A Russian Orthodox funeral service for Mr Yeltsin was held at Christ the Saviour Cathedral.
President Vladimir Putin, the heads of the Russian Government and parliament, federal ministries and regional authorities, members of Russia’s intellectual and creative communities, leaders of foreign countries and heads of diplomatic missions all paid tribute to Mr Yeltsin. President of Germany Horst Kohler, former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior, former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and former British Prime Minister John Major were among those who came to bid farewell to Mr Yeltsin.
A total of around 5,000 people were present for the liturgy at the cathedral.
The funeral service was conducted by Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna Yuvenaly, senior member of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod, with Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill and Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borov Kliment assisting.
In an address by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, read out by Metropolitan Yuvenaly before the liturgy began, the Patriarch noted that Mr Yeltsin’s funeral was a unique event in that it marks the first time in more than a century that Russia has paid farewell to a national leader in a church. Metropolitan Yuvenaly passed on the Patriarch’s profound condolences to Mr Yeltsin’s family and to President Putin.
Following the funeral service, the funeral cortege made its way to Novodevichy Cemetery where the burial took place.
Metropolitans Yuvenaly, Kirill and Kliment and Archbishop Arseny conducted the final funeral rites before the burial took place.
As a triple artillery salute was fired, the body of Russia’s First President was lowered into the grave and an orchestra played the Russian National Anthem.
Later in the day, a reception was held in memory of Mr Yeltsin in the St George Hall in the Grand Kremlin Palace. The reception was attended by members of Mr Yeltsin’s family and state officials. Mr Putin made a speech paying tribute to Mr Yeltsin.