To provide the best customer service to culturally diverse groups, you must be well acquainted with their expectations as consumers and with the variety of funeral customs and practices they honor. Never make assumptions about the best ways to meet the funeral and memorialization needs and desires of groups that are new to you or your market.
The following list includes religions recognized by the VA per the Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers. For further insight, consult clergy members from a particular group or other resources in your community that are aligned with diverse groups.
Wormald, B. (2014). Pew Research. Religious Landscape Study U.S. Religion Census 1952 to 2010 Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers. National Cemetery Administration The Association of Religion Data Archives Caring Through the Funeral Library of World Religions and Faith Traditions National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA Religious Traditions For Baptisms and Funerals. Federation of Christian Ministries Transition Rituals Cultural & Religious Funeral Customs Customs and Religious Protocols Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplains Funeral Traditions | A Summary of the Practices of Different Faiths Related to Death and Funerals Religious Traditions
ALSO The Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Church, or Gregorian Church
Armenian Apostolic Church, independent Oriental Orthodox Christian church and the national church of Armenia. According to tradition, Armenia was evangelized by the apostles Bartholomew and Thaddeus. Armenia became the first country to adopt Christianity about 300 CE, when St. Gregory the Illuminator converted the Arsacid king Tiridates III. The new Armenian church soon struck a course independent of the founding church at Caesarea Cappadociae (now Kayseri, Turkey), though it developed in close relationship with the Syrians, who provided it with scriptures and liturgy and much of its basic institutional terminology.
Funeral Rites:
Requiem Service
Armenian Funeral Service
Suggested Resources: