9/11 Terrorist attack victims remembered in prayer at OCA’s Moscow Representation Church

Victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US were remembered in prayer at the Orthodox Church in America’s Representation Church of Saint Catherine here on Wednesday, September 11, 2002.

Archimandrite Zacchaeus [Wood], Rector of Saint Catherine’s, celebrated the service in English after reading the address of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman. In addition to the parish faithful, attendees included US Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexander Vershbow, accompanied by his wife and many staff members from the US Embassy in Moscow; His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent, a relative of the Romanov Family; representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate; and Mr. Artem Engoyen, president of the Liteks Bell Manufacturing company in Moscow, among others. Television coverage of the Memorial Service was broadcast around Russia on the 4 major networks along with coverage in the United States on Fox News, the BBC World and CNN and CNN International.

Girls from Saint Nicholas Orphanage in Maliyaroslavets, Russia presented Archimandrite Zacchaeus and Ambassador Vershbow with flowers to honor the memory of the innocent victims of 9/11.

At the conclusion of the service, Archimandrite Zacchaeus delivered a stirring homily and invited Ambassador Vershbow to address the congregation.

Mr. Engoyen presented the parish with a bell manufactured by his company in honor of who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. The parish is now collecting funds to build a bell tower to house this bell.

Donations for the construction of the 9/11 Memorial Shrine and Bell Tower can be sent to the Orthodox Church in America, PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791. Donors should write “Saint Catherine’s Memorial Shrine” in the memo section of their checks.