WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.520 --> 00:00:13.606 Your Holiness, ladies and gentlemen, 2 00:00:13.606 --> 00:00:21.080 Today, we remember events more than a century distant from us. 3 00:00:21.080 --> 00:00:28.232 On February 4, 1905, a terrorist threw a bomb that killed 4 00:00:28.232 --> 00:00:32.177 Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. 5 00:00:32.177 --> 00:00:37.567 This crime was one of the harbingers of the dramatic events, 6 00:00:37.567 --> 00:00:48.009 turmoil and civil war that would engulf Russia, 7 00:00:48.009 --> 00:00:52.967 bringing tremendous losses, genuine national catastrophe, 8 00:00:52.967 --> 00:00:57.926 and threatening the existence of Russia’s very statehood. 9 00:00:57.926 --> 00:01:02.884 There is never any justification for violence and murder, 10 00:01:02.884 --> 00:01:06.624 not matter what political slogans they use. 11 00:01:06.624 --> 00:01:12.801 The Grand Duke’s death shook Russian society back then and people from 12 00:01:12.801 --> 00:01:15.932 all backgrounds saw it as a tragedy. 13 00:01:15.932 --> 00:01:21.673 The memorial cross raised at the site of this cruel vengeance was 14 00:01:21.673 --> 00:01:24.283 a symbol of sorrow and regret. 15 00:01:24.283 --> 00:01:28.893 It was raised at the people’s will and funded solely 16 00:01:28.893 --> 00:01:30.633 by public donations. 17 00:01:30.633 --> 00:01:36.374 Outstanding Russian artist Viktor Vasnetsov took part in erecting 18 00:01:36.374 --> 00:01:39.941 the memorial, and the Grand Duke’s widow, 19 00:01:39.941 --> 00:01:46.030 Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, gave her blessing to the memorial. 20 00:01:46.030 --> 00:01:51.597 I should say a few words separately about this remarkable woman. 21 00:01:51.597 --> 00:01:56.468 She worked tirelessly and was active in charity efforts. 22 00:01:56.468 --> 00:02:01.253 The Russian Orthodox Church conferred sainthood on her. 23 00:02:01.253 --> 00:02:07.342 She did not leave the country even during the darkest days and to her 24 00:02:07.342 --> 00:02:13.257 death remained true to the ideals of Christian forgiveness and love. 25 00:02:13.257 --> 00:02:19.259 The cross raised on this site bore, too, the mark of her personality, 26 00:02:19.259 --> 00:02:22.478 destiny and inner spiritual strength. 27 00:02:22.478 --> 00:02:27.436 This cross was among the first monuments destroyed after 28 00:02:27.436 --> 00:02:33.699 the revolution. The Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin and countless other 29 00:02:33.699 --> 00:02:37.788 monuments around the country met the same fate. 30 00:02:37.788 --> 00:02:42.311 In the end though, truth and justice always prevail. 31 00:02:42.311 --> 00:02:46.764 Today, we see how churches are rebuilt, monasteries open anew, 32 00:02:46.764 --> 00:02:50.643 and holy places that were lost are returned. 33 00:02:50.643 --> 00:02:53.508 Russia’s history is regaining its unity. 34 00:02:53.508 --> 00:02:56.892 We treasure each page in this history, 35 00:02:56.892 --> 00:03:02.591 no matter how difficult. These are our national spiritual roots. 36 00:03:02.591 --> 00:03:08.824 The cross raised in memory of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich’s death 37 00:03:08.824 --> 00:03:12.564 has been restored to its historical place. 38 00:03:12.564 --> 00:03:17.906 It stands as a symbol of the price we had to pay for hatred, 39 00:03:17.906 --> 00:03:24.050 division and hostility, and reminds us that we must do everything we 40 00:03:24.050 --> 00:03:28.235 can to preserve our people’s unity and harmony. 41 00:03:28.235 --> 00:03:33.222 Today, we should say again that we only have one Russia, 42 00:03:33.222 --> 00:03:38.030 and no matter what our individual views and positions, 43 00:03:38.030 --> 00:03:42.126 we must all defend and look after this Russia, 44 00:03:42.126 --> 00:03:45.928 make our people’s future, the happiness of our people and our children 45 00:03:45.928 --> 00:03:48.929 and grandchildren our priority. 46 00:03:48.929 --> 00:03:52.719 I thank sincerely all who took part in restoring this memorial. 47 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:58.100 Thank you very much.