Patriarch Alexy expresses deep concern with synagogue rampage

On 11 January 2005, eight people were injured in the result of a rampage at the synagogue at Bolshaya Bronnaya Ulitsa in central Moscow.

The Primate of the Russian Church addressed the Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and on behalf of the Russian Orthodox Church expressed sympathy and support to all the injured.

The message of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy reads:

‘I deeply grieve at the violent incident in Moscow synagogue at Bolshaya Bronnaya Ulitsa when eight people were injured. The attacker ran into the synagogue during evening prayers and stabbed innocent people.

The Russian Orthodox Church shares your concerns and expresses sympathy and support to you, relatives and friends of the injured and prays for their soonest recovery. The authorities, law enforcement agencies, religious leaders and the entire society should spare no effort to prevent such manifestations of national and religious intolerance. I am convinced that by joint efforts we shall be able to overcome evil of extremism and xenophobia in our country and provide security for realization of religious rights and freedoms.

May the Lord help us to preserve and multiply our common treasure – centuries-old experience of fruitful cooperation between traditional for Russia religions, experience of religious tolerance, peace and social accord’.