| On
Tuesday,
August
9,
2005,
clergy
and
faithful
traveled
to
The
Monastery
of
the
Dormition
of
the
Mother
of
God
in
Rives
Junction,
Michigan,
where
funeral
services
were
held
for
the
monastery's
founder
and
former
Abbess,
the
Great
Schema
Nun
Benedicta
(Braga),
who
fell
asleep
in
the
Lord
on
Sunday,
August
7. |
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| His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU
presided
at
the
funeral,
assisted
by
a
number
of
priests
and
deacons
from
various
jurisdictions
who
came
to
pay
their
respects. |
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| Faithful
hold
candles
throughout
the
funeral. |
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| Nuns
from
several
monastic
communities
in
North
America
also
joined
the
local
community. |
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| "Have
mercy
on
us,
O
God,
according
to
your
great
mercy;
we
pray
to
You,
hear
us
and
have
mercy." |
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| V
Rev
Mother
Gabriella,
Abbess
of
the
monastery,
leading
the
responses. |
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| His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU
reads
the
Holy
Gospel
in
Romanian. |
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| V
Rev
Archimandrite
Joseph
(Morris)
reads
the
Holy
Gospel
in
English. |
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| His
Grace
says
a
prayer
over
the
remains
of
Mother
Benedicta. |
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| Archimandrite
Joseph
delivering
a
sermon. |
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| Praying
for
the
soul
of
Mother
Benedicta. |
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| Members
of
the
monastic
sisterhood
mourn
the
loss
of
their
spiritual
mother. |
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| His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU
delivering
a
sermon. |
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| Clergy
and
faithful
approach
the
casket
for
the
Last
Kiss. |
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| The
many
monastics
approach
the
casket. |
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| V
Rev
Archimandrite
Roman
(Braga)
pays
his
last
respects
to
his
departed
sister,
praying
for
the
Mother
of
God
to
intercede
for
her
soul. |
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| Abbess
Gabriella
prepares
the
casket
for
burial. |
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| A
young
girl
wishes
to
see
Mother
Benedicta
one
last
time. |
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| In
procession
to
the
monastery
cemetery. |
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| The
procession
stops
at
the
entrance
to
the
cemetery
where
His
Grace,
Bishop
IRINEU
reads
the
Holy
Gospel. |
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| "Furthermore,
we
pray
for
the
repose
of
the
soul
of
the
servant
of
God,
the
Great
Schema
Nun
Benedicta,
who
has
fallen
asleep
and
that
she
be
forgiven
all
her
transgressions,
voluntary
and
involuntary." |
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| Entering
into
the
cemetery. |
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| At
the
grave. |
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| The
casket
is
lowered
into
the
grave
as
those
present
sing
"Christ
is
risen!" |
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| Friends
place
flowers
in
the
grave. |
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| Following
the
burial,
a
memorial
service
was
offered
in
the
trapeza,
immediately
followed
by
a
memorial
meal. |
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