His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus Performs a Pannikhida at the Memorial to the Victims of the Lientz Betrayal

photo-report

At the conclusion of the regular session of the Synod of Bishops, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus headed for the Austrian city of Lientz, where on May 27, he performed a pannikhida at the memorial cemetery near the monument to the officers and Cossacks and their families, headed by General PN Krasnov, who were forcibly repatriated to the Bolsheviks after World War II.

In 1945, through the efforts of those who survived the tragedy, a stone cross was erected and graves brought to order in this cemetery. In 1948, Archbishop Stefan (Sevbo, +1965) of Vienna and Austria visited this cemetery and saw to it that the cross was replaced by a small monument. In 1951, through the efforts of a special construction committee headed by the Commander of the Russian Corps, Colonel AI Rogozhin, a solid, handsome monument was erected, built on donations from throughout the Russian diaspora, and consecrated by Archbishop Stefan on August 15, 1951. When in 1953, the "Union of Orthodox Christians" was organized, it assumed the responsibility of tending to this cemetery. In 1955, on the tenth anniversary of the tragic event, Archbishop Stefan blessed the beautiful wall surrounding the cemetery.

On the 60th anniversary of the Lientz horror, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus was joined by Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Protopriest Michael Protopopoff, Protopriest Peter Perekrestov, Protopriest Nikolai Artemoff, Priest Serafim Gan, Protodeacon Victor Lochmatov and Protopriest Georgii Kobro. The solemn pannikhida, preceded by a profoundly emotional sermon delivered by the First Hierarch, was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, His Grace Bishop Michael of Boston and His Grace Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart, along with a multitude of pilgrims and representatives of social organizations. After the pannikhida, a commemorative trapeza was offered.

The following day, His Eminence departed for London to officiate at the consecration of the lower church of Dormition Cathedral, now under construction.