'Boris Yeltsin's burial, a unique burial'

Moscow, Apr 25: As Russians bid final farewell to their first democratically elected President Boris Yeltsin today, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II said Yeltsin's Orthodox burial in Novodevichy cemetery was unique as for the first time in over a hundred years, the 'country is bidding farewell to its leader in a church.'

''Our Russia today lives a full life, it is going back to its original roots. For the first time, in over a 100 years, we are bidding farewell to the head of state in a temple,'' he said in his address read out before the beginning of the burial service at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow led by Metropolitan Yuvenaliy of Krutitsk and Kolomna.

As the head of the Orthodox Church, he expressed deep condolences to Yeltsin's family and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

''As a strong personality, he (Yeltsin) took responsibility for the fate of Russia in a difficult period of radical changes and always treated kindly the Russian Orthodox Church,'' he said.

''History will give an unbiased assessment of Yeltsin,'' the patriarch said and issued a call to pray for the soul of Yeltsin.

In line with a decree issued by President Putin, to observe a day of national mourning for Yeltsin, the national flags were flying at half mast in the vast country today and all entertainment programmes on TV channels and radio were cancelled.

The state funeral for Yeltsin, who died on Monday, is taking place in Moscow at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

Among those who paid respects at his coffin were President Putin and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Along with thousands of people, two former US presidents, Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr, and former British Prime Minister Sir John Major also paid their last respects to Yeltsin.

UNI