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The Serbian Orthodox Church parted with its late Primate, His Holiness Patriarch Paul, on November 19, 2009.

Along with the episcopate and clergy of the Serbian Church, the burial service was attended by delegations from Local Orthodox Churches led by patriarchs and prominent hierarchs. The delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church was led by Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch for all Belarus.

Among those present were also state leaders of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Republic of Srbska, Bulgaria, Cyprus and the Russian Federation. There were also Cardinal Sodano and Mr. Williams, general secretary of the Conference of European Churches, diplomats, as well as representatives of public organization, non-Orthodox confessions and the Muslim community in Serbia.

In his funeral oration, the Locum Tenens of the Serbian Orthodox Church throne, Metropolitan Amfilohie of Montenegro and the Coastlands said, in particular, ‘One should live his life in such a way that he might be universally mourned upon his death but he alone could rejoice’. Orations were also said by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Serbian President Boris Tadic.

Thousands of people accompanied Patriarch Paul on his last journey to his burial place in the Rakovica Monastery. Metropolitan Filaret read out a message of condolences sent by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to Locum Tenens and all the bishops of the Serbian Church.

After the funeral solemnity its participants were offered a commemoration meal, during which messages of condolences were offered on behalf of Primates of the Orthodox Churches of Alexandria, Antioch and Bulgaria.

DECR Communication Service