“Today I prayed that the brothers never looked at each other through the hindsight, helped each other under the most complicated political and economical circumstances», the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the sailors and thousands of residents of Sebastopol, present at the solemn ceremony in Nakhimova square.
“As patriarch of Russia I bless you, both Russian and Ukrainians, for fruitful cooperation for the sake of spiritual wealth of the Kyivan Rus”, said the Moscow hierarch.
He expressed certainty that his prayer for unity was supported also by those who are not on the earth, but already in heavens – the deceased defenders of Sebastopol.
Having laid the wreath to the memorial, the Patriarch, the bishops and other representatives of the clergy sang “memory eternal” to the deceased defendants of Motherland.
Thereafter the Patriarch addressed the residents of Sebastopol and the guests of the city: “The clergymen are to work in the Armed Forces and help the youth to uplift their spirit... and ability to sacrifice their lives for their neighbors”.
According to him, the military obligation is an expression of the strongest feelings of man”.
“When man sacrifices his life, it means that all of his life with no remainder is given to the others”, noted the Firs Hierarch. “And this is the commandment that God gave us”, he added.
That is why, the Patriarch underscored, the people wearing shoulder straps, we always respected.
RIA News
