Wake in the Sanctuary area

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moedom

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The church that my wife works at allows the waking (with open coffin) in the sanctuary. This is the first time I have ever seen this. I am in Canada so the norm maybe different here. If this is not acceptable can you tell where to get this information to back it up?
:blessyou:
Moe
 
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moedom:
The church that my wife works at allows the waking (with open coffin) in the sanctuary. This is the first time I have ever seen this. I am in Canada so the norm maybe different here. If this is not acceptable can you tell where to get this information to back it up?
:blessyou:
Moe
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By “in the sanctuary” do you mean the area that is/would-be-if-there-was-one behind the altar rail? Or do you just mean in the main body of the church?
 
There is no altar rail. It is at the foot of a raise platform where the altar is on.
 
In our church, the casket is placed at the foot of the altar steps; at the edge of the sanctuary. However, for a priest the casket is put just in front of the altar.

Don’t know whether this is a rule or just custom.
 
This is actually an old custom from the time before embalming the body was required.

Often, the body was left in the house until the casket was complete and then the body was transferred to the casket and then carried to the church and left there.

In many areas, a male family member or the parish deacon remained with the body reading from the Psalms, until the time of the funeral.

Hope this helps…
 
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