Tributes will be paid by the four main parties.

A special edition of Holyrood Live is covering the brief session.

 Click here to watch from 1355BST-1520BST

BBC Radio Scotland's People and Power programme on Friday is a special tribute to Donald Dewar.

 Click here to listen from 1400BST-1500BST

Presiding Officer Sir David Steel started his tribute to Mr Dewar after proceedings began with a minute's silence by MSPs.

Acting First Minister Jim Wallace, Lib Dem, will then speak to the motion of condolence followed by contributions from John Swinney, SNP; David McLetchie, Conservatives and Henry McLeish, Labour.

Each contribution will be about five minutes long and the sitting will conclude after 30 minutes with no other business being taken.

Mr Wallace's motion reads:

"That the parliament expresses its deep regret and sadness at the untimely death of its First Minister, The Rt Hon Donald Dewar MP MSP; offers its sympathy and sincere condolences to his family and many friends whose grief is shared by all Members of this Parliament; agrees that tributes should now be paid to a distinguished Parliamentarian and a great leader of Scotland; further agrees that as a mark of respect no other business will be taken today."

Sir David predicted there would be a "very full" attendance at the parliament, with MSPs returning from their constituencies and holidays abroad to be present.

"We want to acknowledge the tremendous weight of public sympathy that has poured into the parliament over the last 48 hours, and we want to meet together to sat thank you to Donald for what he did," said Sir David.