GURDJIEFF DIED THE MORNING of October 29, 1949. William Welch, his American doctor, said, "I have seen many men die. He died like a king."
As Gurdjieff directed, the funeral service took place in the Russian Orthodox Church in the rue Daru.
The priest read the eulogy prepared by Thomas de Hartmann. It was written in such a way that the last words pronounced by the priest in front of Gurdjieff's coffin are from Gurdjieff's ballet The Struggle of the Magicians: "Lord Creator and all you His assistants, help us to be able to remember ourselves at all times in order that we may avoid involuntary actions, as only through them can evil manifest itself." Gurdjieff was then buried at Avon Cemetery at Fontainebleau, not far from the Prieuré.
