"An Irreplaceable Loss"

Moscow, April 28, Interfax - Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia conveyed his condolences to Galina Vishnevskaya whose husband, the great musician Mstislav Rostropovich died recently.

‘Our Lord has called to himself an outstanding musician of our times, and this is an irreplaceable loss for the whole world. As a great violoncellist and conductor, he achieved ultimate mastery in violoncello and enriched his repertory with many modern composers’ works,’ the patriarch said in his letter of condolences published by the Moscow Patriarchate’s official website.

According to Alexy II, Rostropovich was ‘a tireless social activist and a defender of human dignity and spiritual freedom.’

‘He proved his love for his country with his deeds. Under the Soviet regime, he was not afraid to stand up for Alexander Solzhenitsyn. It was a courageous step for which he paid together with his family as they were exiled for almost twenty years,’ the primate added.

By doing that, Rostropovich ‘clearly brought out his faithfulness to the high Christian ideals,’ he said.

‘Indeed he was a man of deep faith and selfless love,’ the patriarch noted.