The funeral service of Patriarch Alexius II is being held in Moscow in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The Divine Liturgy is celebrated by His Eminence Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, who was elected on Saturday as interim Patriarch by the Holy Synod. The ceremony is being attended by the Patriarchs of all Orthodox Churches (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldavia), the members of the holy Synod, and some political representatives who are holding a burning candle. The Vatican delegation is led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The body of His Holiness Alexius II is lying in the middle of the Cathedral. According to a statement released by Moscow Patriarchate, "an endless crowd" of people had paid the last tribute to the Patriarch last weekend. According to Interfax news agency, some 82,000 people reached the Russian capital from other cities and from abroad. The funeral service is being broadcast by the first Russian television channel, with video and audio broadcasts even on the web.
