Iceland prays for Nalchik

A prayer for victims of the terrorist attack in Nalchik was conducted in the city of Kopavagur, Iceland, on 14 October 2005.

Parishioners of the church of St. Nicholas of the Moscow Patriarchate headed by Rev. Timofei Zolotussky conducted a prayer service with the acathistos hymn to the Mother of God in the Lutheran church of Kopavagur. They prayed for granting peace to Nalchik.

Besides the Orthodox faithful from Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Germany, the present were: Hialti Zofoniasson, head of the Department for Church and Civil Affairs of the Iceland Ministry of Justice and Church Relations, Valery Poliakov, RF attorney in Iceland, Phillip Cosnett, USA attorney in Iceland, Rev. Denny Nix, chaplain of the USA air force in Keflavik, Rector of the Kopavogur parish pastor Aigir Sigurgeisson and the numerous Lutheran faithful.

Father Timofei told that the feast of the Protection of the Mother of God was connected both with Russia and Scandinavia as according to the legend it was set up to commemorate miraculous deliverance of Constantinople from Russian warriors leaded by Varangians Ascold and Dir. Soon Ascold, Dir and other warriors were baptized and it gave ground for spreading Christianity in Russian lands.

‘Recalling this event we seek the Protection of the Mother of God and pray to save our cities and towns from those, who came to destroy peaceful life’, the Rector of the Orthodox church in Reykjavik said.

The service was conducted in Slavonic, English and Icelandic and was held in frameworks of the Days of Russian Culture in Kopavogur. Three kontakions, two ikoses and the prayer to the Mother of God were translated into the Icelandic language especially for the prayer service. The Days of Russian Culture are organized by the municipality of Kopavogur and the RF Embassy in Iceland.