CREMATION
Published by deviousdiva March 3rd, 2006 in Personal.I wrote a while back about the issue of religious intolerance and freedom in Greece. Finally, a law has been passed to allow cremation to take place. However, the law only applies to people whose religion allows it. Orthodox Christians will not be able to request cremation because the Church of Greece says that their traditions only allows for burial. The law is good news for people who previously had to send the deceased loved ones abroad for cremation. At the moment there are no cremation facilities in Greece but I assume arrangements will be made to build them.
From Kathimerini
Lawmakers yesterday approved legislation allowing for the cremation of the dead to take place in Greece for the first time in country’s history.
The law permits the cremation of people who request this method instead of burial as long as their religion also allows it. The law still forbids the act for Orthodox Christians. The Church of Greece opposes cremation for believers, arguing that Orthodox traditions only allow for burial.
The previous law also banned cremation for other faiths. This made matters particularly difficult for Muslims in Greece who had to send their dead abroad to be cremated.
Leftist opposition parties described yesterday’s measure as “weak,” saying the law should give everyone the right to cremation. Relatives — up to fourth removed — can request a cremation for the deceased. If there is a disagreement among family members then the matter will be settled by a prosecutor.
The necessary cremation facilities, which currently do not exist in Greece, will be overseen by local municipalities.
Please note that Muslims do not cremate their dead as is suggested in the Kathimerini article
See also International Herald Tribune
Well, I guess my religion allows it, since I don’t have a religion. I’ve always maintained my body will go to medical research and then be cremated. Since they don’t have a use for bodies for research here, cremation was still the way I wanted to go. The idea of being buried - and the way they do it here - is not to my liking. And it surprises me that they think cremation is more offensive to the church than an eventual mass buriel.
Still, I am glad it is now legal, however, I still have the hurdle of getting my husband to approve it. He doesn’t like the idea of me being cremated.
Just once I would be so proud if the Greek state finally stood its ground and told the Greek Orthodox Church to BACK OFF!
The Church has too much say and I say enough is enough.
The Church and State should be separated and citizenry should be distinguished from religious belief.
Everyone should have the right to cremation. Just because I was baptized as a Greek Ortthodox when I was 8 months old (!) doesn’t mean I want to be buried as one. I didn’t pop out of the ground, I came out screaming and kicking from my mama. I want to leave this world with more dignity. I don’t think maggot food and taking up valuable earth space is very dignified of me (even as a corpse).
I don’t think the law was a problem for Moslems particularly in Greece as they don’t cremate either to my knowlege. Hindu’s however do but I digress.
I believe cremation to be a personal choice and it should be allowed if thats what the deceased family requires.
Well don’t take everything Kathimerini writes as gospel. Moslems don’t condone cremation so the lack of it in Greece isn’t an issue. A Moslem cemetery might be.
Now I feal better… And I was wondering… Where am I going to be cremated when I die???
Keep up with the good news!
Recently a friend of mine passed away, and we offered her son a cremation urn. It was a perfect white marble vase style urn, and exactly what this woman reflected to us. Many people touched the urn and had a special connection to her through it. She was a good woman, good friend, and a knowledgeable and active member of our mountain side community. I will miss our walks in the morning with my dogs.
We were glad to memorialize our friend through the urn we choose. Cremation urns provide the special opportunity to give a loved one a special resting place just as unique as they were in life.India’s hindus cremate as well, but scatter in the their loved ones cremains in their sacred rivers.For urns for your loved one, to go: Cremation Urns