The late Bishop Cornelius Korir. [Photo: standardmedia.co.ke]
When the body of Eldoret Catholic Diocese Bishop Cornelius Korir will leave Eldoret sports club after the public funeral mass on Saturday, it will be taken to the Sacred Heart Cathedral for burial.
What many might not be knowing, however, is the fact that Bishop Korir will be buried right inside the church that he ministered for the last 27 years.
According to The Canon law of the Catholic Church, a Bishop who dies while still serving is supposed to be buried in a cathedral.
Bishops who die after they have retired are however buried in areas set aside for the burial of Fathers.
"Usually, Catholic Bishops retire at the age of 75, but in case of death while in office like the case of Bishop Korir, our traditions require that he be buried inside the church," said Father Frederick Njoroge who is in charge of Eldoret Catholic Diocese communications office.
"In the event, a cathedral has no enough space to bury the Bishop then he should be buried just outside the church," he added.
Bishop Korir died at the age of 67.
He will be the first Bishop of the Eldoret Catholic Diocese to be buried in the Cathedral.
"When the Bishop of Bungoma diocese died in 90's he was buried inside the Cathedral, popes are also buried inside the St. Peters square at Vatican," noted Fr. Njoroge.
"In modern Cathedrals like Embu, there are areas set aside for the burial of the Bishops just in case one dies while in office," he added.