The Embassy of South Ossetia in Russia took part in the gala reception on the occasion of Orthodox Easter on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov with the participation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
As reported by the press service of the diplomatic department, Sergey Lavrov greeted those gathered in the White Hall of the Reception House of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"It is deeply symbolic that this year our reception is taking place several days after the people of Russia and all progressive humanity solemnly celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. We remember how, following the particles of the Holy Fire, particles of the Eternal Flame from the Alexander Park were also delivered to many cities of our Motherland," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted in his welcoming speech.
Lavrov congratulated everyone not only on the holiday of the bright Resurrection of Christ, but also on the anniversary of the Great Victory.
"Our country made a decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany, to the liberation of Europe and the world from the "brown plague". The mortal danger then united our entire people around one task – the uncompromising fight against the Nazi invaders," he has emphasized.
"I want to assure everyone present that Russia will not abandon the Orthodox people of Ukraine in trouble and will ensure that their legal rights are respected, and that canonical Orthodoxy regains its central place in the spiritual life of the people on Ukrainian lands," the Minister said.
He has emphasized that the Kiev regime does not leave canonical Orthodoxy alone.
"The tragic and at the same time clear example of its misanthropic nature has become the long-term persecution of the country's largest confession - the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which the authorities entrenched in Kyiv have brought close to legal liquidation. The seizure of churches, vandalism, attacks on priests and parishioners do not stop," Lavrov has noted.
"The evidence of the blasphemous policy is the abuse of the feelings of believers by organizing in the main monastery of the country - the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra - works on, I quote, "an inventory and verification of the historical and scientific value of the relics of saints." These blasphemies are carried out with the connivance and even support of many European countries, where the ghosts of neo-Nazism and Satanism are raising their heads," the head of the Russian diplomatic department stated.
The event was attended by heads and representatives of the diplomatic corps, Russian government and public figures, hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, representatives of traditional confessions.
