Publisher's Synopsis
Greek funeral traditions are complex and myriad. All too often Greeks of the Diaspora tend to leave ceremonial details to the elders who know the rituals and have a better understanding of the services of the Greek Orthodox Church. But what happens when the beloved elder passes on? The loss is twofold. The loved one is gone and along with them all the cultural knowledge we took for granted is now also lost. In spite of the promises made to 'one day' sit down and learn the traditions, 'one day' came and went. Within Greek Funeral Traditions you will find the things you need to know about when a funeral is needed to be planned. When to call the Priest and what to do when he comes? When to hold the memorial services? What about organ donation? How to make Kolliva? What if the family wants to prepare the body for burial? These are just some of the questions answered within this book. It offers all the information on Greek Funeral Traditions; some of these traditions are thousands of years old and have been adopted by most cultures. Greeks value life so the preparation to pass through to the next life is taken very seriously. In Greek Funeral Traditions, Nike Azoros not only outlines how to do the traditions but also gives the history of them. It is a good thing to know what to do but it is even better when you know why you are doing them and the historical significance they carry.
