George Boustronios, chronicler and serviceman to King James II, recounts the events that followed the King’s death and the arrangements for his funeral:
And on the thirtieth of July the queen sent to Lefkosia to fetch the porphyry sarcophagus from Santa Sophia that she might deposit the king in it. And when the men of the church heard this, they were in confusion and took counsel together; they decided that the sarcophagus might not leave Santa Sophia, and that if anyone tried to take it away he should be excommunicate. Word of this was sent to the queen, and she ordered a message to be sent to the Pope to bring a decision.