CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER SADDENED BY THE PASSING OF HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN CHRISTOPHER OF LIBERTYVILLE-CHICAGO

Belgrade, 19 August 2010 - His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II received with great sorrow the news that His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of Libertyville-Chicago fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 82. His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of blessed memory will be remembered as one of great Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church who has done great deeds during difficult times in order to overcome schism and misunderstanding within the Church, and especially the part of the Church that is located in Serbian Diaspora. The Crown Prince wrote a letter of condolences to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia.

The death of His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher of Libertyville-Chicago is a great loss for Serbian Orthodox Church, Serbian Nation and the Orthodox Community worldwide.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II and his family have been friends for a long time with the late Metropolitan, and their relationship was one of mutual respect and understanding.

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Peter, Prince Philip visited last November the Metropolitan in Libertyville. His Majesty King Peter II is buried at St Sava Monastery Libertyville and the Metropolitan led prayers at the graveside of His Majesty.

The Honourable Branko Terzic, PC, GCCY, member of the Privy Council will represent the Crown Prince at the funeral of the Metropolitan