Patriarch Kirill Offers Condolences After Terrorist Attacks in Dagestan

OCP News Service – 24/06/2024

Moscow- Russia: His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia expressed his deep sorrow following the horrific terrorist attacks that struck Dagestan on June 23,2024. The attacks, which targeted cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, resulted in the deaths and injuries of law enforcement officers, civilians, and religious figures.

In a statement addressed to the Head of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, and the families of the victims, Patriarch Kirill condemned the brutal killing of Archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov, a cleric of the Makhachkala diocese. He denounced the attackers’ attempt to “destroy interreligious peace and harmony” and emphasized their targeting of religious sites during the Orthodox Christian feast of the Holy Trinity.

The Patriarch expressed confidence in the authorities’ ability to bring the perpetrators to justice and urged for increased efforts to combat religious extremism and interethnic hostility. He called for a united front against such violence, emphasizing that “the present and future of our country largely depends on this.”

In a separate message to His Eminence Archbishop Varlaam of Makhachkala and Grozny, Patriarch Kirill reiterated his condolences. He highlighted the attackers’ cynical choice to strike on Pentecost, a day signifying unity and the descent of the Holy Spirit. He mourned the death of Archpriest Kotelnikov, who “accepted death for the name of Christ,” and offered prayers for the victims and their families.

These attacks serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against religious violence and extremism. The Patriarch’s statements offer solace to the grieving families and echo the need for peace and unity within Dagestan and Russia as a whole.

Source:

OCP News Service