CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER AND CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE ATTEND FUNERAL OF HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH PAVLE

Belgrade, 19 November 2009 – His Holiness, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovac, Patriarch Pavle of Serbia was laid to rest today in Belgrade. His Holiness Patriarch Pavle’s funeral was attended by Metropolitans and Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle was attended by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Vladimir and Princess Brigitta, Princess Elizabeth, leaders of all the major Churches in Serbia, representatives of other Orthodox Churches and clergy, high delegation of the Holy See, political leaders, members of the Crown Council, and hundreds of thousands of citizens.

His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littorals and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople together with all the Metropolitans and Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church officiated the funeral service in front of Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade at 11 a.m. Before that, remains of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle were in a procession from the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel where they were for the last three days. The funeral service in front of Saint Sava Cathedral was attended by H.E. Mr. Boris Tadic, President of Serbia, H.E. Slavica Djukic Dejanovic, Speaker of the Parliament, H.E. Mr. Mirko Cvetkovic, Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic First deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.E. Mr. Bozidar Djelic, Deputy Prime Minister for European integrations, H.E. Mr. Mladjan Dinkic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and regional development, H.E. Ms. Diana Dragutinovic, Minister of finance, H.E. Mr. Zarko Obradovic, Minister of education, Mr. Dragan Djilas, Mayor of Belgrade, Mr. Zoran Alimpic, Deputy president of the City Assembly of Belgrade.

Speaking during the funeral service, the guardian of the Patriarch Throne of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littorals said: “This sadness is not just sadness over the loss of someone who was extremely dear to us, but it is sadness mixed with joy, because we know that he will remain among us. Patriarch was one of those people who even having passed away would not vanish, but rather someone whose presence will be even more intense. The words of Patriarch Pavle were soft, but his arguments were strong. The strongest argument was his life.”

Addressing the clergy and the faithful, and many distinguished guests from neighbouring countries and all across the world, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople said: “The angel of Belgrade’s Church has risen to the Heavens. He encompassed the honesty of David, wisdom of Solomon, and goodness of Moses. Rest in peace in God until the eternal resurrection”.

In his speech His Excellency President Boris Tadic of Serbia emphasized: “On behalf of all citizens of Serbia, I would like to thank all who came today to pay respects to our Patriarch. Please allow me to remind you of his words and his deeds, which carried the message that we should always be humane and to respond with goodness to any evil deeds”.

According to his request His Holiness Patriarch Pavle was buried in the Monastery Rakovica, a Belgrade suburb.