A. From the
earliest of times, nomadic people were buried where they died. Some were
fortunate enough to be carried to a designated cave or burial spot (like Joseph,
Sarah, & Abraham) to be interred in a memorable or memorial spot, so to
speak.
As actual
designated cemeteries came into being, this land was blessed and "set
apart" solely for that purpose. It was a holy spot and a place where one
could go and commune with the dead. There is still a prayer service used when
consecrating land for a cemetery. Although it might be preferable - and even
comforting - to be buried in an Orthodox or parish cemetery, in all actuality,
any cemetery would be fine to be buried in as long as the priest prays and
blesses the spot during the internment process - thus consecrating that ground.
Interestingly,
I actually just moved a body of a woman buried three years ago in a city
cemetery and re-interred here on a private piece of land that she and her
husband loved. A very idyllic place with a waterfall and creek near the site.
The husband did have to go through all sorts of paperwork to accomplish this,
but that piece of property into which I buried his wife is now consecrated land
and reserved for that purpose.
Fr. John
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