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.
Ambassador Andrei Kelin gave an interview to ITV News, speaking on the release of the Russia Report and the current state and prospects of Russia-UK relations.
Q: Thank you Mr Ambassador for speaking to us today. My first question is have you seen the report today, have you read it, what do you think? A: Yes, of course, I’ve seen it and and I have read it this morning. My first impression is that the Shakespeare’s phrase is very much applicable to it: much ado about nothing. The report is called “Russia”. But if you put the name of any other country, it will be the same, because this report is not about Russia. It is about the relationship between different intelligence agencies inside the UK.
Russian Ambassador to UK Andrei Kelin gave an interview to RT Arabic programme Newsmaker, speaking on current state and prospects of Russi-UK relations, as well as Russia's view on topical issues of the international agenda.
This year, to mark the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, British veterans of the Arctic Convoys have been awarded with Russian commemorative medal '75 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945'. We will allways be grateful to you for your contribution to our common victory against Nazi Germany and we shall never forget those who sacrificed their lives for today's peaceful sky. Thank you!
In 2020 due to the social distancing measures the international project "Immortal Regiment" was held online across the UK to mark the 75th Anniversary of Victory in World War II.
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