Today, 27 January, is Holocaust Memorial Day. At 8pm, candles will be lit in homes and throughout communities, while buildings and landmarks are lit up in purple in a collective moment of remembrance.

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Mark Strange said: “Last week at a prayer gathering in St Giles Cathedral I joined faith leaders from across Scotland, accompanying HRH The Princess Royal in a ceremony of candle lighting. During the ceremony we gathered together in friendship to offer light and hope. Today, on the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, we remember the six million Jewish people who were murdered, as well as the millions of others murdered by the Nazis and other genocidal regimes throughout history.

“The two days are linked in my mind. Friendship across religions and peoples, and remembrance are choices we must make again and again in our own lives and in our shared lives as people of God. Last week as faith leaders we chose to stand together in friendship, and today I am choosing to remember those who were cruelly and systematically murdered.

“I pray that we have the strength to choose friendship and remembrance every time. Holocaust Memorial Day is a remembrance of what happens when leaders choose to weaponise fear and mistrust, and when individuals choose to look aside. We must never forget the consequences of those choices.”

The day is supported by the work of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust who have produced a number of resources. They write: “Every year, people across the UK come together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day by taking part in Light the Darkness.

“Visit the front page of our website where a special countdown video will be available for everyone to watch in advance. Simply start to watch the video 10 minutes before the national Light the Darkness moment, so you can reflect and light your candle alongside the nation.”

The video can be found on their website here: https://hmd.org.uk/lightthedarkness/