Families looking for justice for victims of the MH17 disaster may have a while to wait, the head of the Anglican Church in Australia says.
More than 1200 people gathered at Melbourne's St Paul's Cathedral for a multi-faith service to pay their respects to the 298 people who died in the Malaysia Airlines downing.
Archbishop Philip Freier, the Anglican primate, said those left behind deserved to know why their loved ones died.
"Our sense of justice will undoubtedly be offended by the failure of anyone to step forward and take responsibility for what has happened," Dr Freier told the congregation on Thursday.
"From what we know someone gave orders to destroy MH17.
"Such answers that may come might inevitably be frustrated by the unpredictable world of international diplomacy."
Dr Freier said the families faced a frustrating wait to find out if the people who shot down the plane would face justice.
"What might not always be satisfied in this world, will certainly find its true measure in the judgment of God," he said.
Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said he spoke to some victims' family members after the ceremony, and they were overwhelmed by emotion and the support they had received.
"The families expressed that they are very anxious to get the bodies returned to Australia as soon as possible, so they can grieve privately," Dr Napthine told reporters.
Inside the cathedral, Dr Napthine read a poem by Dutch-American Henry van Dyke, as Malaysian Consul-General Mohamad Rameez Bin Yahaya and Dutch Honorary Consul Hans Nieuwland lit candles to mark the many who died from their countries.
Sheikh Moustapha Sarakibi said a Muslim prayer, Hojun Futen gave a Buddhist blessing, and Cantor Bruce Levin sang a Jewish lament. Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart read from the scriptures.
As well as those inside the cathedral, a crowd including school students watched a broadcast of the service across the road at Federation Square.
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