# Greek Cypriot funerals in the UK

> Greek Cypriot funerals in the UK follow Greek Orthodox rites: Trisagion prayers, a sung church service with an open coffin and a final farewell kiss, then burial. Families share a meal of consolation, and memorial services with koliva, a dish of boiled wheat, are held on the 40th day, around six months and at one year.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/greek-cypriot-funerals-in-the-uk/ — updated 2026-09-25 — FuneralFinder

Greek Cypriot funerals follow the ancient, sung rites of the Greek Orthodox Church, and they bring together family, church and community. This guide explains the Trisagion, the funeral service, koliva, the memorial services and mourning customs, with practical tips for arranging a funeral in the UK. Families differ in how closely they follow tradition, so always ask.

## Key points

- Greek Cypriot funerals follow **Greek Orthodox** rites: **Trisagion** prayers, a sung church service with an **open coffin** and a **final kiss**.
- **Burial** is the Orthodox tradition. Speak to the priest before considering cremation.
- A meal of consolation, often called **makaria**, follows the burial.
- **Koliva**, blessed boiled wheat, is shared at memorial services.
- Memorials are held on the **40th day**, around **six months** and at **one year**, and often yearly after that.
- Customs vary by village, generation and family.

## What makes Greek Cypriot funerals distinctive

Most Greek Cypriots in the UK are Greek Orthodox, served by churches of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain. The community is especially large in North London. At New Southgate Cemetery, Greek Orthodox families accounted for 53.9% of burials between 2014 and 2018 where a religion was recorded, according to the cemetery's conservation plan. It notes that Greek Cypriot families prefer earth graves in sections alongside other members of their community, often with kerbed memorials and crosses.

In Cyprus, funerals traditionally take place very quickly, often within a day or two. In the UK, registration and church and cemetery availability usually mean a longer wait, which can be hard for families used to the speed of home.

## Before the funeral: the Trisagion

The **Trisagion** ("Thrice-Holy") is a short service of prayers for the person who has died. It is usually sung at the funeral home or church on the evening before the funeral, again on the day, at the graveside and at memorial services. It ends with the words "May your memory be eternal".

The person usually lies in an open coffin, and family and friends come to pay their respects, often lighting a candle or kissing an icon.

## The funeral service

The funeral takes place in church and is sung by the priest and chanters. It includes:

| Part | What happens |
|---|---|
| **Psalm verses and hymns** | Verses from Psalm 118 (119), and funeral hymns by St John of Damascus |
| **Readings** | 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 and John 5:24–30 |
| **Prayers** | Prayers for the forgiveness and rest of the person |
| **Final kiss** | Mourners come forward, while hymns are sung, to offer a last kiss of farewell, often to an icon placed in the coffin |
| **Graveside** | The Trisagion is sung again at the cemetery |

Orthodox services are traditionally sung without instruments. Many mourners hold lit candles during parts of the service. See our [Orthodox funerals guide](/faiths/orthodox/).

## Burial or cremation?

Burial is the Orthodox tradition, rooted in the Church's teaching on the resurrection of the body. If a family is thinking about cremation, they should speak to the priest before making any plans, because it may affect whether a church funeral can take place. See [cremation vs burial](/uk/guides/cremation-vs-burial/).

## Makaria: the meal of consolation

After the burial, family and friends gather for a meal, often called **makaria**, at a restaurant, hall or the family home. Fish is traditional, often with bread, olives, brandy and Cypriot coffee. Many families simply serve coffee and biscuits after church as well.

## Koliva and memorial services

**Koliva** is boiled wheat, usually mixed with ingredients such as sugar, nuts, sesame, raisins and pomegranate seeds, then decorated with icing sugar and a cross. The family brings it to church to be blessed at memorial services and shares it afterwards. The wheat recalls the seed that dies and rises to new life.

| Memorial (*mnimosyno*) | When |
|---|---|
| **Early memorials** | Many families mark the 3rd and 9th days with prayers |
| **40-day memorial** | Usually at the end of the Divine Liturgy around the 40th day; the most important memorial |
| **Six months** | Around six months after the death |
| **One year** | On or near the first anniversary, then often every year |

Many families also remember the dead on the **Saturdays of Souls**, special memorial Saturdays in the Church year.

## Dress and mourning

- **Funeral dress:** black or dark, modest clothes. Some women cover their hair in church.
- **After the funeral:** close family often wear black and avoid celebrations for at least 40 days, and sometimes for a year.
- **Older traditions:** some widows of older generations wore black for many years, sometimes for life. Many younger families today mark mourning more lightly.

Common words of comfort are "Memory eternal" ("Eonia i mnimi") and "Life to you" ("Zoi se sas").

## Grave visits

Families often visit graves regularly, tidy them and may keep a small oil lamp or candle lit. Cemetery rules on lamps, flames, kerbs and photographs vary, so check before you choose a grave or memorial.

## Costs

The main costs are usually:

- a **purchased grave**, often in a Greek Orthodox section, and later a kerbed marble memorial;
- **church fees or donations** for the priest and chanters;
- the **makaria** meal;
- **koliva** and refreshments for each memorial service;
- **repatriation**, if burial is in Cyprus.

In England and Wales, the Funeral Expenses Payment may help with a funeral in Cyprus only in limited circumstances. GOV.UK lists funerals in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland as eligible, but for a funeral outside the UK the rules are narrower and usually depend on your own or your partner's work or residence status, so check with the Bereavement Service before relying on it. See [help paying for a funeral](/uk/guides/help-paying-for-a-funeral/).

## Burial in the UK or in Cyprus?

Many families now bury in the UK, close to children and grandchildren. Others want their loved one buried in their home village. From England or Wales, your funeral director gives notice to the coroner (Form 104), and you shouldn't book flights until permission is given. They will also work with a funeral director in Cyprus. See our [repatriation guide](/uk/guides/repatriation/).

## Practical tips for arranging the funeral in the UK

- **Contact the priest early** to agree dates for the Trisagion, funeral and memorials.
- **Choose a funeral director** experienced with Greek Orthodox funerals, ideally with Greek-speaking staff.
- **Choose a cemetery** with a Greek Orthodox section if that matters to your family, and check its memorial rules.
- **Order koliva** from a family member or a Greek or Cypriot bakery in good time.
- **Offer a livestream** for relatives in Cyprus.

## Next steps

- Find [funeral directors near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/) and [cemeteries](/uk/cemeteries/).
- Read [funeral etiquette](/uk/guides/funeral-etiquette/) and [condolence messages](/uk/guides/condolence-messages/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is koliva?

Koliva is a dish of boiled wheat, usually mixed with ingredients such as sugar, nuts, sesame and pomegranate seeds, and decorated with a cross. The family brings it to church to be blessed at memorial services. Wheat is a symbol of resurrection.

### What is the 40-day memorial?

It is a memorial service held around 40 days after the death, usually at the end of the Divine Liturgy. Family and friends pray for the person, koliva is blessed and shared, and it often marks the end of the most intense period of mourning.

### Can a Greek Orthodox person be cremated?

The Orthodox Church's tradition is burial, because of its teaching on the resurrection of the body. If cremation is being considered, speak to the priest before making any arrangements, as it may affect whether a church funeral can take place.

### What do you say to the family at a Greek Orthodox funeral?

Common phrases are "Memory eternal" ("Eonia i mnimi") and "Life to you" ("Zoi se sas"), a wish of long life for the bereaved. A simple "I'm so sorry" in English is also welcome.

### What is makaria?

Makaria is the meal of consolation after the burial, held at a restaurant, hall or the family home. Fish is traditional, often with bread, olives, brandy and coffee, but families choose what suits them.

### Can we bury our loved one in Cyprus?

Yes. Your funeral director arranges the coroner's permission in England and Wales, embalming, a sealed coffin and the flight, working with a funeral director in Cyprus. See our [repatriation guide](/uk/guides/repatriation/).

## Sources

- [Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America – A Brief Explanation of the Funeral Service (reproduced by the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Atlanta)](https://www.atlgoc.org/explanation-of-funeral)
- [Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain](https://www.thyateira.org.uk/)
- [New Southgate Cemetery – Conservation Management Plan (2019), deposited in Parliament](http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-1093/new_Southgate_Cemetery_-_Conservation_Management_Plan.pdf)
- [GOV.UK – Funeral Expenses Payment: eligibility](https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/eligibility)
- [Central Bedfordshire Council – Moving a body out of England and Wales](https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/coroner-service/repatriation-deceased-moving-body-out-england-and-wales)