09-05-2025, Brussels

Wreath-laying ceremony on the occasion of the Victory Day anniversary

On the occasion of the Victory Day anniversary, the clergy of the Brussels-Belgian Diocese traditionally took part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the memorials of Soviet soldiers and participants of the Belgian resistance to fascism in World War II.

Traditionally, on Victory Day, May 9, the clergy of the Brussels-Belgian Diocese take part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the memorials of Soviet soldiers and participants of the Belgian anti-fascist resistance in the Brussels cemetery of Evere. The tradition of this ceremony, which is now attended by embassies of several dozen countries, began in the year of the millennium of the Baptism of Rus' - 1988, by the then Bishop of Brussels and Belgium Simon and the last ambassador of the Soviet Union Felix Petrovich Bogdanov. Over the next few years, wreaths were laid by only two people: the ambassador from the Russian embassy and the ruling bishop from the Russian Orthodox Church.

In this jubilee year of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany, the entire civilized world celebrates the triumph of humanism over the murderous ideas of the Third Reich. As a result of the war unleashed by Hitler and his satellites, many millions of human lives were exterminated.

Wreaths were laid by ambassadors of countries accredited in the Kingdom of Belgium that participated in the fight against fascism. On behalf of the Russian Federation, wreaths were laid at the memorials by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Belgium A. A. Tokovinin and his wife.

According to tradition, when laying wreaths, the clergy of the Belgian diocese sang the Easter troparion "Christ is Risen" three times.

After the ceremony, a festive reception was held at the Russian Embassy, ​​where diplomats from different countries could communicate in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

The following took part in the ceremony: the rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God in Brussels, priest Adrian Alaoui; clergy of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Brussels, priest Alexander Tsabiev and deacon Ilya Tonku; cleric of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brussels, deacon Vladislav Abramov; reader Alexander Vershinin, as well as archpriest Pavel Nedosekin, secretary of the Brussels and Belgium Diocese.