Memorial services held for Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II

Orthodox Churches in Russia and abroad have been holding memorial services for Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, on Saturday, the ninth day after his death, in keeping with the Orthodox tradition.

The entire courtyard and parts of the interior of Moscow's Epiphany Cathedral, where Alexy was buried on Tuesday, are filled with wreaths, mostly of white roses, laid by politicians, public figures, scholars, Orthodox bishops, and others.

Many of those coming to the cathedral on Saturday have been bringing white roses, the late Patriarch's favorite flowers.

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, interim head of the Russian Church, led the chief memorial service at the Epiphany Cathedral, which was to be followed by a service at Alexy's tomb.

Source: Interfax religion