The Nation mourns...

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]BCNA Breaking News: Nation in mourning[/b][/u]


[i]“Ladies and gentlemen of the Serene Republic, good morning. We regret to inform you that His Most Orthodox Royal Highness and Imperator Emeritus Azenquor I passed away at 5:10am this morning. The deaths of great men are not to be mourned, but celebrated for the lives that they have lived and the progress they have made. Such is the case of our beloved former Imperator Azenquor I.

His Royal Highness Prince Azenquor I will forever be remembered for his remarkable determination in the face of extremely difficult odds and his love of his people. His Highness rose to prominence when he, alongside national hero General Zhukov, led a successful coup d’état against the Khudorozkina dictatorship. This Revolution restored the monarchy and laid the foundation of the first post-communist Vaulian state. His Highness valiantly led the nation through periods of instability and a civil war. He was also instrumental in the restoration of the Vaulian Orthodox Church, and directing the nation’s first foray into regional and international politics.

As Prime Ministers and Presidents came and went like the tides, His Excellency was the guiding beacon of the nation. During his tenure as Imperator, the Imperator forged strong ties with the nation of Crimea Iso, and encouraged the nation’s entry into the RUSSIAN pact. His Excellency was succeeded by Imperatrix Marimeya.

Accordingly, Imperator Pyotr has decreed eleven days of national mourning and has ordered that all Vaulian flags be lowered to half mast. Prime Minister Eva Marija Potusek, and Prime Minister-elect Svatek are expected to address the nation later today. We will keep you informed as we receive more information.”[/i]-Reporter

[VigilantWatcher]

All Buryatian flags in the Commonwealth were lowered to half mass in sympathy. President Vladimir Potomkin said "the passing of a great sovereign who guided Vaule through any years of greatness will be surely missed. My condolenses go to the Vaulian Royal Family at this sad time."

[KaiserMelech Mikhail]

Our entire nation mourns with our Vaulian brothers. This is a tragic day for us all.

[king of cochin]

The Kingdom of Cochin expresses its condolences at the passing away of His Most Orthodox Royal Highness and Imperator Emeritus Azenquor.

[Justinian the Mighty]

Slavorussia grieves with Vaule. Though this sorrow may you find solace.

[iKrolm]

The government of Selenarctos sends our condolences for the loss of Prince Azenquor I.

[Triyun]

[quote]Imperator Prytor:

Unfortunately unrest in Beijing makes Chairman Jia unable to send a personal message. However as acting leader of the Federation, I Vice Chairman Kou offer a formal letter of condolence to you on the passing of the Imperator Emeritus. We wish you, your family, and your people well and grieve for your loss.

Signed,

Vice Chairman Kou[/quote]

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]BCNA News: Imperial State Funeral plans finalized [/b][/u]


[i]“The Imperial Household released a short statement to the press regarding the passing of the Imperator Emeritus Azenquor I. The statement expressed the sadness and grief felt by the Imperial Family due to the loss of their patriarch. Imperator Pyotr stated that the loss of his father came as a shock, and that the late Imperator was a source of inspiration and advice. The statement also acknowledged the grief of the nation and stated that the Imperial family grieves alongside the people of the nation.

The Imperator Emeritus shall be given an official state funeral at the Imperial Chapel in Sygh-Varthys tomorrow evening. While the funeral ceremony will be televised, only the Imperial family, foreign representatives and selected members of the public shall be permitted to attend the funeral. After the funeral, the Imperator Emeritus shall lay in state for 24 hours before being interred at the Royal Tomb.

Early this morning the Parliament approved a cross party resolution which conferred the title Hero of the Serene Republic (H.S.R.) to the Imperator Emeritus. The resolution was approved unanimously by all 650 MPs in the new Parliament. The Parliament is not expected to meet again for ten days due to the current state of national mourning.

At the Imperial Palace in Sygh-Varthys, members of the public have begun to lay wreaths, flowers and messages of condolence at the west gate of the palace. The Imperial family, who have not been seen in public since the announcement, are expected to remain out of public view until the funeral. Across the nation, there has been a large outpouring of grief by citizens. Many flocked to nearby churches and lit candles.”[/i]-Reporter

===

Imperator Pyotr responded to each statement offering condolences through the appropriate channels. Where protocol dictated, the responses would be conveyed by the Vaulian Ambassador; otherwise the response would come straight from the Imperator.

[quote]

To all who have offered condolences to my family at this difficult time, I express my sincere gratitude for your support. I thank you. I regret that time has not permitted me to respond to each message individually.

Signed,
H.M.O.R.H. Pyotr I, Imperator of Vaule & Buryatia

[/quote]

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u] BCNA: Imperial Funeral Ceremony [/b][/u]

[i]“His Most Orthodox Royal Highness Imperator Emeritus Azenquor I will lay in state after the funeral ceremony in the Imperial Cathedral today. The funeral will be attended by several government officials as well as members of the public. According to a spokesman from the Office of the Imperator, Her Excellency Princess Yulia and H.M.O.R.H. Imperator Pyotr shall represent the Imperator at the public funeral. We shall now go live to our uninterrupted coverage of the funeral ceremony.”[/i]-Reporter


[b]***Imperial Cathedral- Sygh-Varthys***[/b]

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/ImperatorsImperialStand.png[/IMG]

Across the city of Sygh-Varthys, the national flags were removed and replaced with the Imperial Standard. Each standard was lowered to half mast as mandated by Imperial Decree. Ahead of the funeral procession, thousands of citizens, dressed in black, lined the streets along the route.

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/0133629650085.jpg[/IMG]

As the clock tower in the center of the city struck noon, the first part of the procession arrived at the Cathedral. Thousands of soldiers from the Organization of the Zodiac (OZ) Special Forces units marched slowly past the Imperial Cathedral. Each soldier carried a red and blue flag with the Coat of Arms of the Late Imperator on it.

The Patriarch of the Vaulian Orthodox Church and Imperator Pyotr stood on the steps of the Imperial Cathedral as the soldiers marched slowly past. The soldiers simultaneously saluted the Imperator, and then lowered the flags that they carried with them. The crowds suddenly fell silent as they watched the procession approach.

An honor guard of ten mounted officers of the GPSR (Guardians of the Peace of the Serene Republic) followed the OZ Forces. The officers were divided into two neat columns and between them was a single horse drawn carriage with the coffin of the Imperator Emeritus inside. The carriage stopped in front of the Imperial Cathedral and the pall bearers solemnly carried it up the steps and into the Imperial Cathedral.

Patriarch Alexei walked slowly up to the dais before turning to face the mourners. The Patriarch took a deep breath, and then spoke:

[i]“Ladies and gentlemen, let us pause for a moment of silence.”[/i]

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b]**The funeral cont'd**[/b]

As the moment of silence ended, the Patriarch spoke:

[i]"Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, your Excellencies, we are assembled here today to pay our respects to our former Imperator. We pay homage to a remarkable individual who took the helm of our nation during a time of great peril. With remarkable drive, Imperator Azenquor deftly guided our nation forwards. He, alongside the late General Zhukov, founded many of the institutions of the state which exist today. Let us not focus on how he died, let us instead reflect upon how he lived, and how his actions impacted the lives of every citizen of Vaule.

It was the desire of His Excellency the Imperator Emeritus, that no prolonged eulogy be given upon the occasion of his passing. I therefore close with the following announcement from the Office of the Imperator. For his remarkable service to the nation, in good times and bad, His Excellency the Imperator Emeritus Azenquor I shall be posthumously awarded the Order of Vaulia, and the Hero of the Serene Republic (HSR) award. Accordingly, as is customary, the Imperator Emeritus shall henceforth be styled Azenquor the Great.

I thank you"[/i]-Patriarch Alexei

The Patriarch turned in the direction of the Imperial family and bowed slightly before stepping down from the dais. The choir began to sing a solemn tune as the assembled guests moved towards the front of the cathedral to pay their respects. First, Imperator Pyotr walked forward. He placed his hand upon his father's coffin and whispered a few words. The Imperator walked slowly away from the dais and towards one of the exits.


[b]**The next day**[/b]

Thousands and thousands of mourners walked solemnly past the body of the late Imperator to pay their respects. The line of mourners stretched out of the cathedral and down the street as everyone, including senior military and political figures came to pay their respects.

[Justinian the Mighty]

Prime Minister Medvedev and Grand Duke Peter Denisovich were among the many people in the procession of mourners. They paid their respects on behalf of the Slavorussian government and the Imperial Family respectively.

[Zoot Zoot]

Prince Harry and Princess Jessica represented Great Britain at the funeral.
No words were said as they walked in the procession and payed their respects on behalf of England.