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His Grace Bishop Thomas of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese offered his condolences on the repose of Patriarch Irinej to the Serbian Orthodox hierarchs of North, Central and South America, by expressing, “On behalf of myself and all of the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Oakland, Charleston, and the Mid-Atlantic, I want to express my condolences on the falling asleep in the Lord of His Holiness IRINEJ, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci and Serbian Patriarch. His Holiness’ vast and enduring ministry to the Orthodox Church will be felt for generations and continue to bear good fruit in the Vineyard of our Lord. We extend our sympathies and offer our prayers for the repose of His Holiness Patriarch IRINEJ. May you and all the faithful of the Serbian Orthodox Church take great comfort in the words of the Holy Apostle Paul: 

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" … But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55, 57)