A chapel in the Long-Distance Aviation headquarters consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy
3.09.2002 · English, Архив 2002
A CHAPEL IN THE LONG-DISTANCE AVIATION HEADQUARTERS CONSECRATED BY HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY
On August 21, 2002, His Holiness the Patriarch consecrated a Chapel of God’s Prophet Elias in the Russian Long-Distance Aviation headquarters.
In the chapel, there is a Memorial Book with names of more than two thousand Russian military pilots who died in the line of duty.
“From now on the chapel will be a holy place for those who have to fulfil difficult and sometimes dangerous flying tasks. Before setting out for long-distant flights they can ask for God’s blessing here”, His Holiness said. “May the prayerful intercession of the holy Prophet Elias help and support them.”
Patriarch Alexy gave an icon of Christ the Savoir to the church and blessed the military pilots to serve for the nation and the Motherland.
The Primate of the Russian Church decorated Lieutenant-General M. Oparin with the Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, 2nd degree, for his contribution to the strengthening of the Russian Long-Distance Aviation and cooperation between Russian soldiers and the Russian Orthodox Church. His Holiness also rewarded other officers with high church decorations for their ardent work for the building of the chapel.
After the chapel was consecrated, His Holiness expressed his heartfelt condolences to relatives of the Russians who died in the military helicopter crash in Chechnya and the apartment house explosion in Academician Korolev Street in Moscow.
“It was a great sorrow for us to hear of the tragic crash of a Russian helicopter in Chechnya, in which 115 officers and servicemen were killed”, His Holiness stressed. “On the day of national mourning the people of God will pray for the salvation of their souls.”
“At night one more tragedy occurred as an apartment house exploded in Academician Korolev Street in Moscow, in which several human lives were taken. We extend our sincere condolence to relatives of the victims and to those who have lost their flats and property”, His Holiness the Patriarch said.
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