FUNNERAL
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Psalm 23:1-3
All rites and rituals must be carried out according to the Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church and are subject to the approval of the Pastor. Families can make necessary arrangements with the funeral home of their choice. However, it is recommended that the Pastor be present when arrangements are being made in order to expedite the process and avoid possible confusion. The Pastor may be contacted at the church office or on his cell phone (847-644-7389) in case of emergencies.
According to Canon Law, no funeral may take place on Saturday afternoons after 3:00 PM or on Sundays. Again, all efforts should be made to contact the Pastor before any arrangements are made.
The ritual of burial is divided into three sections:
Home Service/Wake – Dan Gark
Church Service – Yegeghetsvo Gark
Graveside Service – Kerezmanee Gark
Home Service shall be performed on the night preceding the funeral at the funeral home or at church. Church Service may never be performed at the funeral home or anywhere else outside of the church.
No compatriotic, fraternal or any other organization may perform services at the church during either Home Service or Church Service or at the Graveside Service. Instead, such organizations should perform services at the funeral home or the memorial meal (Hokejash).
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It is recommended that a brief biography of the deceased be provided to the Pastor at least one day prior to the funeral.
In the case of cremation and/or suicide, the Pastor must be informed prior to making funeral arrangements. As such situations are outside the Canons of the Armenian Apostolic Church, special instructions must be received by the Pastor from the ecclesiastical authority (i.e., the Primate).