‘People With White And Red Flowers’: Farewell To Archbishop Artemy In Minsk

The priest was buried at the Chyzhouskae cemetery.

The police met the funeral procession for Archbishop Artemy at the entrance to the Chyzhouskae cemetery in Minsk. Four bishops out of the 17 took part in the funeral. About 100 people came to the ritual. A Belarusian citizen told Nasha Niva about the funeral to Archbishop Artemy.

A police car was at the head of the Archbishop Artemy's funeral procession. A hearse with a portrait of the deceased on the windshield and various cars followed the police car. Several security officers in uniform were at the entrance at the cemetery gates.

Archbishop Artemy (Kishchenka) died on the night of April 21-22. He passed away just three days before his birthday. He would have been 71 years old. From 1996 to 2021, he was the head of the Hrodna diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. They farewelled him at the Holy Intercession Cathedral in Hrodna and took him to Minsk to the Chyzhouskae cemetery.

“I was walking fast along the Chyzhouskae cemetery. They were taking the coffin out of the car. A lot of people in robes were around. Although, some involved people told me that there were only four out of seventeen bishops at the funeral, which caused a reasonable surprise. In the Orthodox tradition, every one of this rank usually gathers for the funeral to their brother,” the man was surprised.

They buried Archbishop Artemy between the graves of his mother and sister. They were singing the whole service long: “Christ is risen from the dead, trampled down death by death and gave life to those in the tombs…”. The grave was lined with spruce branches. There were disposable napkins for those who threw sand onto the coffin.

“Surprisingly, there were not so many people. About a hundred. For some reason, I thought that the whole of Minsk would gather there. Especially since it was a holiday. I locked eyes with my friends, we nodded to each other politely. There was a tender sadness on the faces of those gathered. There were tears in the eyes of the believers. People held flowers in their hands. White and red flowers. I sang along where I could,” said the man.

Metropolitan Veniamin led the farewell ceremony. He gave a brief biography of the deceased. According to him, the fact that he passed away on Easter days “lightly softens the bitterness of loss”. They mentioned Archbishop Artemy's work in the Hrodna diocese and initiatives that had been implemented thanks to him.

“For some reason, I expected the metropolitan to at least symbolically ask for "forgiveness for sins". That would be really "significant". After all, the archbishop was sent “to rest” without his consent for an uncompromising position, which he repeatedly announced from the pulpit, condemning the current lawlessness and standing up for the Belarusian people. “You are violating the Gospel,” he directly told the officials and security forces. His experiences of recent years, resignation, pressure from different sides (the very “concerns, worries, anxieties” listed by the Metropolitan) undermined the already poor health of Archbishop Artemy,” the man said.

There were ritual kisses after the speech. Metropolitan Veniamin, Archbishop Anthony, and several hierarchs approached the coffin and, removing their hats, kissed the deceased. Those wishing to say goodbye were able to do it also after the speech.

“It was clear that ordinary people and priests sincerely paid tribute and showed their love to a person who, not in words, but in deeds, loved God and served him. There were tears and flowers, they sang the anthem of hope more than a hundred times.