Greek Orthodox Beliefs
“Greek Care” states for most Greeks the beliefs, rituals and traditions surrounding death and mourning are founded in the Greek Orthodox religion. For many, following the traditions practiced in their homeland is important.\
For Greek migrants who arrived in Australia as children, knowledge of the traditions may come from early memories of funerals and memorials in their village or town. They may remember vigils in family homes where for 24 hours women would wail funeral dirges over the body of the deceased. Although this ritual is not followed by Greek Australians today, many traditional beliefs and customs remain important. Followers of the Greek Orthodox religion believe in eternal life.
Thus the church strongly emphasises a positive outcome in death – that the deceased is alive with God. While death is the separation of the soul from the body, the physical body will be reunited with the soul at the Last Judgment.