Press Releases08 May 25

Armagh service remembers Victory in Europe

St Patrick’s Cathedral, on the Hill of Armagh, was honoured to remember and celebrate Victory in Europe with a special service last night (Wednesday, 7th May) on the eve of the 80th anniversary.

Guests included His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Armagh, the Earl of Caledon; the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP; and Mr Laurence Simms, Joint Secretary with the Irish Secretariat in Belfast, representing the Government of Ireland.

Members of youth organisations were joined by children from Ukraine currently living in Armagh, to carry lanterns in procession through the Cathedral, symbolising hope and peace.

The preacher was Archbishop John McDowell and an excerpt of King George VI’s message in 1945 was read by Alderman Kyle Savage, Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.

Archbishop McDowell compared the beginnings and endings of the First World War and the Second World War, including how German Protestant Churches – learning from their failures in the 1930s – contributed greatly to reconciliation in Northern Ireland in the 1970s.

Northern Ireland’s VE Day Service in 1946 also included a collection for homeless refugees in Europe, as part of the rebuilding of the continent: “The victors in war needed to put Germany, their enemy, not ‘back in its place’ but back on its feet.”

Today, he concluded, we thank God “for the men and women who fought or who endured what was without doubt a morally–justifiable war. And we thank God, too, that when victory was secured they set about the reconciliation of an entire continent and the making of a peace that would last.”

A full congregation of around 500 people observed two minutes of silence in a special time of remembrance for those whose lives were lost in war. The theme for ‘Schindler’s List’ was played by the Qua family and worship was led by the Cathedral Choir.

Archbishop McDowell’s address is available in full at this link.

 The full album of images can be seen here.