There are currently two options for those considering burials at Saint Marks: the Columbarium in the Chapel of the Resurrection and the Cathedral Memorial Garden. From ancient times, Christians have considered places of burial to be sacred sites where the departed are remembered and honored. They are places for quiet remembrance, for prayer, for families and loved ones to gather. They are places of peace.
Columbarium in the
Chapel of the Resurrection
A columbarium is a permanent resting place for cremated remains, and Saint Mark’s columbarium is in the Chapel of the Resurrection which opened in 1969. The names of those interred in the niches remind us to pray for all the souls of the faithful departed.
Initial funding for the columbarium was generously provided by Cathedral members Joshua and Laura Green who, in conversation with Dean John Leffler, established a trust to both fund the construction and upkeep of the columbarium and to fund projects related to “completing the Cathedral.” Payments for niches become part of this endowment trust.
Purchasing a Niche
Anyone is welcome to be buried in the Chapel of the Resurrection, and there are a few options of niche style and sizes. More information on the niches, as well as pricing, is available here. Contact Erik Donner at edonner@saintmarks.org with questions or to purchase.
Cathedral
Memorial Garden
Saint Mark’s Memorial Garden is a sacred section of the cathedral churchyard consecrated for the burial (Committal) of cremated or composted remains of individuals with ties to the Saint Mark’s community. Burial is typically offered to baptized members of the cathedral parish and their immediate family, Episcopalians from the Diocese of Olympia, and others approved by the Dean when their funeral is held at the cathedral. Remains are interred directly in the earth during a simple graveside Committal service—without a container—and individual graves are not marked. If desired, a name plaque may be added to a memorial board near the garden.
The current fee for burial is $300, which may be pre-paid; financial assistance is available for those in need. For full details, please see the Policy of the Vestry on Burial in Saint Mark’s Memorial Garden (PDF).
The Resurrection Icon
The icon housed in the Chapel of the Resurrection was commissioned for the St. Petersburg–Seattle Sister Church Program. It was “written” by Russian iconographer Yakov Prokofiev, blessed by Metropolitan Vladimir, and brought to Seattle in August 2011. The Icon represents Jesus standing over the broken gates of Hell, lifting Adam and Eve out of their graves with kings and prophets and patriarchs looking on. You are welcome to come see the icon when the building is open—the Chapel is opened by request.