Author and speaker Frederica Mathewes-Green. Frederica Here and Now – A Christian Ending Podcast on Ancient Faith Radio

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Eastern Christian Books: The Mystery of Death – This book is described in part as “a handbook for burial in the ancient Christian tradition. While aimed at Orthodox Christians, this book would be a very helpful guide to anyone who is interested in preparing for a funeral within the context of community, without the use of corporate funeral homes, and using green and sustainable methods.

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Kim P. in a book review on Amazon.com – A comprehensive book to get one started on developing a plan for providing natural burial services in their community. The first chapters ignited in me a deep desire to have available to my family and to those in my parish community the option for a natural and simple process bathed in prayer when one passes. There is enough information in this little book to get one started in developing a plan to either fully or partially leave out the funeral home industry when a loved one passes. I hope that this becomes a growing movement within the Church.

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SOJOURNER -Reflections of an Eastern Orthodox Christian – “A Christian ending to our lives, painless, blameless and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgment seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.”   (Ancient Prayer)
With the development of the funeral industry, the home parlor was replaced by the professional funeral parlor. Embalming the deceased with formaldehyde became a standard practice. Modern burial frequently embraces a denial of death. As an example of this denial, we can visit large expanses of “lawns” dotted with plastic flowers. The absence of gravestones is striking. It is as though there is no such thing as death.

 

The authors remind us: “There are no federal laws requiring the services of a funeral director, embalming, caskets or coffins, vaults, or liners. Everything needed for a proper Christian burial can be provided by the family and the church community.”

Deacon Mark and Elizabeth are proponents of natural burial in accordance with the ancient, prayer centered, natural tradition. They believe that death is a part of life. “Death care is quite simply the extension and natural progression in completing the cycle of loving Christian care from birth to the grave.” Read More….