His Holiness Patriarch Alexy sends his condolences with a passenger train crush in Montenegro

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia sent a message to the President of the Republic of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic in which he expressed his condolences with the train crush outside Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, killing more than forty people aboard and injuring some two hundred. The text is given below.

Your Excellency, highly esteemed Mr. President,

I felt pain in my heart when I received sorrowful news of a passenger train crush outside Montenegro’s capital that killed and injured many people.

The tragedy is exacerbated by the fact that victims include many children who were travelling home after holidays. The near and dear of the lost and injured experience terrible sufferings. May the Lord help them to endure this trial with dignity.

On these days of grief and mourning the Russian Orthodox Church offers up its prayers for the rest of the souls of those perished and for the soonest recovery of the injured. It expresses its sympathy and support to You, highly esteemed Mr. President, the country’s leadership, to the near and dear of the dead and to all people of Montenegro.

I believe and hope that You, the government of the Republic, rescuers and medical doctors will do anything possible to alleviate the sufferings of the unfortunate people.

May the Lord grant you courage, patience and His almighty help to overcome the consequences of the terrible disaster.

With sincere respect,

+ALEXY,
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA