wfn.org | [SCOBA] SCOBA Mourns the Passing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia

[Communications Department <Communications@GOARCH.ORG>]

SCOBA
The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas
8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2008


SCOBA Mourns the Passing Of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia

New York, NY – The Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops 
in the Americas, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Archbishop 
Demetrios of America, notes with great sorrow the falling asleep in the 
Lord of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. 

Earlier today, in a letter to his fellow SCOBA Member, the Moscow 
Patriarchal Vicar in the United States Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, 
Archbishop Demetrios said:

Please accept my deepest sympathies on the falling asleep in the Lord of 
the deeply beloved and respected late Patriarch Alexy II. I am sure that 
his passing is a profound loss to the Russian Church and People, and a 
deep personal loss for you.... I know that you are returning this evening 
from [Moscow], only to return tomorrow for the funeral preparations. I 
will be joining you this evening at the St. Nicholas Cathedral to pray 
with you for the repose of his blessed soul, and to share both your grief 
and gratitude for the extraordinary arch-pastoral ministry of this blessed 
man of God and beloved son of the Russian People.

In addition to Archbishop Demetrios, many SCOBA Primates are expected to 
attend the Panikhida (Memorial Service) at 7:00 this evening, to be held 
at the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Moscow Patriarchate 
in New York City.