(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
A multi-faith service in Melbourne has brought hundreds of people together to mourn the deaths of the victims of flight MH17.
Eighteen Victorians were among the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines downing in eastern Ukraine.
Dragana Mrkaja reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Flowers bearing messages of condolence and support were placed on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in central Melbourne, as friends and family members of the deceased arrived.
Anglican Dean of Melbourne, Dr Andreas Loewe, slowly listed the nationalities of the victims, emphasising the horror that has touched many around the world.
"Today we come together to commemorate those whose lives were lost, to seek assurance and comfort in the hope of a life beyond death."
A prayer from the Venerable Hojun Futen, from the Buddhist Council of Victoria, spoke of virtue and everlasting peace.
"Buddha taught that all life is impermanent and that all those who are born must eventually pass from this life. However, everyone has within them the seeds of their past virtues which have the power to bring a fortunate rebirth in the future."
Sheikh Moustapha Sarakibi, from the Islamic Council of Victoria, read an Islamic funeral prayer.
"Oh Allah, forgive our people who are still alive and those who have passed away. Forgive those who are present here and those who are absent. Forgive our young and our elderly. Forgive our men and our women."
Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Philip Freier, told mourners they deserve to know the truth about who was responsible for the MH17 disaster.
"Our sense of justice will undoubtedly be offended by the failure of anyone to step forward and take responsibility for what has happened. From what we know, someone gave orders to destroy MH17. Others acted in whatever chain of command existed to implement this decision. It cannot be true that no one knows what happened."
Political leaders and visiting experts from the World Aids Conference in Melbourne also attended the service.
Outside, many Melburnians stood still to watch the live broadcast in Federation Square.
All expressed deep sadness over the tragedy.
"Terrorism like this, it's just senseless acts, and it just shouldn't happen and we've just got to try and keep the world going forward in a much positive way." // "I'm sympathising towards the grieving families and I wish in this hard times they get that strength to overcome the difficulties that they're facing. And I wish and I pray for the souls of the deceased ones."// "Every individual, 298 persons, have affected so, so many people. There are their friends, their family, their loved ones. But, you know, we all are touched by their loss. So many very from this very state, so many were on their way to be here - just a walk away from where I'm standing now - and it's critical that we as a community, collectively and individually, mourn and open our hearts to their loss and to those who have been impacted so, so tragically by their loss.// "All the, the, family and the friends of those people must be really devastated. If you've got a daughter, a father, mother, son, brother, auntie, uncle, and they've gone overseas you really; hearing that sort of news you really just say 'I hope nothing's happened to them'."
Before the service came to a close, Cantor Bruce Levin sang a Jewish lament.
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