19.11.2009.

Today, Serbia has said farewell to its Patriarch Pavle. In accordance to his own wish, the Serbian Patriarch has been buried in the monastery of Saint Archangels, in the Rakovica section of Belgrade. His casket has been laid next to the grave of Patriarch Dimitrije, who was the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church from 1920 to 1930. The last act of his holiness’ funeral was done in a modest manner, with the attendance of only a few people and without the presence of media.

Prior to the funeral, the liturgy was held in front of the St. Sava temple, with in the presence of hundreds of thousands of people, and the service was done by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and keeper of the Serbian Orthodox Church throne Metropolitan Amfilohije, along with episcopes and priesthood. The prayer for the rest of late patriarch’s soul was held by heads of other Orthodox churches. The open casket was carried to the temple by episcopes of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The memorial service was attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and ministers of his government, Serbian Assembly members from all parliamentary parties, state delegations from countries of the region and representatives of other religious communities in Serbia.

“Patriarch Pavle was a theologist of great knowledge, compassionate, humble man of open horizons, who felt the connection with contemporary reality, stated Ecumenical  Patriarch Bartholomew. “His image was radiating holiness and righteousness; he was a man of constant prayer, mild and calm, but also a fighter who did not take retreat, ready for any sacrifice”, underlined Bartholomew. He stressed that Patriarch Pavle was a gift to the Serbian Orthodox Church at the moment when the Serbian people and church was in the direst need for him.

In the farewell to the deceased Serbian Patriarch, President Boris Tadic has expressed gratitude for his deeds and ethical teachings, which have been left as a testament to the Serbian people. “I believe that I share the opinion of all citizens when feeling gratitude to Patriarch Pavle, for always being there, before all of us, in his actions and words, saying that we should always be human and never respond to evil with our own evil”, Tadic sais during the memorial service.

Metropolitan of Montenegro and Littoral Amfilohije also gave a speech at the solemn ceremony. “patriarch Pavle has left, a man of deep and strong faith, who turned his words into deeds”, said metropolitan Amfilohije. In a sermon over the casket of the late patriarch, he stated that there laid a man with his face turned towards the eternity and heavenly kingdom, whose deeds have innumerous times confirmed the 2,000 years of church tradition. “Only a true man can testify to the presence of God, and he was an embodiment of the gospel and was a walking gospel himself”, said Amfilohije, who will be the keeper of the throne of the Serbian Orthodox Church until the election of the new patriarch.

The casket with the body of Patriarch Pavle was carried to the plateau in front of the St. Sava Temple, where Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was serving the liturgy. The escorting party, consisting of hundreds of thousands of citizens, was headed by church dignitaries, and it also included state officials, religious and foreign state delegations.

Serbian Patriarch Pavle passed away on Sunday, December 15, in the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. Since Sunday afternoon, when his body was taken to the Belgrade Cathedral, the citizens were coming all the time until the beginning of the liturgy to pay the respects. Half a million people have passed by patriarch’s deathbed, after patiently waiting for hours for the opportunity.