Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox practice requires ground burial — cremation is not permitted. The Trisagion (a brief prayer service) is held the evening before the funeral. The funeral itself takes place at the parish church with an open casket. The body is buried facing east.
Traditional burial with viewing
Fair total range nationally: $8,000–$12,000
This is the service type most families in this tradition choose. You can refine with the four-question decision guide if you want to weigh budget or other preferences.
Call your parish priest before the funeral home. The priest coordinates both the Trisagion (typically the evening before, often at the funeral home or church) and the funeral itself. Greek, Russian, Antiochian, OCA, and Serbian Orthodox parishes all follow broadly similar practice — your priest will guide the specifics.
Cheat sheet for the arrangement meeting
Print this. Bring it. The questions and decline scripts at the top are tailored to eastern orthodox practice; the rest is the standard FTC-rights guidance every family should know.
Arrangement meeting cheat sheet — Eastern Orthodox
honestfuneral.coBring this. Refer to it openly. The funeral director will see you brought it — that alone changes the meeting.
- Do you have experience with Orthodox funerals? Have you worked with our parish before?
- Will you transport the body for both the Trisagion (night before) and the funeral?
- Can the casket be left open through the entire funeral service per Orthodox custom?
Community: Call your parish priest before the funeral home. The priest coordinates both the Trisagion (typically the evening before, often at the funeral home or church) and the funeral itself. Greek, Russian, Antiochian, OCA, and Serbian Orthodox parishes all follow broadly similar practice — your priest will guide the specifics.
- Embalming (in most US states)
- Buying their casket — bring your own from any vendor
- Buying a vault more expensive than the cemetery requires
- Paying a “handling fee” on a third-party casket
- Casket (300–500% markup)
- Embalming (often unnecessary)
- Burial vault / grave liner
| Basic services fee | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Embalming | $700–$900 |
| Transfer of remains | $200–$350 |
| Death certificates (each) | $10–$25 |
| Casket — 18-gauge metal | $900–$1,400 |
| Casket — wood | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Grave liner / burial vault | $700–$1,200 |
| Headstone / marker | $800–$2,000 |
| Flowers (through funeral home) | $300–$600 |
- Can I see your itemized General Price List before we begin?
- What is your basic services fee, and what exactly does it cover?
- Will you accept a casket I purchase from another vendor at no extra fee?
- Is embalming required for the type of service I want?
- What is the total all-in cost in writing, with every fee included?
- Cremation: “Cremation is not permitted in our tradition. We need ground burial only.”
- Chapel facility for the funeral: “The funeral will be at our parish church — please remove any chapel fees.”
- Premium / 'protective' caskets: “We've decided on a simpler casket. We're not interested in the protective seal — we know it doesn't extend preservation in any meaningful way.”
- Embalming: “We're not having embalming. We understand it isn't legally required for the service we're planning.”
- Memorial package upgrades: “We're going to handle the programs, flowers, and obituary ourselves. Please leave those off the bill.”
These ranges are US national averages adjusted for your region. Your local funeral director may quote different numbers — push back politely and ask why. Faith-specific guidance comes from common American practice; consult your clergy for community-specific customs.