Despite having passed a law in February 2016 making cremation legal in Greece, it is still not yet an option for anyone to make the provision to chose prior to, and for after their death.
There was strong opposition to the law, especially from the Greek Orthodox Church and it’s leaders, who made a written protest to the then Minister, responsible.
The issue now is in limbo, due to the lack of crematorium facilities in the Country, something that was addressed on Wednesday (1/3/17) when the Minister for the Environment, submitted a draft Presidential Decree, for public debate. The bill will be debated in 12 days time and then be put forward to the Council of the State.
In Athens, 29 sites have been put forward after a request from the city authorities asked for land to be offered by private citizens, which would be either rented or sold for the purpose of the creation of a crematorium. A plot was finally selected in the suburb of Eleonas and the plans for the facility to become a reality, are already being made.
The decision comes after the political will of both the Athens administrative authorities and the government, to move forward together, on the subject.