When they all left, they were the only ones left on the tomb of the patriarch

Funeral of Patriarch Irinej, Photo: Nenad Vujanović / Hello!

When the temple fell silent and bishops, clergymen and politicians abandoned it, on the tomb of Patriarch Irinej, while the plaque was lowered, his family and Prince Philip stayed with Princess Danica.

Not everyone was allowed to enter the crypt where the 45th head of the Serbian Orthodox Church is buried today.

However, when everyone left the crypt, the descendants of his brother, sister and the princely couple entered.

The place where the earthly remains of the chief rest on the throne of Saint Sava is called the ambulatory. It is the room behind the altar in the crypt. This part is not visible when entering the lower part of the Temple. It has several tombs and has two doors.

Patriarch Irinej is written in gold letters on a white marble slab. An early Christian cross was elected patriarch. This is the famous “Studenica Cross” that was carved during the last decade of the 12th century.

It is located on the north door of the Church of the Mother of God. This cross became a recognizable sign of Stefan Nemanja’s architecture, culture and times. It represents a combination of two symbols: the early Christian symbolism of the anchor, meaning salvation and security in the kingdom of God, and the symbolism of growth and progress seen on the richly decorated ends of the cross.

The construction of the Temple of Saint Sava was practically completed right in the time of Patriarch Irinej.

The crypt, inside which are the tombs of the patriarchs, extends between the foundations of the Temple of San Sava, and has pillars with a maximum height of 6.20 meters. The depth of the Temple is about seven meters.

The completion of the crypt and its painting was blessed by the late Patriarch Pavle in 2001.