FATALITY IN ATTACK ON GROZNY CHURCH TO BE BURIED IN CHURCH YARD
The parishioner who was killed during the attack by militants on the Grozny church of the Archangel Michael will be buried on the territory of the church as one who suffered for faith, RIA Novosti was told on Monday by the rector of the church, Father Sergei.
Earlier the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, reported to journalists that four militants penetrated the church of the Archangel Michael in the center of Grozny and their goal was to seize parishioners. He said that as a result of a special operation, all four were wiped out. The Investigative Committee of the RF reported that as a result of the attack, two police from the chief directorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for Saratov oblast, who were guarding the church, were killed, and another two police were wounded. One parishioner of the church also was killed. His identity was established.
Archbishop of Mikhachkala and Grozny Varlaam said the deceased was named Artemy; he came from Uzbekistan and was looking for relatives in Chechnya. He said that he did not have relatives in the republic and thus the church was planning his funeral.
"Brother Artemy will be buried on church territory just like those who perished during the attack on the church in Kizlyar. He died during a service and he happened to be outside; possibly he went out for a drink of water. He suffered for faith," the priest noted.
He said that when he caught sight of the militants in the yard, he began to run. One ran after him. His attracting attention to himself, the priest thinks, permitted the lives of other parishioners to be saved. After the noise and the shouts "Allahu akbar," those inside the church managed to shut the doors.
"They came to kill the priest, his family, and parishioners. They shot at my wife also, but she managed to jump into the dining room and hide in the basement. It did not matter to them whom they killed, Muslims or Christians. After all the first one they dealt with (a policeman from Saratov who was guarding the church—ed.) was a Muslim," Father Sergei noted.
He did not report the date for the burial, noting that the church was occupied with planning the ceremony. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 May 2018)
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