Funeral

Today we attended a funeral.  Our Elder's Quorum President passed away unexpectedly at age 45.  I was able to assist our branch president in planning the funeral since I have, unfortunately, WAY too much experience planning funerals.  Russian tradition - mostly from the Orthodox Church is interesting.  Here's a little info...

Their tradition includes a celebration which is called the panikhida that happens on the ninth day of the deceased. It is believed that on the ninth day, the soul has reached God’s Throne. Aside from this, it also marks the start of the period weighing up the sins and virtues of the departed until the fortieth day according to St. Basil the New and the Blessed Theordora. On the last day or fortieth day, it is taught that this is the time when the soul receives the conditional judgement which remains in place until the Great Day of Judgement at the end of time. Hence, the Church traditionally celebrates another panikhida for the soul’s repose of the departed beseeching God to be merciful and give the departed a place of spiritual comfort in God’s presence.

The family usually has a little clelebration on the ninth day and the fortieth day as well as on the anniversary of the death.  The body is usuualy buried on the third day after death.  It is taken to thepersons home - which today was his apartment - and mourners visit.  then the body is carried outside and people file past to pay respects.  The body is lifted into the vehicle - in thios case a bus with a large door in the back - and driven to the cemetery.  The mourners came behind in a rented bus and a few cars.  When we got to the cemetery the body was placed outside the bus and the funeral services were held there.  Those were done in this case in traditional LDS fashion - opening song and prayer, a eulogy by a friend, a brief optimistic talk on the plan of salvation - (where we go after death) and then another talk by one of our church leaders offering comfort and hope and then a closing song and prayer.

Mourners then said goodbye again and the coffin lid was nailed on - with a hammer and nails - and the casket them taken and lowered into the grave.  Mourners then threw dirt on the casket and the workers proceeded to shovel the rest of the dirt over the casket.  Flowers were put all over the top of the dirt and a little metal fence was placed around it all.  Then the son, who is a priesthood holder and a member of our church, dedicated the grave as a final resting place until the resurrection.  The son is 20 years old and one of our students - a great guy.

After the service the mourners go to a restuarant and everyone eats and share stories - and those so inclined drink vodka.  

Another one of our students - Katya - who I don't think has every been to a funeral before -sort of hung back from all the viewing of the body stuff but was very kind to the son.  It was wonderful to see the students support the son since his father's death.

Katya drew this picture of us on the bus ride home.