Minister sheds tears, believers dressed in black bow their heads in sadness: The patriarch's funeral

Long lines of believers in dressed in black, with sadness and tears on their faces and downcast eyes, flooded the yard and the Temple of Saint Sava itself to say goodbye to the beloved Patriarch Irinej, who passed away on Friday, November 20, and was buried in Belgrade on Sunday.

The choir's singing echoed in the magnificent Temple of Saint Sava during the funeral of the blessed patriarch, while a large number of believers, as well as state officials, came to pay their last respects.

Many of those who came to bid farewell to the Serbian patriarch could not hide their tears and grief over the great loss. Among them was Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Tatjana Matic, who teared up in front of Patriarch Irinej's casket.

In front of the Temple, a huge number of believers quietly, bowing their heads, lit candles in memory of the late head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, while a part of the clergy present was also unable to hide their sadness over the great loss, their eyes revealing heavy tears.

Believers bowed in front of a glass-covered casket that they kissed with great sorrow in their hearts because of the death of the patriarch. It seems that both the old and the sick, some faithful that could barely walk, found the strength to come and say goodbye to Irinej for the last time.

Mysterious Japanese deacon

One of the priests who took part in the requiem service was of Asian origin and attracted particular attention of the media and the public during the funeral. This was the deacon of Hilarion Alfeyev, who heads the Department of External Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church.

According to some media reports, this young man is Japanese, and his presence at the service caused great interest and comments from users on social networks.

Otherwise, in addition to the dioceses in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) has dioceses elsewhere in Europe, as well as in North America, Australia and New Zealand. The Diocese of Buenos Aires is in charge of the whole of South America. However, in addition to that, there are SPC missions in Africa and Asia, where missionary and humanitarian work is taking place.

For example, in Botswana, a local association of Serbs, along with priests, runs a school for the local population, and so many families there have been baptized together and accepted into the Orthodox rite. There are no ethnic obstacles for someone to be baptized and become a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church, or to attend seminaries of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Other Orthodox churches, such as that of Russia, cover territories in Asia, and many believers are not ethnic Russians.

(Telegraf.rs)