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

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

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.