Open Casket Traditions: How Christian Denominations Differ

Families are sometimes surprised to learn how much open-casket practice differs among Christian traditions. Practices vary by community, parish, and family. This article gives general guidance. Families should ask their own priest or pastor what applies.

Is an open casket required in Christian funerals?

It depends on the tradition. For Orthodox Christians it is the expected practice. For Catholics and most Protestants it is a matter of custom and family choice.

• Orthodox: pastoral guidance from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s 2020 Yearbook, as quoted by the Orthodox Christian Network, says the tradition of the Orthodox Church is that a casket be open at a funeral service, to honor the remains and to confirm the finality of death. A diocesan guide says that, according to Orthodox practice, the coffin stays open until the “Last Kiss” at the end of the service.
• Catholic: the Church prefers that the body be present for the funeral rites, according to the U.S. bishops, but they do not say the casket must be open. FuneralWise says the casket may be open or closed at the vigil, and that at the Funeral Mass it is covered with a pall, a reminder of baptism. See Funeral Mass vs. Memorial Service.
• Protestant: open or closed depends on the family’s decision, according to Everloved, which notes that Protestant funerals generally have fewer fixed parts than Catholic ones.

Why is open casket viewing more common in some communities than others?

Mostly history and local custom. The historian Gary Laderman traces American funeral rituals to the Civil War, which left so many Americans with dead relatives who needed to be recovered, viewed, and given a proper burial, and to the embalming techniques that developed during and after it. That history helps explain why viewing a prepared body is common in many American communities, whatever their denomination. Two families from the same denomination but different regions or backgrounds may have very different expectations.

An open casket usually means the body has been embalmed and prepared, according to Everloved, but most states do not require embalming, according to the Federal Trade Commission as reported by FOX stations. See Embalming: What It Is and Whether It’s Required.

What is Orthodox Christian practice specifically?

The casket is placed facing east with the feet toward the altar, according to a Greek Orthodox parish in Pittsburgh, which says an open casket allows mourners to view the deceased, pay last respects, and give a farewell kiss, the “last kiss.” After the service each mourner passes by the casket. A diocesan guide says the immediate family are the final ones to offer the last kiss, and a Greek Orthodox parish in California says the casket is normally open during services at the mortuary and the church and closed for the graveside Trisagion.

Exceptions exist. One Orthodox parish bulletin says funerals are always conducted with an open casket, except when there is a possible health hazard from a contagious disease or decomposition, or total mutilation. Practices vary by parish and jurisdiction (Greek, Russian, Antiochian, and others), so talk directly with an Orthodox priest.

What if I don’t want an open casket for religious reasons?

For Catholics and most Protestants, choosing a closed casket, a private viewing for immediate family only, or no viewing doesn’t conflict with a family’s faith, because it is a custom and not a requirement. If extended family or community expectations feel like pressure, it can help to know that.

For an Orthodox family, speak with your priest first. Because open is the tradition, a closed casket is a decision to discuss with him, and he can explain what is possible in your circumstances.

What should I tell my family?

If you have a preference about an open or closed casket, saying so clearly spares your family from having to guess or default to what they assume the wider community expects.

Add this to your Final Day Plan: your preference for an open or closed casket, and whether you’d want a private viewing for immediate family only. If you’re Orthodox, note that you’ve talked with your priest about it.

Practices vary by community, parish, and family - clergy or a funeral home experienced with a specific tradition can offer more specific guidance.