The Russian opponent, who died in prison on February 16th, was buried in Moscow this Friday according to Orthodox tradition. Despite Kremlin warnings against “unauthorized” demonstrations, a crowd gathered to pay tribute.
Alexei Navalny was buried in Moscow this Friday, March 1st. Thousands of people gathered to remember the Russian enemy who died in an isolated detention center in the Arctic on February 16.
In the images of the ceremony we see in particular the coffin open during his religious funeral in the church in the Marino district, southeast of the Russian capital. A practice that is part of the Orthodox tradition.
The question of cremation
According to customs, Orthodox churches place the resurrection at the center of the funeral of the deceased. The body of the latter therefore occupies an important position at this moment. In this regard, as reported on the website of the Russian Church in France, “the cremation of corpses is not part of the traditions.”
Basically an illegal practice, but it is being used more and more frequently. “The Soviet era turned it into a tool to combat religion” and today it accounts for more than 60% of funerals, a solution to the lack of space in cemeteries and the high cost of ceremonies.
Open casket until burial
During the funeral, the coffin remains open, a translation of the “supernatural presence of the deceased among his relatives and friends,” according to the obsèques-infos website.
The deceased's arms are crossed on his chest, his personal icon is in his hands, and his forehead is surrounded by a headband on which a prayer is written. From the pictures we can see that this was indeed the case with Alexei Navalny.
Even in countries with Orthodox culture, the body is transported to church with an open coffin. “This practice is not tolerated in France,” specifies the funeral center in the metropolis of Lyon.
After the ceremony, the coffin can remain open until the funeral, as was the case with Alexei Navalny. It was then closed before being buried. At that moment, “the family and loved ones are symbolically invited to throw a handful of earth on the coffin and kiss the cross that the priest is holding.”