Orthodox churches here mourn victims: [1 All-round Country Edition]
James Madden, John Stapleton. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 06 Sep 2004: 2.
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Abstract
At the Russian Orthodox church at Strathfield in western Sydney, a major part of the service was the panikhida, where prayers were said for the victims of Beslan.
The unspeakable horror of Beslan may have taken place on the other side of the world, but for many of the 150 worshippers at yesterday’s mass at Collingwood’s Russian Orthodox church, in inner- city Melbourne, the pain was very close to home.
Moderator of the Uniting Church in NSW Alistair Christie said prayers were held in churches of many faiths across Australia yesterday for those who died or were suffering in Beslan.
Full Text
SUNDAY morning is a time for prayers in churches across the nation, and nowhere were they more intense or heartfelt yesterday than among the Russian-Australian community.
At the Russian Orthodox church at Strathfield in western Sydney, a major part of the service was the panikhida, where prayers were said for the victims of Beslan.
The head of the church in Australia, Archbishop Hilarion, used his sermon to speak about the meaning of suffering.
“All our congregation, every human being, feels the sorrow and grief of how the parents and children felt,” the Archbishop said.
“We prayed for the souls of those who departed and we prayed for those who have remained — the parents, relatives, the children who went through such a traumatic experience, not knowing whether they would survive or die.”
In Melbourne, the tears in the eyes of the elderly women among the congregation were the giveaway — this was not a regular Sunday morning service.
The unspeakable horror of Beslan may have taken place on the other side of the world, but for many of the 150 worshippers at yesterday’s mass at Collingwood’s Russian Orthodox church, in inner- city Melbourne, the pain was very close to home.
“Most people here still have relatives in Russia so I think they are experiencing a real sense of national sorrow,” said churchgoer Elizabeth Dalinkiewicz.
“The whole thing is just dreadful. There is just the wrong kind of spirit in the world at the moment. I just can’t imagine what it was like for the parents of thechildren who were inside the school.”
Sydney parishioner Larissa Kotlaroff, 31, said no one could understand why these tragedies happened.
“It has a resonance for all of us with a Russian background — they are Russian people,” she said. “The prayers help, we believe it helps.”
Another parishioner, Nick Smolonogov, said the community was devastated at the senseless killing of innocent children.
“I don’t think there is anything that justifies this,” he said. “It is beyond any logic of politics.
“The Russian community worldwide is shocked.”
Moderator of the Uniting Church in NSW Alistair Christie said prayers were held in churches of many faiths across Australia yesterday for those who died or were suffering in Beslan.
“Jesus said if you follow me it is going to be difficult,” Reverend Christie said.
“When I heard the news of what was happening in Beslan I felt powerless, but I could pray.
“That is the message I took to my congregation — we can pray for all of those people there.”