By Olga Sibert
One of the many things that separates Orthodox Christians from other denominations and from the secular world is our burial and funeral services. Readers of this blog will not be surprised to learn that Appalachian customs for burial are incredibly similar to Orthodox ones and have maintained through the generations some of the practices that make both customs unusual for our times.
In the Appalachians a church bell would alert the community to a death. Nowadays most people do not live within church-bell-hearing-range of their local Orthodox parish however it still falls to the priest to notify the community of the death, typically by text or email. In both customs this allows the family and loved ones the ability to focus on preparing the dead for burial instead of gathering funeral invites and notifications.
Men in the Appalachians would stop their work and come assist the family in whatever might be needed. They may need to make a coffin, usually from simple wood or even a hallowed out log. The women would gather and make food for the family much in the same way our modern parish meal trains help those who are grieving a loss.
Preparing the body in both traditions is nearly an identical process since neither community, Appalachian nor Orthodox, embalm their deceased. The body is washed, dressed, and laid out. People work quickly as the process of decay must be kept ahead of. Special precautions are taken to keep the skin from darkening, eyes are held closed, a napkin under the chin prevents the mouth from opening.
In both traditions the arms are folded across the loved one’s chest and often times flowers are placed in their hands. Orthodox will also place an icon or cross in the hand. Very importantly, the body is never left alone. Both Appalachians and Orthodox will stay up all night with the body prior to the service and the funeral. The Orthodox tradition reads through the Psalms all night.
During the service the coffin is left open and there is a finale viewing of the body. In the Orthodox tradition people will bow, prostrate or cross themselves as they approach the body. In the Appalachian tradition a lit candle is waved in a cross formation over the body three times.
The body is then taken to the cemetery where a graveside services occurs. In both traditions a handful of earth is thrown into the grave by attendees as a finale good bye. Songs are sung and prayers are offered. The entire process for both communities is one focused on the eternal nature of the soul, allowing the body to be buried in a natural state, the community gathering together to take care of their own, in never leaving the deceased alone as they make their journey toward the life of the age to come.
Both the Appalachians and the Orthodox will leave trinkets at the graveside after burial. According to Unmaksed History, “In the Southern Appalachians, traditional grave decorations included personal effects, toys, and other items such as shells, rocks, and pottery sherds.” The Orthodox leave an egg on graves on the second Tuesday after Pascha (Easter) to symbolize the resurrection.
Unfortunately, these traditions are archaic in the minds of most 21st century people. Our modern day beloved dead often die alone, their bodies sit in giant refrigerators like a piece of meat until the family and community can be bothered to take a break from their earthly commitments in order to deal with the death. The body is pumped full of chemicals are rarely does the family spend any time at all with the body. Funerals have become a thing of the past as more and more people simply have a professional service take their loved one from the fridge to the furnace.
Grandma or Grandpa can then be conveniently picked up a few days later in a small sack or urn. Perhaps they will be placed on the mantel but often they are kept in a closet, drawer or attic. Once everyone has forgotten, the ashes end up in the trash. Even more disrespectful the ashes are never held on to at all but are instead dumped at the person’s favorite place. They end up in parking lot corners and on Disneyland rides.
We seem to be at once a modern culture obsessed with death and yet unwilling to look it in the face. For the Appalachians and the Orthodox death is ever present in our minds. It is something we see often and deal with lovingly and directly. We are reminded of our own death and we don’t desire to spend eternity on a Disneyland ride but instead we seek the Lord’s mansion in the church triumphant.
Olga Sibert is a 14th generation Southerner born in Appalachia. She is the mother of 7 children. Her line was reunited to Orthodoxy in 2019 when her family was baptized and chrismated. This essay was originally published May 15, 2021, at Eastern Chestnut. You can follow her on X at Southern Chestnut.
Feature photo at top from Bonaventure Cemetery near Savannah, Georiga, via Sharp & Keen.
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