KURSK AND CREW
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ETERNAL MEMORY
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On or about the 12th of August 2000, disaster struck the Russian
submarine KURSK, as a result of which it sank to the bottom of the
Barents Sea. As news of the tragedy spread, there was hope that
the crew of 118 men could be rescued. Many nations offered aid,
notably Norway and Britain, which did not secure the desired results.
As the first week passed it became apparent that the crew had probably
perished soon after the accident which sank the ship. Outpourings
of grief from many quarters demonstrated a universal solidarity
and compassion for the lost men, their families and countrymen rarely
encountered.
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AND BLESSED REPOSE
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What earthly delight endures unmingled with grief?
What earthly glory remains immutable? All things are less than a
shadow, more deluding than a dream. In a single moment all these
are effaced by death; but in the light of Your countenance, 0 Christ,
and in the enjoyment of Your beauty, grant rest to those whom You
have chosen; for You love mankind.
As a flower withers and a shadow passes away, so
every man will die; but when the trumpet sounds, thc dead will rise
again as in an earthquake to meet You, O Christ, our God! Then,
O Master, place in the abode of your saints the souls of your servants
whom you have taken from us.
All is vanity in man that does not outlive death.
Neither riches endure nor does glory survive, for with the coming
of death all these are destroyed. Let us exclaim to Christ, the
Immortal One: "Grant rest to the departed servants in the dwelling
of those enjoying happiness."
Hymns of St. John Damascene
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The priest and parishioners of Epiphany join their Russian Orthodox brethren
in sharing with them their grief and in offering prayers for the repose
of the souls of the deceased mariners and for the comfort of their families
and countrymen.
PANIKHIDA AT SEA
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In the place of rest which is Yours, O Lord, where
all Your saints repose, give rest to the souls of your servants,
for You alone love mankind. from the PANIKHIDA
(1) The memory of the
118 men of the KURSK will not pass away as quickly as did their
lives on the bottom of the sea. Therefore we implore Almighty God
again and again:
Now grant rest, O Lord, to the souls of Your departed
servants, in a place of light, joy, and peace, where there is no
pain, sorrow or mourning.
from the PANIKHIDA
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OUR LADY THE JOY OF
ALL WHO SORROW
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We offer this Web page as an enduring memorial to the deceased
mariners of the KURSK and to all other mariners who have died at
sea, begging the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
to grant them rest in the bosom of Abraham and further imploring
the beloved Theotokos, Our Lady, The Joy of All Who Sorrow, and
St. Nicholas of Myra, Protector of Mariners, to intercede unceasingly
on their behalf.
We trust that our readers will join us in praying for the souls
of the crew of the KURSK and for the comfort of their families and
countrymen. It is fitting to end this page with the closing words
of the PANIKHIDA which are:
In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to
the souls of Your servants, and remember them forever. Eternal memory;
eternal memory, grant, O Lord, to Your servants blessed repose and
eternal memory.
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ST. NICHOLAS,
PROTECTOR OF MARINERS
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1) Panikhida is a Slavonic word which refers to the
requiem memorial offered by Eastern Christians of the Byzantine/Slavonic
liturgical tradition for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
The words quoted above are from the service books of the Ruthenian
Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of the United States.
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For a view of the Panikhida used by the Russian Orthodox
of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), you are invited
to inspect the Web page:
http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/pannihida_e.htm
RUSSIAN NAVAL FLAG
(CROSS OF ST. ANDREW)
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EPILOGUE
In October 2001 a huge barge raised the KURSK from the bottom of the
sea and transported it to dry dock in the port of Roslyakovo near Murmansk.
There the Russian Navy proceeds to inquire into the causes of the ship's
demise, to remove the weaponry and to recover the remaining bodies of
the mariners held within its hull. As the bodies are removed, they are
identified and sent on to the families for interment. We commend their
souls anew to the eternal memory of God and honor them with the display
below of the escutcheon of the Romanov double-headed eagle similar to
the one which adorns the conning tower of the KURSK.
RUSSIAN COAT OF ARMS
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