NEW YORK: November 17, 2009
Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany Will Represent the Russian Church Abroad At the Funeral of Patriarch Pavle of Serbia  

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany will represent the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at the funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia. 

In the autumn of 1973, the future Vladyka Mark began his studies at the Theological Department of Belgrade University, which he graduated with a theological degree in 1979. His personal acquaintance with Archimandrite Justin (Popovic) at Celije Monastery introduced him to a tightly-knit group of students of this Serbian Abbot, who were then hieromonks, and now bishops, of the Serbian Orthodox Church—Amfilohije, Afanasije, Artemije and Irinej. At the funeral of Fr Justin, who reposed in 1979, then-Archimandrite Mark read one of the eulogies.   

His Holiness Patriarch Pavle headed the Serbian Orthodox Church since 1990. His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Coastlands was officially elected Locum Tenens of the Serbian Patriarchal Throne upon the death of the Patriarch, who, because of the latter’s illness, has de facto led the Serbian Orthodox Church for the last year and a half and headed the Holy Synod. The Holy Synod of Bishops elected Metropolitan Amfilohije during an extraordinary meeting held on the evening of Patriarch Pavle’s repose, November 15.  

The election of the new Patriarch will take place during a Council of Bishops to be held after the 40th day of the repose of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle.