The Development of Funeral Practices in the Context of the Evolution of Ideological framework of the Czechoslovak(Hussite) Church.

Anotation This paper is aimed at describing the development of funeral practices of the Czechoslovak (Hussite) Church - CČS(H). In order to achieve better understanding of the particulars of the CČS(H) we put it the period and geographical context in which it was formed. This paper explores the period approach the society and the CČS(H) had towards cremation. It is followed by the CČS(H)'s practices and its theological and pastoral fundaments and explores also the theological grounds of the different periods and CČS(H) theologians. We base our scrutiny on the thesis that the CČS(H)'s approach towards funerals was not static and it underwent a certain evolution in terms of perceiving death and functions of funeral rituals as well as in the development of the actual form of funeral rituals, particularly with regards to the theological beliefs of the CČS(H) theologians and theological trends inside the church. We consider these dynamics particularly significant, especially with respect to the usual persistence of these approaches. We believe that this dynamic development was and is inherent to the CČS(H) and it was not directly influenced by actions of other denominations, if only with regards to the persistence of its form and content of its funeral rituals. In our opinion, the CČS(H) is very specific in this..