Serbia and all Serbdom grieving today: Vucic's message of condolences after Patriarch Irinej's death

Photo: Tanjug/Dimitrije Goll

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic today sent a telegram of condolences to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the death of His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Irinej.

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"On behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Serbia, as well as on my own behalf, I express my sincere condolences on the occasion of the death of His Holiness the Serbian Patriarch Mr. Irinej.

Today, Serbia and the whole of Serbdom are grieving. Our patriarch, a quiet and peaceful, good and peace-loving man, our responsible spiritual shepherd, has passed away. A man we would all like to be like and the way our faith teaches us to be, has died.

Only great nations can give great people. The greats are born and live with their people, never taller than it and in everything submissive to its good and progress. Great people do not rule, they serve. Their choice is not any side but the whole nation. They are patient with doubts, calm in tension and peaceful in every division and difference. Slow in words and fast in kindness. And when we do not see them, we know that they are there, we feel the power of their belonging to their kind, homeland and their faith.

Our Serbian people have had great patriarchs and people, and Patriarch Irinej was one of them. As these times demanded and as our people wanted. That is why, carried by the respect of his people, he was getting bigger every day, closer and dearer to each of our people, every Serb woman and man, no matter where they lived. Patriarch Irinej was a great man of the Serbian church, Orthodoxy and our Serb people," said the telegram.

Patriarch Irinej passed away this morning at 7:07 in the VMC Karaburma, where he was hospitalized on November 5 after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Government of Serbia will declare three days of mourning because of his death, it has been confirmed for Telegraf.rs.

The three-day mourning is in force today, tomorrow and on Sunday, when the patriarch will most likely be buried, as had been said earlier, in the Temple of Saint Sava in Belgrade.

(Telegraf.rs)