When the Homily is about Immunology

Famed Russian Cellist is laid to rest

Mstislav Rostropovich. Read a little about his fascinating life HERE.

Some photos from his funeral:



According to the press, the woman holding the icon is Rostropovich's daughter.


A daughter says farewell to her father. I think many Americans (westerners?) feel uncomfortable with such expressions. I know many converts who in moments of honesty are a little "weirded out" by the last kiss portion of the funeral service, but it surely does fit the Orthodox ethos doesn't it? Perhaps we are apprehensive because we wish to sterilize death? To avoid seeing it so blatantly laid out before us? Doing so, I think, lessens the power of the Paschal proclamation.


Memory Eternal!

It is an altogether wonderful and appropriate thing to see this dissident of the Soviet Union having an Orthodox funeral in a post-soviet Russia.