Late Archbishop Christodoulos, who breathed his last on Monday dawn after a seven-month battle with cancer, will receive a funeral befitting a head of state at Athens’ First Cemetery on coming Thursday. Church bells have been tolling since early in the morning, while flags in public buildings and schools have been flying at half mast throughout Greece. Christodoulos’ mortal remains have been lying in state at the Athens Cathedral. A joint ministerial decision singed by the Ministers of Interior, Finance, Health, Education and National Defence, declared a four-day period of national mourning, while the day of his funeral all public agencies and schools will remain closed. A vote will take place on Thursday, 7 February to decide on Christodoulos’ succession.
I will try to go to the funeral, if possible. Most likely our classes will be canceled that day, as every place of business in Greece will be shut down because of this sad occasion. The cemetery where he will rest is actually right behind our apartment, across the street. For now, the body is being laid out for viewing at the church in Syntagma Square (a 15 minute or so walk from my place).
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