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Greece

Greek Government Gives Green Light to Cremation Facility in Athens

After years of delays following opposition from the Greek Orthodox Church, Environment and Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis signed a decision last week paving the way for the construction of Greece's first cremation facility. The facility will be in the area...

Cyprus Parliament Approves Cremation Bill

The Cyprus House plenary unanimously approved a bill allowing the cremation of the dead. Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs Yiannos Lamaris said that the law concerns a matter which is not easy to discuss, given the conservative...

Cremation Is Now Legal in Greece

Cremation of the dead is now legal in Greece, despite strong opposition from the Orthodox Church. The law on cremation was officially published in Monday's Government Gazette. The Church of Greece prohibits cremation. However, the bill that was passed in...

Greek Church Condemns Cremation

The Greek Orthodox Church believes that the body, as the "temple of the spirit," must be buried whole to make resurrection possible. This is why Greek religious authorities, in spite of the severe problem of space, condemn any plans...

Environment Minister Signs the OK for Cremation Facilities in Greece

Minister of Environment and Energy Panos Skourletis signed an amendment that opens the way for the establishment of cremation facilities in Greece. The new amendment puts an end to environmental concerns that were a hurdle to the licensing of cremation...

Shortage of Grave Plots Revives Cremation Controversy in Greece

The shortage of space in graveyards along with burial costs bring back the controversial issue of cremation in Greece. At the moment, graveyards in Greece's capital and second largest city, Thessaloniki, are overcrowded to the point where a burial is...

Cremation with a Simple Written Statement

The Greek government gave the green light for the opening of cremation centers, with an amendment to the Environment Ministry bill. The regulations, signed by Interior Minister Argyris Dinopoulos, Development Minister Nikos Dendias, Health Minister Makis Voridis and Environment Minister Yiannis Maniatis,...

Mayors Appeal for Cremation Facilities Accepted

The Mayor of Athens Giorgos Kaminis and the Mayor of Thessaloniki Yiannis Boutaris, expressed on Wednesday their support to SYRIZA's proposal for the creation of cremation facilities. Kaminis and Boutaris with an announcement issued by the Municipality of Thessaloniki and signed by...

Ancient Greek Site Where Men were Buried with their Horses to be Restored

The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni vowed to restore the ancient burial site of Doxipara located in Evros in northeast Greece which she described as having an "indisputable archaeological and historical value." During her visit to the site on Friday,...

Church of Greece Says Will Deny Funeral Services to the Cremated

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece issued a leaflet on Wednesday, in which it expresses its strong opposition to the practice of cremation as "contrary to the Church's principles, traditions and customs." The leaflet addressed ''To The People''...

Greek Orthodox Clerics Refuse Burial Services for Cremated Individuals

The Orthodox Metropolis of Thiva and Livadia in central Greece earlier this week denounced  cremation and threatened to refuse burial services for those opting for the practice. According to press release by the Metropolis, "it is unthinkable for conscious Orthodox...

Greeks Increasingly Turning to Cemeteries to Memorialize Beloved Pets

The death of a pet or a domestic animal which its owner has loved for many years is, for many, an extremely painful experience. For some, it can be as difficult as losing a beloved relative or friend. For the...

First Crematorium Opens in Greece

Thirteen years after the practice of cremation was legalized in Greece, the country’s first such facility has recently opened in Ritsona north of Athens, and has already carried out 15 cremations. Built by a private company at a cost of...

First Incinerator in Greece Opens 13 Years after Bill Passed

In a matter of days, Greece's first incinerator will start operating in Ritsona, 13 years after the pertinent bill passed in parliament. The private facility is located in Ritsona, about 70 km from Athens. "Cremation of the dead is widespread in...

Greek Parliament Approves Construction of Athens Crematorium

The Greek Parliament has approved a bill which paves the way for the construction of a crematorium in Eleonas, near Athens. The bill gives the green light to the Municipality of Athens to construct the crematorium at a plot of...