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But making a fuss over whether or not he can see the deacon’s beard (c’mon, the guy is clearly blond) and estimates about his age as a reaction to a memorial service...I just don’t get.

First of all, Old Corps comment that panikhidas can be made only for Orthodox Christians and not for victims of terrorism in general is absolutely spot on! The Church can certainly offer a prayer for all victims, but the Church can not perform Orthodox funeral rites for the non-Orthodox, and panikhidas are equivalent to funeral rites.

Second,regarding OC's' comment on the archimandrite's vestments, perhaps the panikhida was served immediately after the Divine Liturgy. I believe he would normally devest himself but I am not sure. I defer to Kolo and others who may be more familiar with the rules.

Third, Old Corps was wrong regarding the deacon because a simple review of the original article shows that the deacon (on the right) does have a beard and is not necessarily under 25 years of age.

No doubt, the deacon on the right does have a beard. However, the beard appears to be somewhat stylized which is another issue.

So, my advice is to examine the evidence and not jump to conclusions based on one photograph.

“First of all, Old Corps comment that panikhidas can be made only for Orthodox Christians and not for victims of terrorism in general is absolutely spot on! The Church can certainly offer a prayer for all victims, but the Church can not perform Orthodox funeral rites for the non-Orthodox, and panikhidas are equivalent to funeral rites.

Second,regarding OC’s’ comment on the archimandrite’s vestments, perhaps the panikhida was served immediately after the Divine Liturgy. I believe he would normally devest himself but I am not sure. I defer to Kolo and others who may be more familiar with the rules.”

My assumption was that the Memorial Service was for the Orthodox dead since Kosta is of course correct. A Memorial Service is done only for Orthodox people. In the Greek Church we can, and do, chant a Trisagion Service for non Orthodox dead.

In the Greek Orthodox Church I have never seen a priest, Archimandrite or otherwise, divest before performing a memorial Service after just finishing a Divine Liturgy. I do not know what the practice is in Slavic Churches.