Home page News
Metropolitan Hilarion prays for victims of pl…

Metropolitan Hilarion prays for victims of plane crash over Black Sea

On December 25, 2016, Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations (DECR), commemorated those who died that day in a plane crash over the Black Sea, during the Divine Liturgy at the church of Our Lady the Joy to All the Afflicted in Moscow.

On Sunday morning a tragic news came about the crash of a TU-154 plane of the Russian Defense Ministry carrying 92 people including the crew, the Russian Army Alexandrov Song and Dance Ensemble performers, journalists as well Elizaveta Glinka, a renowned benefactor popularly known as ‘Doctor Liza’.

In his homily after the liturgy, the archpastor said:

‘In the beginning of the Liturgy I said that a sad news came when we just began the worship. Now this news has been confirmed. The names of those who were onboard the crashed plane are published. We know these names and among them are people who are close to us.

‘I would like to remember my very close friend – Lieutenant-General Valery Khalilov. For many years he conducted the orchestra during parades in Red Square. Those of you who saw the parades on the square or on television could hear that orchestra which consisted of over one thousand people. I myself, when I served in the army, played in this orchestra and participated in four parades. For many years Valery Mikhailovich was the Russian Army chief conductor. He directed this enormous team. And in the recent years he was the chief director of the Russian Army Song and Dance Ensemble, a famous and legendary team. He was flying on that plane together with a large group of the ensemble members. There was also his assistant, Constantine Mayorov, the father of one of the choristers of our church. There was also Elizaveta Glinka, known as ‘Doctor Liza’, who made a great deal of charitable actions, taking care of the sick and the dying. These people were flying to Syria to greet our servicemen there and to distribute humanitarian aid.

‘A tragedy has happened, and it is becoming already clear that apparently there are no survivors. So let us pray for the repose of all those who died, so that the Lord may give consolation to their relatives, so that He may give rest and the Heavenly Kingdom to all those who have passed so suddenly to eternal life’.

Then His Eminence presided over the prayer for the repose of the victims of the plane crash.

Later that day, Metropolitan Hilarion laid flowers at the Alexandrov Ensemble’s building.

Speaking with journalists, His Eminence said, ‘I would like to express my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the wife and all the relatives of Valery Khalilov, a long-standing chief conductor of the Russian Army, a man I was tied with by a long and warm friendship. Nine years ago, Valery Mikhailovich performed my ‘Christmas Oratorio’ at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington. It was the first performance of that composition. Together with Valery Mikhailovich and the Defense Ministry orchestra we made of a tour of several cities in America. Since then we were tied by very warm friendship’.

Noting that it was difficult to believe the morning report about the tragedy, the hierarch said that it became a personal grief for one of the choristers in the church in Ordynka Street: in the list of the victims of the crash is his father, Constantine Mayorov, one of the managers of the Alexandrov Ensemble.

‘We in the church lifted up a prayer for the repose of all the innocent victims who were on board of that plane’, His Eminence continued.

Speaking about Elizaveta Glinka, who died in the plane crash, the archpastor stressed, ‘She is a person who has done very many good things. Her memory will stay in the hearts of many people’.

‘I would like to express condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. May the Lord repose their souls in the dwellings of the righteous, the place where there is no disease, neither sorrow, nor crying, but endless life. Eternal memory be to them!’ Metropolitan Hilarion said.

DECR Communication Service

Share:
Αγιώτατος Πατριάρχης Κύριλλος: Η παραβίαση των δικαιωμάτων των πιστών της Ουκρανικής Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας αναγνωρίζεται στους απολογισμούς των διεθνών οργανισμών προστασίας ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων.

20.12.2024

Phone conversation took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed sympathy and full support to the Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church

12.12.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church is fervently praying for the Patriarch, bishops, clergy, and flock of the Antiochian Church

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan

22.11.2024

Phone conversation took place between the Primates of Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches

17.11.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب