wfn.org | GOAA - Passing of the Patriarch of Serbia

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax:
(212) 774-0237
www.goarch.org    - Email: communications@goarch.org

> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

> THE PASSING OF PATRIARCH PAVLE OF SERBIA

NEW YORK ? His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, writing on
behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod and the faithful of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, conveyed with great sorrow
condolences on the passing of the Patriarch of Serbia, the late Pavle,
Archbishop of Peæ, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci on November
15th. In a letter to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church,
that was echoed to Metropolitan Christopher and to all the Bishops of
the Serbian Church in America and Canada, Archbishop Demetrios of
America wrote:

On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Clergy and Lay Faithful
of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, I am offering our
profound condolences on the falling asleep in the Lord of the most
blessed Father of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the deeply beloved and
respected late Patriarch Pavle. The passing of the Patriarch is a
deeply felt wound not only for the pious Serbian People, but for all
Orthodox Christians who have admired his saintly and wise pastoral
stewardship of the Serbian Orthodox Church during times of tremendous
challenge. His courage in the face of tyranny and oppression will live
on in the hearts and minds of all Orthodox who were privileged to know
his ministry.

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew immediately sent
condolences to the Serbian Church (see his message at
http://www.patriarchate.org/news/releases/Pavle_Serbia) and held a
memorial service. In addition, the Ecumenical Patriarch is traveled to
Belgrade and presided at the funeral of the late Patriarch Pavle.
Condolences were also sent by the Patriarchs and Primates of the
Autocephalous Churches,  the Roman Catholic Church, representatives
from the Jewish and Islamic communities, and the Presidents and heads
of Governments of Greece, Russia, Belarus and Germany, as well as
leaders of countries that are territorially part of the Serbian
Orthodox Church. The Government of Serbia announced three days of
mourning over Patriarch Pavle?s passing, while the Government of
Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb Republic) announced that the funeral
day will be a national day of mourning.

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