Author Topic: First crematorium in Greece  (Read 4971 times)

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Offline Maik

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First crematorium in Greece
« on: Saturday, 12 October, 2019 @ 16:50:58 »
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First crematorium opens in Greece over Church objections

Greece has acquired its first crematorium, organisers said Thursday, capping decades of efforts blocked by the powerful Greek Orthodox Church, which believes cremation disrespects the human body.

Built by a private company at a cost of over four million euros ($4.4 million), it came about after years of fruitless efforts by municipal authorities to create a similar space, including in the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki.

Cremation has been legal in Greece since 2006, but could not be carried out owing to the vehement objection of the Orthodox Church, despite a severe shortage of burial space at cemeteries across the country.

In 2012, a local bishop blocked plans to build a crematorium in the rural town of Markopoulo outside Athens.

In 2014, the Church formally banned religious rites for those who chose cremations.
https://www.france24.com/en/20191010-first-crematorium-opens-in-greece-over-church-objections