The primate of the Russian Orthodox Church sends condolences to Her Majesty Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister Anthony Blair and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in connection with the terrorist attacks in London

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia has expressed condolences over the tragedy in the British capital city, which became target for criminal attacks by terrorists. Given below are the texts of the messages sent to Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Anthony Blair and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

Her Majesty Elizabeth II

Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Your Majesty,

With pain I have learnt that the wave of terrorist attacks bringing death to the whole world has reached the capital city of Great Britain.

In these hard days I pray that those who were killed may find rest, that the injured may be healed and that all your subjects may be able to withstand the deadly blow with courage and help one another to endure its consequences with love.

Unfortunately, the faithful of my Church know only too well what terror is. The blood of innocent people including children has been shed in our cities and villages not for once.

Remembering this bitter experience, I testify that attacks on civilians can never be justified. Every force that prepares such attacks, approves them or participates in planning and propagating them should be excluded from the life of society. There is no other way to defeat terrorism. Both your and our history is clear evidence to it.

Please, convey the most sincere feelings of compassion to all those who need support today. May the Almighty Lord be with Your Majesty and the Government and the people of the United Kingdom. May He ward off every disaster and misfortunes from your country.

With profound respect,

+ ALEXY
,

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

His Excellency Anthony Blair

Prime Minister

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Together with many clergy and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church I am shocked by the terrorist actions committed in London.

I am sure that what has happen will become for every one of us a formidable reminder that the existence of evil forces capable of killing civilians cannot be tolerated. Otherwise the tragedies which killed people in New York, Moscow, Madrid, Beslan, London will be repeated again and again in various parts of the world and nobody will be secure against them.

In face of the threat, we should be united in the same measure as we united sixty years ago for the sake of victory over nazism. To this end we have to give up all the secondary differences and interests and forget forever about ‘double standards’ with regard to terror and its victims.

Today I mourn for those who were killed in the British capital city. I pray to the Lord for the healing of the injured. And to British soldiers, law-enforcement people, doctors and all those who seek to alleviate the consequences of the outrage I wish God’s help.

May the Lord help us to defeat the evil of terrorism together. May He grant peace to His people, protecting them from every evil deed.

Respectfully,

+ ALEXY
,

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

His Grace Rowan Williams

Archbishop of Canterbury

Primate of All England and Metropolitan

Your Grace, Dear Brother,

I would like to extend to you sincere condolences over the terrible crime that was committed in London yesterday – the series of terrorist attacks that claimed dozens of lives and injured hundreds of people.

In these mournful days, we pray that the souls of those who were killed may rest in the heavenly mansions of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the injured may be healed and that all the relatives and friends of the victims may be given spiritual strength.

At the same time, the heartfelt sorrow does not weaken our souls. It rather impels all Christians, all those who believe in One God and all those who are ready to oppose the forces of darkness and the ‘spiritual wickedness in high places’ (Eph. 6:12) to unite their efforts.

With love in the Lord,

+ ALEXY
,

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

See also:

• His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia