Why are coffins carried in and out of church/chapel feet first?

Question

As a buddhist this does not bother me so much, but a number of my nieghbours are approaching the time they make this journey and it seems to concern them. All they want to know is why?

Answer 1

I did extensive research on this. I know for a fact that this is a christian tradition. Even in the layout of your bedroom. It's a superstitious belief that you shouldn't face the foot of the bed towards the door.

HTC: Death, Funeral, Requiem -- Orthodox Christian Traditions, Customs and Practice
Why Funeral Planning is Important. It helps give meaning to a person's life; ... placed in a coffin, is carried -- feet first -- into the church for the burial ...www.holy-trinity.org/liturgics/sokolov-death.html -


HTC: Death, Funeral, Requiem -- Orthodox Christian Traditions ...
Then the coffin is closed and carried out from the church to the hearse. ... at the feet of the buried Christian, so that he will be facing the Crucifix. ...
www.holy-trinity.org/liturgics/sokolov-death

The following is from a Catholic Encyclopedia on Christian burials:

The medieval liturgists apparenty know no exception to the rule that both before the altar and in the grave, the feet of the christian should be pointed to the EAST. This custom is found alluded to by Bishop Hilbert at the beginning of the 12 century(Pl CLXXI896.Its symbolism is discussed by Durandus,"a man ought to be buried", he says , as he lays with his HEAD towards the WEST and his FEET are turned to the EAST. For thus he prays , as it were by his very position and suggests that he is ready to hasten from the West to the East.(Ration Div Off VII 35).

It is possible that some imitation of this practice in Dalmatia or Southern Italy may have indirectly seems to be that the bishop(priest) in death should occupy the same position in the church as during life. That is facing the people whom he taught and blessed in Christ's name ,i.e. his HEAD towards the altar. Thus, his head is EAST and his FEET is WEST. opposite of the layman.

According to the Wikipedia Encyclopedia on Christian Burial:
Historical precedence provides that if the corpse is a layman, the feet are to be turned towards the altar. If the corpse is a priest, this position is reversed, the head being towards the altar. The earliest reference to this is in John Burchard's Diary. Burchard was the master of ceremonises to Pope Innocent VIII and Pope Akexander VI.A rule also exists that oth before the altar and in the grave the FEET of all christians should be pointed towards to the EAST. This custom is alluded to by Bishop Hilbert at the beginning of the twelve century. ts symbolism is discussed by Guillaume Durandus.. "A man ought to be buried ", he says that "while his head lies to the West , his feet are turned to the East." The idea seems to be that the bishop (or priest in death should occupy the same position in the church as during life, facing his people whom he taught and blessed in Christ's name.


Search Results: My Bookmarks (1 Results)
Dogpile - Web Search: christian practice coffin feet ... Note: bearer goes first, followed by members of the clergy carrying lighted candles. The priest walks immediately before the coffin, and the friends of ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_burial [Found on Google

I found the following under answers.com on burial practices:

In the African-American slave community. Slave funerals were typically at night when the workday was over, with the master present to view all the ceremonial procedures. Slaves from the nearby plantations were regularly in attendance.

At death, a slave’s body was wrapped in cloth. The hands were placed across the chest, and a metal plate was placed on top of their hands. The reasoning for the plate was to hinder their return home by suppressing any spirits in the coffin. Often, personal property was buried with slaves to appease spirits. The coffins were nailed shut once the body was inside, and carried by hand or wagon, depending on the property designated for slave burial site. Slaves were buried east to west, with the head facing east and their feet to the west. This east-west positioning represented the ability to rise without having to turn around at the call of Gabriel’s trumpet. Gabriel’s trumpet would be blown in the eastern sunrise.This positioning also was towards the direction of home- Africa.

Notice the difference of east-west position for the Africans and the west-east of the christians. .

With regard to the burial of the dead in the early Christian centuries we know very little. No doubt the first Christians followed the national customs of ...
www.newadvent.org/cathen/03071a.htm [Found on Google, MSN Search, Yahoo! Search, Ask.com]
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After the slow journey, interrupted only by the rest stops at the wheelie-stanes, the party would arrive at the kirkyard. Entering the hallowed ground, the coffin bearers would carefully turn the casket sunwise (with the sun) before the Christian burial began.

As the coffin was lowered into its final resting place, the nearest relative would often throw in the first shovelful of earth. This practice was also found in Norway and was undoubtedly another way of keeping the dead within its grave. In Norway, however, the close kin of the deceased carried out the practice quietly, after the minister had carried out the funeral.

The next question I want answered is why in the Jewish custom their dead is buried with their hands lying on their sides. The christians are clasped across their bodies.

Answer 2

I have heard this asked several times. not in here tho'.

Most churches have steps. The end of the casket that goes down first, usually gets tilted. By having the feet first, if the body would slide a little, the feet hit instead of the head. It takes a pretty good slant for a body to slide, but it happens at times. And, Yes, They check after everyone leaves to make sure.

When buried, they are buried Facing East. All cemeteries are buried east and west. There are very very very few that bury north or south.
.

BTW: You know why Jesus is returning from the east?

All through the Bible, God refers to salvation and eternity as east and west. Why? North only goes so far and stops at the pole. South only goes goes so far and stops at the pole.
You can start off east and go forever...east and west never ends. Neither does eternity.

.

Answer 3

I think that it's because in a traditional church building the altar or holy table faces east, i.e. towards Jerusalem. In this way the body is facing in the direction of Jerusalem, the place where Jesus Christ will appear at His second coming, when we shall rise from the dead.

Answer 4

It has to do with the ancient belief that the spirit actually resides in the feet. Thus, we use the term "sole" of the foot. The people carrying the coffin are often called the funeral "train" or procession.

This leads to another bit of trivia having to do with Don Cornelius and his 70's show "Soul Train" which was named after the tradition of carrying the decised into and out of the church feet first.

Question: What happens if a person's feet are amputated? Where does the soul go?

Answer 5

Should they go out head first? Why not feet first? Is there a certain kind of symbolism involved?

Answer 6

Interesting question. I'll venture to say that it doesn't necessarily happen ever single time. I've never noticed either.

Answer 7

it is said that the soul is still with the body during this time and it is carried this way so that they both enter and leave 'foot' first inorder that none remains behind.

Answer 8

I wonder why it even matters to them. Aren't they in grief? Why do people ask such obsurd things during trying times?

Answer 9

Haunt. IMMA BE A GHOST! Or

Answer 10

IN THE BIBLE GOD IS COMING BACK THROUGH THE EATERN SKY SO THEY ARE ALL FACED THE SAME WAY. THEIR FEET ARE FACING THE EASTERN SKY.