TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE FROM HIS BEATITUDE TO THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF SERBIA ON THE PASSING OF PATRIARCH PAUL

To the Holy Synod of the Serbian Patriarchate
Belgrade

                                                                                                                              16^th November 2009

     It is with feelings of deep grief and sorrow that we heard of the falling asleep in the Lord of our beloved and dear brother His Beatitude Paul Patriarch of Serbia.

     His long sacrificial contribution to the service of the Serbian Church and his dedication to the work of God for his people, at critical moments, his apostolic election and elevation to the Patriarchal office, made him worthy in the hearts and conscience of the Serbian people as set him as a caring father and a valuable shepherd of the glorious Serbian Nation.

     We pray to the Lord God for the repose of his blessed soul and the placing of it in the land of the living and we express our deepest condolences to the Hierarchs, the clergy and the faithful people of our sister Church of Serbia, on the loss of its venerable primate and pray for a worthy successor.

THEODOROS II

Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa