The St. George Romanian Orthodox Parish in Tokyo has inaugurated Japan’s first Orthodox cemetery, marking a significant milestone for the country’s Orthodox Christian community. The burial site, located in Yamanashi Prefecture, opened at the end of January, according to basilica.ro
To support the spiritual needs of the faithful, the parish priest announced plans to relocate a traditional wooden church from Romania to serve as a chapel within the cemetery grounds. The initiative aims to create a proper Orthodox setting for funeral services and memorial prayers.
The parish has secured a 1,200-square-meter plot designated exclusively for Orthodox burials. The concession process was coordinated in Tokyo by parish priest Fr. Daniel Corîu, with assistance from the Association of Burial Supporters in Japan and the cooperation of two Buddhist monks.
Permanent burial plots are now available for purchase at 250,000 yen. Parish representatives emphasized the importance of traditional Christian burial, noting that cremation does not align with Orthodox teachings on death, the sanctity of the body and belief in eternal life.
Donations are being collected to help fund the transportation of the wooden church from Romania to Japan, where it will become a central place of worship and remembrance for the growing Orthodox community.
Source: basilica.ro
