Bishop Seraphim, Fr. Rentel to attend funeral of Pope John Paul II

— With the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada and the Rev. Alexander Rentel will represent His Beatitude and the Orthodox Church in America at the funeral of Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Friday, April 8, 2005.

Bishop Seraphim will attend as vice-chair of the OCA Department of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations. Father Rentel, a department member, is assistant professor of canon law and Byzantine studies at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY.

Bishop Seraphim and Father Rentel will be welcomed by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Upon learning of the Pope’s death on Saturday, April 2, Metropolitan Herman immediately sent condolences to the Vatican.