Light at the heart of the world: in Paris, they said goodbye to Eric Bulatov

On Friday, November 14, 2025, in the Holy‑A funeral service and a civil farewell to the artist Eric Bulatov were held at the Trinity Cathedral in Paris. On November 9, he died of emphysema in a Paris hospital. He was 92 years old. An illustrator of the most famous Soviet children's books and an internationally renowned conceptual artist, Bulatov has lived in France since 1992, although he has never severed ties with his homeland. The Izvestia correspondent attended the funeral service and noted that Bulatov has fewer fans in France than in Russia.

Where was Bulatov's funeral service

Saintly‑Trinity Cathedral is an impressive temple located just a few hundred meters from the Eiffel Tower. It is part of a single architectural complex, which also includes the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and cultural center. The surrounding space, which connects the French urban environment and the Russian spiritual tradition, created a special atmosphere at Eric Bulatov's farewell, emphasizing the significance of what was happening. Long before noon, when the funeral service was announced, people began to gather here.

There was a muted, almost chamber-like silence inside the temple. The soft twilight, the light from dozens of flickering candles, the smell of incense, the soft sound of church singing — all this made the space look like a place of reflection and prayer. It seemed that every detail was meant to emphasize the importance of the moment of saying goodbye and give people the opportunity to experience it calmly and meaningfully. At the entrance, the guests were greeted by a large portrait of Bulatov, in front of which lay white lilies and roses, flowers symbolizing respect and pure memory.

Twelve chairs with Famille Réservé signs were prepared in advance for the artist's relatives and family members. They were placed so that relatives could be next to each other.

The ceremony was performed by seven priests. Russian Russian was used for the main part of the service, but every important word was duplicated in French so that Parisians and friends of the artist who did not speak Russian could fully understand the meaning of the prayers and speeches being said. Russian Russian phrases were sometimes heard from different parts of the church in French, and much more often than in Russian, although perhaps Russians were not used to speaking during the funeral service.

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The priest who led the service made a speech about Bulatov. He noted that Eric gave the impression of a bright, open person to everyone who had the opportunity to meet him. "A bright memory to a bright man," said the priest. He also told the audience that the artist was baptized under the name Philemon and his inner bright nature fully corresponded to the spiritual meaning of this name. According to the priest, Bulatov believed that the world was based on light, and it was this faith that determined his view of life and art. He added that these reflections are in tune with the words from the Gospel of John: "I am the light of the world."

Concluding the sermon, the priest said that those present accompany a person on an eternal path — the path to light, to peace, to God. "May the Lord rest him in his heavenly villages. Amen," the priest concluded.

Who was at Bulatov's farewell

Among those who came were colleagues, friends, fans, and just those who had once been touched by his art. The Izvestia correspondent was asked in advance not to disturb those present, because the ceremony should remain quiet, private, and intimate. Moreover, it turned out that, in fact, the press was not invited to the event and it was done intentionally.

But I managed to talk to several young French art college students outside the temple. "Eric has always been able to make us see the world differently. His paintings didn't just reflect reality —they changed the way it was perceived. Saying goodbye to him is like closing an entire epoch. But his legacy will inspire for decades to come, and maybe even more," they said. One of the guests named Philippe Bovary said that he has been inspired by Bulatov's work for many years and dreams of one day reaching similar artistic heights and world recognition. He called Eric his main source of inspiration and teacher, although he was not personally acquainted with him.

When the ceremony came to an end, the widow of the artist, Natalia Sergeevna Godzina, stood at the exit of the temple, accepting words of support from everyone who wanted to approach. She tried to talk to everyone, but it was obvious that it was not easy for her to hold back her tears. Talking to a correspondent of Izvestia, she admitted that she does not like to be photographed, but warmly thanked for the attention and support.

After the end of the official part, many of the guests lingered in the vestibule of the cathedral. There they talked quietly, reviewed photographs from Bulatov's exhibitions, discussed his work, recalled meetings with the artist or his paintings, which especially influenced them. Several people discussed who exactly had flown in from Russia to say goodbye, and shared news and details.

As Izvestia found out, after the ceremony, the artist will be cremated in Paris, and later his ashes will be transported to Moscow, where the funeral will take place. Thus, saying goodbye in Paris is not the only opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of the Russian artist.