The body of writer Ion Druță was brought from the Russian Federation where he had lived for a period and will be buried in Soroca, as his last wish was. October 2 was declared a day of national mourning in connection with the funeral, IPN reports.

The ceremony starts at the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” in Chisinau. Between 9am and 11 am, all those who want can go there to bid farewell to Ion Druță.

Afterward, the funeral procession will go to Soroca. A religious ceremony will be held at the Candle of Gratitude Monument in Soroca after 11:30am. The burial will take place at about 4:30pm.

According to the President’s Office, a moment of silence will be observed in memory of Ion Druță at midday. The state flag will be flown at half-mast in all the localities in the country and at Moldova’s embassies and consular offices abroad.

The national public broadcaster “Teleradio-Moldova” will broadcast programs about Ion Druță’s works from the company’s archive.

The Ministry of Culture said it will honor the writer’s memory and the contribution he made to developing the Romanian literary and culture by staging a series of special events, including a retrospective exhibition and theater plays and the publication of an anniversary edition of his works.

Writer Ion Druță, who recently turned 95, died on September 28 in Moscow. In his will, he wrote that he wanted to be buried in the Republic of Moldova, in Soroca.

He was born on September 3, 1928 in Horodiște village of Dondușeni district. His books “Longing Leave”, “Field Ballads”, “Last Autumn Month”, “Burden of Our Kindness”, “Belfry”, “Horodiște”, “White Church” and others form part of the golden stock of the national literature. In 1987, Ion Druta was named president of honor of the Writers Union of Moldova. He was a member of honor of the Romanian Academy and a member of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova. On August 26, 2008, he won the State Award for exceptional contribution to developing national and universal culture and literature.