Paris, September 2, 2013
On September 1, 2013, the tenth Sunday after Pentecost, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral Church of Three Holy Hierarchs in Paris. The Liturgy was headed by the Church's Rector, Hieromonk Mark (Svyatogorov).
Head of the pilgrimage center Priest Nikolai Nikishin, Chaplain of The French Foreign Legion Hieromonk Alexy (Dumont), Priest Maxim Politov, a Cleric of St Catherine's Church in Rome Hieromonk Amvrosy (Matsegora), Deacon George Sheshko and Deacon Anthony Ivashin concelebrated with him, reports the press service of the Diocese of Korsun.
At the litany of the departed, in memory of the victims of the Beslan tragedy, special petitions were made "for the repose of the departed servants of God innocently slain in Beslan by the evil intent of men".
After the post-Communion prayer, Priest Maxim Politov addressed the gathered believers with a sermon. After the Liturgy, Hieromonk Mark and concelebrating clergy celebrated a traditional prayer service for the beginning of the new school year. At the end of the prayer service the adolescents and their parents were sprinkled with Holy water.
Then a memorial prayer (Litia) was served for repose of the victims of the terrorist act, committed nine years ago in the secondary School No. 1 in Beslan (North Ossetia). The funeral service was headed by Rector of the Church, Hieromonk Mark (Svyatogorov).
Minister-counsellor of the Russian embassy in France L.Y. Kadyshev, Paris Mayor of The 15th District Philippe Goujon, representatives of the "Solidarity with the children of Beslan" association, other French and Russian public organizations, parishioners, and guests of the Church were present at the Litia.
After the Litia for the repose of the innocently slain children of Beslan and their defenders who gave their lives for their salvation, "Eternal memory" was sung.