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Patriarch Pavle, elected to head the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1990, died Sunday at 95 of cardiac arrest during his sleep after being treated for two years in the Belgrade Military Medical Academy. Serbia held a period of national mourning from Monday to Wednesday.

Today"s funeral service for Pavle was held in the St. Sava Cathedral in the capital Belgrade by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral. It was attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic and top officials from other countries, including top clergy.

The patriarch was then buried in the Rakovica Monastery, as defined by the Serbian Church"s Holy Synod in line with his will.

Metropolitan Amfilohije, who earlier performed Pavle"s duties during the patriarch"s illness, will be acting patriarch until a new leader is elected. The election will take place not earlier than 40 days after Pavle"s death.

His Holiness Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of

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