The state funeral of former president George Vassiliou, who passed away on Tuesday night aged 94, will be held on Saturday in Strovolos.

The service will take place at 1pm at the Ayia Sofia cathedral, and his burial will follow at the Aglandjia municipal cemetery.

His body shall lie in state at the same church on Friday between 10am to 5pm.

He is survived by his wife Androulla, his children Sofia, Evelthon and Vasso, and his grandchildren George, Alexandros, Andreana, Savvas and Anthea.

On Wednesday, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said that Vassiliou’s funeral will take place “with the honours of a sitting president”, and that Cyprus will remain in official mourning until the funeral.

As such, he explained, flags on all public buildings and schools will be flown at half-mast.

He also said that Saturday will be an official public holiday, and that the government will open a book of condolences at the presidential palace on Friday, to be signed by members of the diplomatic corps and state officials, as well as members of the government.

Condolence books will also be opened at all Cypriot diplomatic missions abroad.

In place of wreaths, the family has requested that donations be made to the Arodafnousa palliative care centre, the pancyprian kidney patients organisation and Spavo, the association for the prevention of family violence.