Keywords: His Eminence Pimen, Archbishop, funeral service, monk, Sihăstria Putnei, cemetery, grave

Summary: On 22 May 2020, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral in Suceava, the celebration of the Holy Liturgy was followed by the funeral service for His Eminence Pimen, Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți. The service was officiated by His Eminence Teofan ‒ Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, Locum Tenens of the Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți; His Eminence Teodosie ‒ Archbishop of Tomis; His Grace Damaschin Dorneanul ‒ Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți. In a solemn, impressive atmosphere, pervaded by the comforting Paschal spirit, under the spring breeze, the words and chants of the funeral service for monastics were offered to God for the reposed one who had ever led the simple life of a monk, even after he had received the episcopal omophorion and mitre. The funeral service concluded with the condolences read out on behalf of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church and of the President of Romania, Mr Klaus Werner Iohannis. These were followed by the address of His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan, and finally by the address delivered on behalf of the clergy of Bukovina by His Grace Damaschin Dorneanul, Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți. After the final parting kiss, the coffin containing the body of His Eminence Pimen was taken to Sihăstria Putnei Monastery, its resting place. At the monastery’s cemetery, according to the ritual, the procession moved around the wooden church, a beloved foundation of the Archbishop, then the coffin carrying the Archbishop’s remains was placed in the grave facing the church. Symbolically, the coffin was covered in an episcopal mantle and a monastic one, as symbols of the two intertwined callings of a soul and a life that had honoured both. The humble grave at Sihăstria Putnei will be a place of prayer and consolation. Regarding us with his soft, serene blue eyes from the picture at his grave, His Eminence Arhiepiscop Pimen seems to be telling us: Remember my words and this will be my greatest satisfaction.

† DAMASCHIN Dorneanul – este membru al Sfântului Sinod al Bisericii Ortodoxe Române, cu rangul de Episcop-vicar al Arhiepiscopiei Sucevei și Rădăuților, cu titulatura „Dorneanul”. Doctor în teologie al Facultății de Teologie Ortodoxă „Sfântul Andrei Şaguna” din Sibiu.