Moscow, September 16, 2019
ocapodvorie.org
On Wednesday, September 11, a special memorial service was held in Moscow for victims of terrorism, especially the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
The anniversary of the attacks coincided with the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist this year.
This unique and solemn event was held at the beautiful Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr, which is the representation church of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
The service was led by the Very Reverend Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, the rector of the church and representative of the OCA to the Patriarchate of Moscow. Attending the service was the American Ambassador to the Russian Federation Mr. Jon Huntsman Jr., Mr. Stéphane Jobin as Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Canada to Russia, and Ms. Nomasonto Sibanda-Thusi, the South African Ambassador.
ocapodvorie.org
Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Alexandria were also in attendance and served with Fr. Daniel.
After the service, Fr. Daniel gave a sermon, honoring those who perished in the terrorist attacks on 9/11, which included several Orthodox Christians, as well as all victims of terrorism around the world.
The American Ambassador Jon Huntsman expressed his gratitude for the beautiful requiem offered at St. Catherine’s Church, and noted that immediately following the 9/11 attacks, “people [from] around the world, including Russia, open[ed] their hearts, [and] expressed their love and compassion for the people of America.”
Photos of the service and events can be found on the website of the representation church which also noted that the American and Canadian envoys both appealed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for support in restoring the already beautiful St. Catherine’s Church to its former majesty.
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The Church of St. Catherine is located just south of the Moscow Kremlin beyond the river, and is always very gracious and glad to receive visitors from America, English-speakers, and all Orthodox Christians.
Under the wise leadership of the esteemed Archpriest Daniel, the parish community is developing a very strong veneration of St. John of Shanghai and San-Francisco and his missionary spirit can be felt in the multi-lingual orientation of this very unique parish in the heart of Moscow.
Matfey Shaheen
