Patriarchal Locum Tenens says the Office for the Dead at the coffin of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia in the Church of Christ the Saviour

The coffin with the body of the deceased Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia was brought in the Church of Christ the Saviour during the All-Night Vigil on December 6, 2008, and was placed in the center of the church. Thousands of people who came to part with their Primate gathered around it.

After the vigil, the Office for the Dead was said by the Patriarchal Locum Tenens Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. He was assisted by the Holy Synod members and other archpastors of the Russian Church, as well as representatives of Local Orthodox Churches and Moscow clergy.

In his oration before the memorial service, Metropolitan Kirill said, ‘Today when His Holiness has risen for the last time to the Patriarchal throne in this church-wide Patriarchal Cathedral, we who have gathered at his coffin lift up prayers to God for our great lord and father, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia who carried the cross of patriarchal service for 18 years without bending under this cross, without trying to place it on someone else but turning to the Lord in his holy prayers and receiving help which was revealed in a variety of ways in his patriarchal ministry.

Today we are praying that the Lord may accept him in His holy dwelling and we believe that He will hear our prayers. We believe that His Holiness Patriarch Alexy will enter the Heavenly Kingdom, for he has done much for the glory of God here on earth. And with this faith and this hope let us turn to the Lord with prayer so that He may give repose to His servant, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy, in the dwellings of the righteous. Amen’.

DECR Communication Service

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• Proceedings No. 94 of the Holy Synod session on December 6, 2008
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