Condolences pour in for Serapheim
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday expressed their grief over the death of Archbishop Serapheim, who had sworn both of them into office.
Mr. Stephanopoulos described Serapheim as a "personality who contributed to the Church and society in a multitude of ways for many years, a patriot and freedom-fighter who was a true Christian and a genuine Greek".
Mr. Simitis said Serapheim had been a fighter all his life and had been a resistance fighter during the years of the Nazi occupation, while he also served the Church selflessly and had contributed to Orthodoxy by embracing the problems of modern-day soc iety.
Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis also expressed his grief, and the hope that the bishop chosen to succeed Serapheim would make as great a contribution to increasing the Church's influence in the daily life of Greeks and in the role of Orthodoxy in all corners of the world.
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga and honorary president Harilaos Florakis also issued condolences, while Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said Serapheim, who had distinguished himself with his p atriotic struggles and his service to Orthodoxy and the Church, had left a vacuum.
Education and Religious Affairs Minister Gerasimos Arsenis expressed his "deep grief" and described the Archbishop as a "strong personality whose term at the helm of the Church of Greece was "fruitful".
The Ecumenical Patriarchate issued an announcement yesterday after a Holy Synod session expressing its deep sorow at the death of Serapheim, an ANA dispatch from Istanbul reported.
Patriarch Vartholomeos told the Synod of the Archbishop's humble, but strong personality and his dedication to the Patriarchate. A three-member delegation of the Patriarchate will travel to Athens to attend his funeral.
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Archbishop of America Spyridon, who ended a visit to the Phanar yesterday and left for New York, sent a cable to the Patriarchate, saying the Holy Achbishopry of America and Greek-Americans shared the Church of Greece's deep mourning. All parishes of th e Greek Orthodox Archdiocese were requested to offer a de teum service at the divine liturgy on Orthodox Palm Sunday.
The late Archbishop's body was taken yesterday morning to the Athens Cathedral, and will lie in state until Monday.
Crowds of mourners, church officials, as well as government members started arriving at the cathedral to pay their last respects.
"Cypriot Hellenism is deeply saddened at the loss of a prominent church leader and a warm supporter of its struggle", the Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said in a cable to the Holy Synod of Greece.
According to a CNA report from Nicosia, Cypriot Education and Culture Minister Lykourgos Kappas will represent Nicosia in Monday's funeral.
A memorial service for Serapheim was held yesterday in Sofia by Bulgarian Patriarch Maximos, attended by the Holy Synod, another ANA dispach from the Bulgarian capital reported.
"We shall always preserve valuable memories of brotherly love in our hearts for Archbishop Serapheim," Maximos said in a message.
Athens municipal council: -- Meanwhile, the Athens municipal council held an extraordinary session yesterday and decided to present the late Archbishop with the City of Athens' Gold Medal and to donate a grave for his burial at Athens' First Cemetery.
The council also approved unanimously to attend the funeral service and lay a wreath on behalf of all council members.
During the meeting, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos spoke of Serapheim's personality and great contribution to the country's religious affairs.
"May his way to heavenly life be peaceful," Mr Avramopoulos concluded his speech. Jewish community of Thessaloniki: -- Thessaloniki's Jewish community, in a letter to the Church of Greece, stressed that the late religious leader "during his entire life and service to the Church of Greece had behaved with wisdom and prudence, and always showed his brotherly love towards Greece's Jewish community".
"We pray for his soul, now resting with the Righteous," the letter read.
[ Athens News Agency - www.ana.gr - April 11, 1998 ]