Ion Iliescu funeral/ Private service for repose of the departed officiated at Union Hall

Collaborators and close familiars paid their last respects to former President Ion Iliescu, whose coffin is laid in state at the Union Hall of the Cotroceni Palace, in a private ceremony on Wednesday evening.

Nina Iliescu, the former president's wife of 74 years, was not present, but a wreath of white roses placed on her behalf at her husband's catafalque had a ribbon reading: "Rest in peace. Your deeply grieved Nina".

The service for the repose of the departed (Panikhida) was officiated by the Vicar Bishop Timotei Prahoveanul of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, accompanied by a group of priests and deacons and members of the "Tronos" psaltic ensemble of the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Among those present at the religious service were: the governor of the National Bank of Romania Mugur Isarescu, former Social Democrat ministers Rodica Stanoiu and Petre Daea, Social Democrat deputy Ioan Vulpescu, former PSD MPs Viorel Hrebenciuc and Serban Nicolae, former Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, former president of the Constitutional Court of Romania Valer Dorneanu, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bucharest Mihnea Costoiu, former director of Romanian Intelligence Service Virgil Magureanu.

Other personalities present were: Chief Rabbi Rafael Shaffer, painter Stefan Caltia, former Secretary of State for Religious Affairs Victor Opaschi, director general of the National Stamp Company Romfilatelia Cristina Popescu, writer Angela Martin.

Only the guard of honor will keep vigil at the catafalque during the night.

Former President Ion Iliescu will be laid at rest on Thursday, with military honors, at the Ghencea III Military Cemetery. He died on Tuesday at the ''Agrippa Ionescu'' Hospital in Bucharest, at the age of 95.