ROYAL COUPLE ATTEND FUNERAL OF HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXEI II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

Belgrade, 9 December 2008 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine together with five bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Mr. Dragomir Acovic, member of the Privy Council attended today in Moscow the funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow and All Russia.

The funeral was attended by President Boris Tadic, HE Mr. Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs and HE Prof. Dr Bogoljub Sijakovic, Minister of Religion, as well as many heads of states and representatives of foreign delegations.

The coffin of His Holiness was displayed in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour where the funeral took place.

His Eminence Metropolitan Kiril, elected by 12 members of Synod led the funeral as regent of the Patriarchate Throne until a new Patriarch will be elected.