A funeral service in Russia is different from other contemporary funeral services in three main ways:
The casket is open, and the priest and congregation will make physical contact with the deceased.
The priest stands at the head of the casket, facing away from the people and towards the sanctuary, rarely addressing the congregation directly during the service.
Very little is said about the life of the departed one; instead, various prayers are read and hymns sung, expressing belief about death and hope for the dearly departed.
Preparing the body
The first step in the funeral tradition is preparing the body, which includes washing and clothing the body. Family and close friends perform this act with a priest present. For fear of waking the newly dead, mourning does not begin during the washing or dressing. It is also believed that inappropriate funeral etiquette can also wake the dead.
The body is dressed in all white in handmade clothing left slightly unfinished because it belongs not in this world but the “other world.” The body must also wear a belt during the burial because the deceased will need it when he or she is resurrected during the Last Judgment. Belts establish an individual’s private space and indicate that he or she is a member of society and protect the wearer from "dark forces".
Once the body is bathed and dressed, it is ready to be placed in the casket. The priest will sprinkle holy water on all four sides of the casket and then the body will be placed inside. The casket, sometimes referred to as the “new living room,” is very comfortable, made like a bed with a pillow stuffed with birch bark or wood shavings. Mourners may place objects in the casket that the deceased might need after death such as money, food and favorite belongings,
Viewing, wake, aka visitation.
Once the body has been properly cleansed and prepared, the priest will then begin the First Panikhida, a prayer service for the deceased. This marks the beginning of the wake. The wake will continue until the body is brought to the church for the funeral service. The wake will last three days, with family and friends watching over the deceased around the clock. During the wake, the Psalter (Book of Psalms) is read aloud and Panikhidas (prayer services) are performed.