On May 21, 2019, one month after the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, the Mass for its victims was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary, the largest Cathedral in Russia, by His Grace Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of the Virgin Mother in Moscow, in the presence of His Grace Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation.
The attacks, that swept across the country on April 21, the Easter Sunday, were recognized as the bloodiest acts in the modern history: 321 people (including 38 foreigners) were killed and 520 were injured. Many children of different ages were among the dead and wounded.
On the 30th day after the tragedy, which has traditionally been a memorial day for Catholics, the Mass was served for the dead, injured and relatives of the victims at the Cathedral located in Malaya Gruzinskaya street in the presence of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, his spouse Sanja Jayatilleka, Ambassadors of India, Venezuela, South Africa, Portugal, Nicaragua, Bahrain, Brazil, Palestine, the Minister Plenipotentiary of China, Charges d'Affaires of USA and Australia as well as other representatives of diplomatic corps from about 50 countries. The Mass was conducted by His Grace Archbishop Paolo Pezzi in the presence of His Grace Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostolic Nuncio to the Russian Federation, Fr. Kirill Gorbunov, General Vicar of the Archdiocese of the Virgin Mary in Moscow, Archimandrite Petros Yesayan, Head of the Catholic Church of the Armenian rite in Russia, Fr. Vladimir Kabak, Rector of the Cathedral, and others.
The Requiem Mass was held in English. At the end of the Mass, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, his spouse Sanja Jayatilleka, representatives of different Embassies, as well as parishioners of the cathedral laid flowers to the monument for the victims installed at the altar. The diplomats, who were present at the Mass, as well as the clergy, expressed personal condolences to the Ambassador of Sri Lanka and his spouse. Those who wished could write words of sympathy and support to the Book of Condolence.
