A Co Tyrone priest known for his cross community work has been described as "a true example of a Christian" following his death on Saturday.
Fr Kevin Mullan, who was in his late 70s, died after a period of illness.
The passing of the popular priest has sparked an outpouring of sadness with many tributes being paid.
Originally from Omagh, in later years he was based in Drumquin, which is near the Co Tyrone town.
Ordained in 1971, her served as a priest for more than 50 years across the diocese of Derry.
Renowned for his ecumenical efforts, he was also respected for the work he did in the aftermath of the 1998 Omagh bomb.
In 2019 he received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to inter-church collaboration and community relations.
He is also remembered for the relationship he established with his then Presbyterian counterpart Rev David Armstrong.
Rev Armstrong, along with his wife and children, was forced by loyalists to leave his church in Limavady, Co Derry, in 1985 after exchanging Christmas greetings with Fr Mullan.
Rev Armstrong, who later became a Church of England vicar, said he was saddened by news of his friend's death.
"I am absolutely devastated, my wife and children join me very much in that," he told The Irish News.
"He changed our lives, and really in Limavady, I only got through it due to his prayers.
"He was a true example of a Christian and you must remember that in those days very little crossing the road was ever done throughout Northern Ireland because there was bombs and bullets.
"I got very frustrated and disappointed that colleagues were just turning a blind eye to it and really giving Christianity in Northern Ireland a bad name throughout the world."
Rev Armstrong spoke of the close relationship he had with Fr Mullan.
"I will sadly, sadly miss him. He was my colleague, my friend.
"We travelled in the States (USA) together, Holland, Germany, and his company was a treasure."
Rev Armstrong said that when Fr Mullan celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination in 2021, he asked his friend to take part.
"He asked me to be the preacher at that service and the reception that my wife and I got from his people when I travelled down to Drumquin was really phenomenal - the attention and they listened to every word.
"But I counted it a privilege that after 50 years of ordination that he would ask me to be the preacher and his friendship is never going to be forgotten and he set Northern Ireland an example of what a Christian was, he really did."
Rev Armstrong said he was "broken" by the news of Fr Mullan's death.
"I have lost what you might call my partner, my wife and I would say Kevin was our partner," he said.
"We were together through thick and thin."
Now based in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, Rev Armstrong intends to make the journey to Omagh and Drumquin in the coming days.
"It will be a sad journey but we couldn't be anywhere else," he added.
Fr Mullan's remains will be brought from his home for an inter-church service with evening prayer in St Patrick's Church, Langfield, Drumquin, at 7.30pm on Monday.
Removal from the church will take place at 1pm on Tuesday for a private family Requiem Mass and interment.
