Mourners gathered at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on Monday to remember the family that was brutally murdered on Embassy Row in May.
Funeral Proceedings began early on June 1 to honor Savvas, Amy and Phillip Savopoulos, who were held hostage inside their home for more than 19 hours before being killed in a quadruple homicide along with their housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa. Phillip Savopoulos was just 10 years old at the time of the attack.
The family was described at the funeral as “just warm and giving people”, according to a Washington Post report. Savvas worked as an executive of American Iron Works, while his wife Amy volunteered for local schools. Phillip Savopoulos was enrolled at the prestigious St. Albans School. The New York Times reports that the all-boys academy has universally mourned the loss of their classmate and religious counseling has been made available for students affected by the tragic loss.
In a press release, officials from St. Sophia’s emphasized the need to respect the mourning process for the Savopoulos family. The use of recording equipment was banned from inside the cathedral and camera crews were instructed to remain in media designated areas.
The Savopoulos family has asked that donations be made to the St. Sophia Cathedral as a substitute for gifts and flowers, according to The Washington Post.