(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, NOVEMBER 22 - The funeral liturgy in memory of Serbian Patriarch Irinej, who died on November 20 at the age of 90 from the consequences of the coronavirus, is underway in the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade. In the large church, whose interior refurbishment and embellishment works have recently been completed, for health prevention measures, there is a limited number of people, in addition to the religious involved in the celebration of the funeral rite, the political and military authorities , diplomats, representatives of other religious faiths, among them the Catholic archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hocevar. All with the mask and seated at the right distance.
Present are Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, President of Parliament Ivica Dacic, Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, numerous ministers and the city authorities of the capital. Presiding over the funeral liturgy is Metropolitan Hrizostom, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bosnia-Herzegovina who, as the senior member of the synod, was designated acting patriarch until the election of Irinej's successor, which must take place within three months. Two screens have been set up outside the Cathedral of San Sava to allow the faithful to follow the celebration, at the end of which Irinej will be buried in the crypt of the church. From yesterday afternoon, and throughout the night, the faithful were able to pay homage to the body of the patriarch.
Patriarch Irinej had tested positive for covid-19 in early November on his return from Montenegro, where with President Vucic he had presided over the funeral of Metropolitan Amfilohije, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, who also died at 82 from the consequences of the coronavirus.
Irinej was admitted to a Belgrade military hospital on 4 November, where his condition worsened and he died on 20 November. (ANSAmed).