Serbia observes first day of mourning

BELGRADE -- Monday is the first of three days of mourning in Serbia after Sunday’s passing of Serbian Orthodox Church head His Holiness Patriarch Pavle.

People wait in front of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel (Beta)

Citizens waited for hours to be able to pay tribute to Patriarch Pavle at Belgrade's Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel.

The lines people formed in front of the church were long all night and did not wane until the early morning hours of Monday.

Worshippers also lit candles at the church for the soul of His Holiness. Prayers were also ready in the evening.

At a meeting of the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod on Sunday it was decided that Patriarch Pavle would be buried on Thursday at the Rakovica monastery, which is where he had said earlier both verbally and in his will he would like to be laid to rest.

Metropolitan of Montenegro and Littoral Amfilohije will take over the Patriarch’s duties, according to the Synod. He was already serving as Pavle’s deputy and performed his duties when the Church head had fallen ill.

All details regarding Patriarch Pavle’s funeral will be known today after a meeting of the funeral committee formed by the Synod, which is made up of both priests and government officials.