Funeral service controversy

**Gilrandir** · 03-14-2018, 13:18

Preface.

There are two major Orthodox churches in Ukraine: Ukrainian Orthodox church (of Kyiv Patriarchy) and Ukrainian Orthodox church (of Moscow Patriarchy). The former is not recognized by other Orthodox churches and thus is considered uncanonical and (by Russian Orthodox church and by Ukrainian Orthodox church of Moscow Patriarchy) heretic/schismatic. But many people who are not very ardent believers just go to the nearest church (when they have a mind to) being very often unaware to what Orthodox confession it belongs.

The event.

About a month ago in Zaporizhya a young man went out of the door of a high rise building with a baby carriage in which he was taking his two-year-old son (baptized in the church of Kyiv patriarchy) for a walk. Unfortunately, a suicide hurtled down from on high and fell straight on the carriage killing not only himself but the baby as well.

The parents invited a priest from the nearest church (where his older sister had been baptized) to perform the funeral service over the baby. The priest of Moscow patriarchy came and after learning that the child had being baptized in "the schismatic church" he refused to perform the service. In vain did the distraught parent entreat him to do it. They had to stop the funeral to fetch the priest of Kyiv Orthodox church. Later when the Moscow church bishop learned about it he approved his subordinate's behavior. Many people were indignant at that and started bringing baby toys to the church where the priest works.

So my question is: was the priest right in refusing to perform the service over a "pagan/schismatic" or should his Christian feelings have prevailed over his loyalty to canons?

**Sarmatian** · 03-14-2018, 15:55

The sad thing about that is baby dying.

I will refrain from expressing my personal opinion about organized religion and its institutions, as I would have to use the language I find distasteful.

**rory_20_uk** · 03-14-2018, 16:30

My signature covers this.

**Husar** · 03-14-2018, 22:27

In Russia, God doesn't love all babies?

A perfect example for how suicide also hurts others though...

**Montmorency** · 03-14-2018, 22:58

Not sure what to say.

Not gonna link it, but there is a vid/gif of an Eastern European couple hanging around by an apartment tower with a bottle of wine, when a man slams into the pavement with the upper half of his body on fire. The woman flees immediately. The man makes to bolt, but then runs back to grab the wine as the body continues to burn.