveness of their sins. Not because we’re aware of some rules which they have broken, but because the forgiveness of sin, the restoration of communion with God, is the source of every good thing, without which nothing can be good or well.
When we pray for those who have died and the forgiveness of their sins, we are asking the same thing, for their communion with God, whether broken or impaired, to be made whole. Of course, we enter mysterious ground in all of this. The Orthodox Church has very little to say in a definitive manner about prayers for the departed. The doctrine of purgatory is a development with Western Catholicism and plays no part in Orthodoxy. Officially, the Church says that our prayers for the departed are “of benefit.” They help.
Some teachers in the Tradition hold that once we die, there is nothing that we can do for ourselves. But these same teachers hold that the prayers of the living do wonderful things for us. Others hold that we can indeed do things for ourselves after death, but also acknowledge the benefit of the prayers of the living.
—Glory to God blog by Fr Stephen Freeman
Prayer resources:
A Prayer for the Orthodox Departed
A Prayer for the Non-Orthodox Departed
Kathisma List (with both Greek and Hebrew numbering of the Psalms)
Psalms Divided into Kathisma Groupings (.pdf file)
Link to free Kathisma Audio Files (Requires free account at Patristic Nectar Publications)
Planning Ahead
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Suggested reading:
“Care at the End of Life: What Orthodox Christianity Has to Teach” by Bishop THOMAS Joseph
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To talk about end-of-life decision-making and not to place centrally the urgent issue of repentance is to miss the target completely.
—Bishop THOMAS Joseph
To the Christian, all of life is preparation for death, our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.
—Deacon Mark Barna
It is important to clearly communicate your wishes to your loved ones.
“Care at the End of Life: What Orthodox Christianity Has to Teach” by Bishop THOMAS Joseph
The resources below are available for purchase at the St. John orthodox church book store.
A Christian Ending: A Handbook for Burial in the Ancient Christian Tradition by Deacon mark Barna.
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters at the End by Atul Gawand.
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Attorney Thomas D. Fortenberry has given an estate planning seminar at St John. He can be reached at:
Silverleaf Legal Group
512-337-7271.
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Practical, and legal preparations must be considered to ease our passing for our loved ones.
Every heartbeat is a gift from God. We need to be prepared at all times. Not taking care of your estate planning and paperwork now will cause unnecessary stress on your loved ones at the worst possible time.
—Deacon Mark
The bookstore at St. John has for sale a packet of Texas-specific legal paperwork and the other recommended paperwork, listed below.
In addition, the Appendix B of Deacon Mark Barna's book are typical Postmortem Legal Forms to help you plan ahead and ensure things go smoothly for your loved ones after you depart this life.
Your paperwork should consist of at least the following forms. Current Texas State forms can be found here.
Medical Power of Attorney Designation of Health Care Agent
Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates
Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (OOH-DNR) Order
Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains
Report of Death
Motor Vehicle Beneficiary Designation and Application for Texas Title and/or Registration
Transfer of Deed on Death
Additional Forms:
Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death
Advanced Directive for Funeral Care—Death-Care Power of Attorney
People to be Notified of My Death
Obituary Information
Important Documents and Locations
Digital Estate
Burial Resources
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Austin Natural Funerals has worked with parishioners of St. John and are familiar with the Orthodox burial practices. They can be reached at:
Austin Natural Funerals
3742 Far West Blvd #104, Austin, TX 78731,
Phone: (512) 851-1236
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The Orthodox Faithful do not currently have their own cemetery in the Austin Area. But rest assured, that wherever you are laid to rest, the Myrrhbearers will attempt to visit your gravesite to pray for your soul once per year through our "Picnics with the Departed" ministry.
There are several area cemeteries that allow Natural Burials. Contact the specific cemetery for pricing and services.
Cemeteries in the area offering Natural Burial options are:
Cedar Park Cemetery—Cedar Park, TX
Located a few blocks from the St John parish, at 101 S Bell Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613. St John is establishing a section for parishioners and family members. For more information, contact Beck Funeral Home.
Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery and Prayer Gardens—Georgetown, TX
Has several plots available for Orthodox Burials - contact the Burial Society if you're interested in committing to this location and would like to go in together with other Orthodox Christians to obtain a discounted cost.
There is a requirement for the Orthodox Area that Monuments be made from White stone, granite or marble.
Baghdad Cemetery—Leander, TX
Located at 400 N Bagdad Rd, Leander, TX 78641.
Liberty Hill Cemetery—Liberty Hill, TX
Located at 16101 State Highway 29 West, Liberty Hill, TX 78642.
Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park—Cedar Park, TX
Located at 115 Northside Lane, Cedar Creek, TX 78612.
Note - there are no traditional monuments allowed here - graves are marked with flat stones - impossible to have an elevated cross here - which may conflict with Orthodox tradition.
NOTE: Cement liners or vaults (additional $1,000) may be required for Natural Burials; however, this may be negotiable based on our Religious needs.
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Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Monastery
Contact Abbess Mother Barbara.
Plots cost $2400.
The physical address is:
17671 Co Rd 4057, Kemp, TX 75143
Distance is nearly 3-hrs from Austin
Phone: (903) 498-4474
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Veterans may be eligible for a low- or no-cost plot, monument, and internment.
The closest VA cemetery is the Texas VA cemetery in Kileen.
Additional information for veteran burial can be found on the VA web site.
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First of all - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CASKET AND A COFFIN?
A coffin is tapered at the shoulder with a removable lid. A casket is rectangular in shape and has a hinged lid.
So there you have it!
In an Orthodox Funeral the casket (or coffin) is placed facing east with the feet toward the altar. Commonly, there is an open casket to allow mourners to view the deceased, pay last respects and give a farewell kiss, also referred to as ”the last kiss”. After the funeral each mourner passes by the casket before exiting the church.
A removable lid is preferable because it allows parishioners to gather all around the departed - but a hinged lid that is secured open can also work.
Plain, wooden caskets are available locally:
St John Orthodox Church
Master’s Trade Woodworking—contact Corey Dawson.
Lockhart, TX
Saint Andrew the First-Called Orthodox Church—contact Father Ignatius Lozano.
Other Handmade Caskets:
North Texas
Cross Crafter—Handmade wooden caskets
Simpsonville, SC
An Orthodox Workshop—Offers pre-build caskets and also caskets that come ready to assemble (approximately 20 minutes to assemble).
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Local Sellers:
Christ the Light Giver Book Store—This is a ministry of St. John Orthodox church. The Book Store sells burial shrouds and can provide assistance purchasing a wooden casket.
Avalon Monuments—A family-owned and operated monument company offering the finest stones available and services related to the creation, delivery and customizing of new or existing stones. Located in Georgetown, Texas.
Riley Gardner Memorial of Austin—Sells stone Orthodox Cross monuments.
Other Sellers:
Renaissance Cast Stone—Sells several types of Orthodox style Monuments.
Teshin Associates and Iconographics—Sells Burial Headbands or Crowns and Prayers of Absolution.
New World Byzantine—sells grave crosses designed and furnished by Andrew Gould and carved by Jonathan Pageau as well as English-language Orthodox burial shrouds, designed by Andrew Gould.
eChurch Supplies—Sells Burial Shrouds printed in Greek.
Newrome Press—sells a beautiful burial shroud printed in English.
Orthodox Coffins—Sells burial Shrouds with Matching Cloth Headbands.
Caregiver Resources
It is important to get your own paperwork filled out for the sake of your family. It is ALSO important to initiate conversations with your loved ones for whom you may be caring in their later days. Here are some conversation starters to determine what your family's wishes are who may not yet have made the necessary plans.
Conversation starter guide for caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's or Dementia