New York – His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, attended today, Jun. 26, 2015, the funeral service for South Carolina State Sen. Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was slain last Wednesday with eight others inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.

Archbishop Demetrios attended the service from its start, in the filled to capacity TD Arena at the College of Charleston. The service concluded with the moving eulogy of President Barack Obama. Following the conclusion of the service, His Eminence greeted and expressed his condolences to the wife and family members of Rev. Clementa Pinckney. He also greeted President Obama, participating clergy of the Emanuel AME Church, other officials and participants.