Mar Thoma Syrian Church okays cremation for clergy
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Pune: Mar Thoma Syrian Church, which claims its 2,000-year-old tradition from St Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, has permitted cremation of bodies of its clergy.The departure from the church’s tradition of burying the dead is due to shortage of space for burials.
A circular issued by the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, having its headquarters at Thiruvalla in Kerala, said that the burial will be permitted only after the final rites service is completed at the church. The mortal remains after the cremation have to be later buried in either the family vault or single vault.
Although cremation of a practising Christian person is not a rare occurrence, this is for the first time that a policy decision on cremation has been taken by a Church authority.
Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre has welcomed the move, stating that the practice of cremation is eco-friendly and it is not against the Church’s doctrines.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Bishop Dabre said, “As per the centuries-old Christian tradition, the dead were buried and not cremated. In 18th and 19th centuries, cremation was banned in the church as it was said to be inconsistent with the Church’s belief in resurrection of the dead. However this view has been changed now and resurrection is perceived as spiritual and not physical. Therefore, now if requested by relatives, the Church permits cremation of bodies of the faithful.”
Bishop Dabre said that in Pune too some Christians were cremated after securing the necessary permission from the Church authorities.
