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Document Details : Title: «Burying the Dead is Christian, Burning them is Pagan» Subtitle: The Present Controversy about Cremation in Greece and Greek Orthodox Funeral Rites Author(s): GROEN, Bert Journal: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies Volume: 53 Issue: 3-4 Date: 2001 Pages: 201-218 DOI: 10.2143/JECS.53.3.1052 Abstract : This case study falls into six sections. Firstly, the author looks at the Greek situation with respect to cremation. Secondly, he describes the arguments of the Greek Orthodox Church against cremation. Thirdly, the present-day funeral rites in Greece are examined and, fourthly, the main themes of funeral rites are summarized. Fifthly, the author poses the tentative hypothesis that these main themes do not exclude cremation. Finally, the reaction from the Orthodx leadership to the possible introduction of cremation is briefly discussed. |