Patriarch Kirill honours memory of those who fell in action during Great Patriotic War for liberation of Moldova

On October 9, 2011, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia came to the Eternitate Memorial in the Moldavian capital of Kishinev to lay a wreath in memory of the soldiers who died in action during the Great Patriotic War, struggling for the liberation of Moldova.

Flowers were also laid by Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova and Russian ambassador to Moldova V. Kuzmin.

‘Eternal Memory’ was sung, and Patriarch Kirill addressed those who have gathered at the memorial, saying: ‘We are aware of the colossal damage that was inflicted on Moldova, of how many cities and villages were destroyed, of the 70% to which Kishinev was ruined and of thousands of people who died only because someone’s ill will wanted to enslave these people. But these ungodly designs were doomed to fail…

‘This monument was erected in memory of the sacrifice made by the people. And honouring the feat performed by those who gave their life for their people, we say to the war veterans: you are witnesses to that feat. And today when many seek to lie about your victory, you are not dumb witnesses sealed in memorials but living testimonies to the people’s feat and victory. As long as you are alive you have a special mission to hand these testimonies down to the younger generation bringing them to love their Motherland and their people, to develop their ability to defend their Motherland and their people in the days of terrible ordeals. May the Lord preserve you and give you sound health, spiritual and physical strength and many good years of life to the joy of your loved ones. May the Lord preserve you!’