UK Expresses Sorrowful Prayer to Russian Victims

The first Sunday Service in September was held under the gloom of the painful school siege horror in Russia. While the small Russian town of Beslan began burying those who died in the event, many in the UK, including the Royal Family attended special memorial services and expressed their love to European brothers through sincere prayers.

As the established church in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church in west London gathered some 300 people to hear a special 20-minute service followed by the usual Sunday prayers. In the Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints in Knightsbridge, men, women and children held candles in their hands and prayed for the Russian souls that have experienced so much suffering. Even though the service was moving, the scars inside the hearts of many Russians still will take much time to heal.

In a conversation with BBC, Father John, the Dean of the cathedral since 1979, recalled that the church has already held many special services for tragedies which have happened again and again in Russia over the years.

Father John even honestly confessed that his faith had been tested as the situation in Russia seems “hopeless”.

“I suppose as a priest I’m supposed to say forgive and that’s what Christ said, of course. But it’s a fact that in Russia many families have only one child, so it’s quite likely that for many of these families it was the only child.

“It all seems such a throwback to primitive times when you saw those kids being carried out nearly naked, dehydrated and starving. It makes you wonder whether we have made any progress.”

Yet, most of the congregation, still gained lots of strength through their religious refuge. One of those who attended the service said, “Yes, our lives are difficult and such things will happen again in the future. It was awful of course but we will overcome because God is with us. We want to see our Russia strong and healthy.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Blair and members of the Royal Family attended the morning service at Crathie Kirk, Royal Deeside in Scotland. The service was conducted by Reverend Bob Sloan from Crathie Kirk and guest minister Dr Alison Elliot, moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly. Altogether, they prayed for “those who grieve the loss of children and loved ones in southern Russia.”

Earlier, The Queen sent a message of condolence to Russian President Vladimir Putin. She spoke of her “profound shock at the events” and asked Mr Putin to pass on her “deepest sympathy to the bereaved and injured”.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also responded, “It is hard to express my revulsion at the inhumanity of terrorists prepared to put children and their families through such suffering. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, the families and friends of those killed, those injured and all of the Russian people at this time.”