On March 23, 2024, at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City, and after the Divine Liturgy on Saturday of the First Week of Lent, a memorial service was held for the repose of Orthodox Christians killed during the terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall (concert venue) on March 22 in the city of Moscow. Prayers were offered for those wounded as well.
In his sermon, the rector of the cathedral Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, said that for him this tragedy is particularly painful and personal, because he is a Muscovite, and lives in Moscow not far from Crocus City Hall. This is a well known and popular function venue frequented by many throughout the year.
He emphasized that for many years the capital of Russia has been a target for terrorists possessed of demonic intentions, and ideologies. Fr. Igor himself, miraculously survived the terrorist attack at the Pushkinskaya metro station in Moscow on August 8, 2000.
