On Friday, June 16, the funeral for the newly-departed Metropolitan Antonio (Chedraoui) of Mexico, Venezuela, the Caribbean and all Central America was held in the Diocesan Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Mexico City, Mexico.
The services for the departed Metropolitan were led by hierarchs from the Ecumenical and Antiochian Patriarchates. With the blessing of Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, representing the Moscow Patriarchate were clerics of the Holy Protection Church in Mexico, Archpriest Carlos and Priest Kirill Chacon.
At the conclusion of the funeral service of the newly-departed Metropolitan Antonio, the representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate relayed the condolences of Bishop John as well as the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk which read in part: "The ever-memorable Archpastor dedicated his entire life to the Holy Church and the people of God, from whom, in the words of the late Metropolitan himself, "never hid from in high office." His Christian simplicity, wisdom and love earned him the respect of his own flock as well as other spiritual and secular individuals in Mexico and far beyond. The Lord has blessed the ascetic labors of Metropolitan Antonio by multiplying his flock, increasing the number of new parishes, the development of theological education, which, better than any monuments, will remind the new generations of this distinguished hierarch.
The ever-memorable Metropolitan Antonio was rightly perceived by the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church as a true friend and brother in Christ for his invariably good relations towards Orthodox believers from Russia, as well as his support of the Russian diaspora in Mexico and the countries of Central America.
I share with you all the bitter grief and sense of loss to the relatives of the newly-departed as well as the clergy and faithful of the Antiochian Church. I entreat before the King and God that He grant eternal rest to Metropolitan Antonio in the Heavenly Kingdom."