BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Russian patriarch's funeral

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14:48 GMT, Tuesday, 9 December 2008

In pictures: Russian patriarch's funeral

Alexiy II's coffin on display in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral on 9 December

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The funeral of Russia's first post-Communist Orthodox Church leader, Alexiy II, began in Moscow's massive Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pays his respects at the coffin of Alexiy II on 9 December

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pays his respects at the coffin of Alexiy II on 9 December

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President Dmitry Medvedev was there to pay his respects at the coffin of the patriarch.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila hold candles at the funeral ceremony on 9 December

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila hold candles at the funeral ceremony on 9 December

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Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila held candles during the funeral ceremony.

Georgia's Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (centre) stands opposite Alexiy II's coffin on 9 December

Georgia's Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II (centre) stands opposite Alexiy II's coffin on 9 December

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The head of Georgia's Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, came to see off his Russian counterpart. He said he hoped the two countries could be friends again after their recent conflict.

Mourners wait in the rain to see Alexiy II's coffin on 8 December

Mourners wait in the rain to see Alexiy II's coffin on 8 December

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The Russian patriarch's coffin had been on display for three days and thousands of people queued in the rain to see it.

Russian Orthodox clerics conduct a ceremony in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral on 8 December

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Russian Orthodox clerics conducted ceremonies in the Christ the Saviour Cathedral on the eve of the funeral.

A hearse carries Alexiy's coffin past the Kremlin en route to his burial on 9 December

A hearse carries Alexiy's coffin past the Kremlin en route to his burial on 9 December

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After Tuesday's service, a hearse took the Church leader's remains across Moscow to his burial place.

A mourner waits outside the Cathedral of the Epiphany on 9 December

A mourner waits outside the Cathedral of the Epiphany on 9 December

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The patriarch was being interred in Moscow's smaller Cathedral of the Epiphany.

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Related to this story:
Russia bids farewell to patriarch (09 Dec 08 | Europe )
Russia pays tribute to patriarch (05 Dec 08 | Europe )
Russian Orthodox Church head dies (05 Dec 08 | Special Reports )
Russian Church elects acting head (06 Dec 08 | Special Reports )
Double life of Russia's patriarch (05 Dec 08 | Europe )

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