There were a few comments about ceremonial burning of a church that I mentioned in a previous post.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada's Policies and Procedures Manual states that church structures are to be disposed of in the most pious and solemn manner possible.
If at all possible they should either be burned, with the ashes buried, or disassembled and buried. A cross, cairn, or other marker should be raised at the place where it stood.
When it is impossible to either burn or disassemble the structure, it should be sold, if at all possible, to another Orthodox, Christian or other religious body, to a service club or to another group which will treat it with due respect.
Thank you for this! I didn't understand the significance (or the need) to burn the building.
ReplyDeleteSo that it does not get used impiously. Like the Bolsheviks would turn old churches into public latrines or gambling houses. Orthodox churches are places that were consecrated for the Eucharist to be served. If it is burned it is safe from being defiled by heathens.
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