The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, died in Belgrade on Nov. 15.The Patriarch died in his sleep at 10.45 a.m. in the Military Hospital, where he has been receiving medical treatment since November 2007.

On its website, the Serbian Orthodox Church stated that "at 10.45 a.m., in the Belgrade Military Hospital, after receiving the Sacrament, the Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovac, Patriarch of Serbia Pavle reposed in the Lord."

The body of the patriarch was taken to the Patriarchy building in Belgrade, where the Serbian Orthodox Church Synod gave a memorial service, and then to the Serbian Catholic Church. The patriarch will lie in state, with prayer services set to continue throughout the might.

State officials, representatives of parties and religious communities expressed their condolences. Top officials, including President Boris Tadic and Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic paid their respects to the patriarch in the Serbian Catholic Church during the afternoon of Nov. 15.

The Patriarchy was also visited by the top officials of the Roman Catholic Church - Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar, Apostolic Nuncio Orlando Antonini, and Cardinal Franc Rode.

A great number of citizens gathered in the church and the churchyard. Traffic was closed down in a part of Sime Markovica St, the site of the Church and the Patriarchy building.

A black flag was raised on the Patriarchy building, with bells tolling for the patriarch's death.

Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church that has ended in the evening resulted in several decisions.

• The funeral of His Holiness Patriarch Pavle will be held on Thursday, November 19.
• According to his own wish, the Patriarch will be buried in Rakovica Monastery. The funeral mass will be held in the Church of St. Sava.
• Until the election of a new patriarch, Metropolitan of Montenegro and Littoral Amfilohije will serve as acting head of the Church.

In case "the patriarchal throne empties," the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church envisages that the Synod takes over, making an announcement to the bishops, priesthood, the people and the state authorities that the Serbian patriarch "has presented himself to the Lord."

After that, a 40-day mourning period is declared, and as religion analyst Zivica Tucic stated, a new patriarch may be elected after a 40-day memorial service.