ABSTRACT
Branches of Christianity have developed an armoury of doctrines, rituals and pastoral practices to equip their adherents to face the reality of death. Christian rituals and ethics, in turn, equip and support other people as they face the experience of human mortality. Roman Catholic rites, priests must ensure that those 'in proximate danger of death' receive the Eucharist, in which bread and wine, symbolising Christ's body and blood, are consumed in recognition of his death and resurrection. Anglican rites, when people are dying in hospitals in Britain, the chaplain has an important pastoral role and may also offer Holy Communion (Eucharist) or less formal prayers for the dying and their relatives. Orthodox rites express the fundamental Orthodox continuity with the early church including Christ's descent into Hell, praying for the dead and praying to, and through, the saints. The body is buried and is reunited with the soul at the general Day of Resurrection.
