Archpriest Ovcharenko explained whether cremation threatens consequences for the soul of the deceasedtranslated

Cremation of a deceased person does not determine the posthumous fate of his soul, although traditional burial in the ground remains preferable from a Christian point of view. This explanation was given by priest Alexander Ovcharenko, touching on the issue of the church’s attitude to various methods of burial. According to him, what matters much more is the spiritual life of a person before death, and not what subsequently happens to his body.

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The question of the admissibility of cremation arises, among other things, in situations where there are not enough free plots in cemeteries or emergency circumstances, such as fires, interfere with the usual burial procedure. In such cases, relatives do not always have the opportunity to organize a traditional burial. However, choosing a different method of burial does not mean that the soul of the deceased is deprived of immortality.

Ovcharenko explained that Christian tradition presupposes respect for the human body, so burial in the ground is considered the most suitable option. At the same time, the archpriest emphasized that the eternal fate of a person does not depend on the way his remains are treated. For the most…