NUMEROUS FOREIGN RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO ATTEND PATRIARCH ALEXY II’S FUNERAL IN MOSCOW

Interfax
Dec 6, 2008

Moscow, December 6, Interfax – The heads and representatives of all
Orthodox churches, many other churches, and other prominent religious
leaders will come to Moscow to attend the burial ceremony of Patriarch
Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

"Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia, Archbishop Hieronymus
II of Athens and All Greece, and Metropolitan Christopher of the
Czech Lands and Slovakia have already confirmed their participation
in the mourning ceremonies," Moscow Patriarchate spokesman Archpriest
Vsevolod Chaplin told Interfax-Religion.

It was reported earlier that the Roman Catholic Church will be
represented at Patriarch Alexy II’s funeral by Walter Cardinal Kasper
and Roger Cardinal Etchegaray. A number of other Catholic hierarchs
are also expected to attend the ceremony, Chaplin said.

The Armenian Apostolic Church will be represented at a high level,
the Church of England will be represented by Bishop Richard Chartres
of London, and the Evangelical Church of Germany by Bishop Martin
Schindehuette, he said.

U.S. Rabbi Arthur Schneier, the head of The Appeal of Conscience
Foundation, Iranian Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri, Chairman of
the Caucasus Muslims Department Allahshukur Pasha-zade, and other
religious leaders will also come to Moscow, he said.