Ambassador Andrei Kelin's message of congratulations on the occasion of the 175th Anniversary of the St Mary and St Nicholas Church in Wilton
*read out by Philip Matthews, Chairman of the Soviet War Memorial Trust Fund
Dear Rector Wood,
Dear congregation,
On behalf of myself and everyone at the Russian Embassy in London please accept our most sincere congratulations on the occasion of the 175th Anniversary of the St Mary and St Nicholas Church in Wilton.
On this momentous day it is an honourable pleasure to remember that our Russian compatriots have played a decisive role in building the Church, as it was done upon the initiative of Catherine Woronzow, Countess of Pembroke. It is a vivid demonstration of how powerful we can be when we join the efforts of all the faithful and those compassionate toward the present and the future of the church.
St Mary and St Nicholas Church is unique in terms of history, architecture and location, and for many years it has united people with their values, serving in the interests of good and justice. To a great deal all of this is possible thanks to your, Rector Wood, wisdom and due attention to the congregation, thus bringing people closer to the customs and traditions of the church.
Fostering the ideals of good, love and tolerance in society, the church contributes towards strengthening peace, friendship and mutual understanding between members of different confessions. St Mary and St Nicholas Church in Wilton is a great example of cultural and interfaith cooperation between Russia and the UK. It is a pleasure to note that the long-established friendly relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Church of England, having enjoyed numerous contacts and a fruitful cooperation, continue to develop.
I am convinced that today’s celebrations shall become a noteworthy event in the spiritual and cultural life in Wilton and its surroundings, despite all the restrictions in place due to the coronavirus.
On the occasion of the Church’s Anniversary I would like to wish you God’s help and prosperity in all your efforts.
On 9 May 2021 Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin gave an address at the Victory Day ceremony at the Soviet War Memorial in London, marking the 76th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
Dear compatriots! I wish to congratulate everyone on the 76th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War! The historical significance of this event cannot be overstated. The foundations of the modern world order are rooted in our Victory over Nazism. The legacy of the Great Victory remains relevant to this day: Europe and the world free from Nazism were made possible by the incredible act of heroism of the Soviet soldiers and the peoples of our country. Let us not forget how, in the face of ordeals, the Allies have joined forces for the sake of peace and humanity.
Dear friends! 60 years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to fly into space. We are rightfully proud of the fact that this scientific and technological breakthrough has been accomplished by our country. Yuri Gagarin made an invaluable contribution to the development of space exploration as well as international humanitarian cooperation. The spaceflight turned him into a true hero not only at home but also around the world. This is why the UN announced 12 April to be the International Day of Human Spaceflight.
The Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin welcomed British writer Stephen Walker who presented his new book 'Beyond', dedicated to the first human spaceflight by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on 12 April 1961.
This month marks 10 years since the beginning of the “Arab Spring” in Syria.
What had been peaceful rallies at first, was quickly fuelled by the significant foreign interference and within several months had grown up into fierce clashes with the government forces. Later it paved the way for a full-scale civil war. The dire situation was further aggravated when ISIL and a number of other terrorist groups conquered significant part of the country’s territory, causing even more unbearable damage to the economy, infrastructure, human and cultural legacy of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Ladies and gentlemen! Dear friends! Today, the Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked worldwide. 76 years ago the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army. Regrettably, due to the coronavirus restrictions, we cannot meet at the Soviet War Memorial like we would normally do. Nevertheless, it is essential for all of us to remember one of the darkest, most tragic and shameful chapters in the history of mankind. It is a powerful reminder of the perils of discrimination and intolerance, of just how catastrophic and barbaric the incitement to racial hatred can be.
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