24 November 2018 Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill visited the city of Baltiysk of the Kaliningrad region, reports patriarhiei.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church was accompanied by managing Director of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Barsanuphius,Archbishop of Kaliningrad and the Baltic Seraphim, Secretary of the Kaliningrad Archdiocese Archpriest Marian of Posung.
Upon arrival to Baltiysk, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill proceeded to the Patriarchal metochion Church of St. blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.
The Church, his Holiness met the Plenipotentiary representative of RF President in Northwest Federal district V. A. Gutan, the Governor of the Kaliningrad region A. A. Alikhanov, the commander of the Baltic naval base of the Baltic the chief of garrison kontr-Admiral A. V. Shcherbitsky, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St. Andrew Foundation Vladimir Yakunin, Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation A. G. Yaroshuk, rector of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky the priest Konstantin Kosev and sailors officers and sailors of the Baltic fleet of the Russian Navy, the representatives of the cadet movement of Baltiysk — the winners of national school Olympiads and sports competitions, parishioners and residents of the city.
At the entrance to the temple of bread and salt to His Holiness presented the parishioners of the Church of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, Ivan and Catherine Kartasheva. Senior Lieutenant Ivan Kartashev serves 336 brigade of Marines. Young family Ministers to the assistant commander of the marine brigade of the Baltic fleet for work with religious servicemen, rector Alexander Nevsky Church, the priest Konstantin Kosev.
Father Constantine welcomed his Holiness the Patriarch in the Church and presented His Holiness with a picture of the sea and sailing ships, made of Baltic amber.
His Holiness addressed the gathering in the temple with the word:
“Your Eminence! Dear Anton, A., Alexander, Vladimir! Dear fathers, brothers and sisters
I would like cordially to welcome you all and Express the feeling of joy due to the fact that the Lord led me here, on the shore of the Baltic sea, in the city of Baltiysk, in the Church of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky.
With this town and this temple is much associated in my life. When I was Metropolitan, including Kaliningrad, as maybe many of you remember, quite regularly visited cities of the Baltic, and conducted services and visited the ships of the Baltic fleet, talked with staff and met with parishioners. And every time a visit to this city was for me. But today is a special event because we will consecrate a monument in honor of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, great ruler of Russia, the hero and the Saint, the defender of our Fatherland, which is the unfading image of what should be the ideal statesman. First and foremost, it needs selfless love for God and his people, his country, and be a hero in the sense that in the most difficult moment, when required, be ready to give his life for the Fatherland.
Any employment with high public office for someone in this position should be accompanied by this perception allotting responsibilities. Of course, the power associated with the corresponding high Protocol, with the appropriate privileges, but all these are secondary things. And initially performed a high-state power — the love of the Fatherland and the ability to perform the feat. God forbid that the Holy blessed Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky was inspired by our rulers to follow that wonderful path that he passed, despite his short life, leaving a vivid mark on our national memory”.
His Holiness the Patriarch thanked the Director General of the Ural mining and metallurgical company, co-chair of the Board of Trustees of the program “Alexander Nevsky” A. A. Kozitsyn for “a decisive contribution to the construction of this temple and the creation of monuments of St. Alexander Nevsky on the borders of our Fatherland”.
The Abbot of the temple priest Konstantin Kioseva his Holiness wished “God’s help in the implementation of a very important pastoral Ministry associated with the nourishment of God’s people and servicemen of the Baltic fleet stationed in Baltiysk”.
As a gift to the Church, Patriarch Kirill gave an icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The faithful were presented with icons of the Mother of God “the Sign” with the Patriarchal blessing.
Then at the temple for the altar part of the building, his Holiness Patriarch Kirill consecrated the monument to the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, established with the support of the St. Andrew Foundation and national glory Center. The monument to Alexander Nevsky on the Western frontier of Russia opened in connection with the preparations for the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Saint, which will be celebrated in 2021.
Then his Holiness visited the waterfront city of Baltiysk, St. George Cathedral of the sea Cathedral of the Baltic fleet and the Baltic naval base of Russia.
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The monument to the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky in Baltiysk
The author of the composition: sculptor Vladimir Syreishikov, member of the Association of the Ural center of Monumental art named after Ivan Dubrovin in Yekaterinburg.
The sculpture represents the growth figure of Prince Alexander Nevsky with a height of 2.5 m. Made of bronze using procchance, patina; covered with a protective layer.
The idea of composition is to create the image of a guard and defender of the Motherland. Alexander Nevsky is depicted in a rocky surface, eyes rushing into the distance. The piece is placed in contrast (relying on one left leg), right leg step forward as a symbol of readiness to take decisive action. In the right hand hat, left hand rests on the handle of the sword as the symbol of vigilance.
Apparel Prince is a collective image of the military uniform of the princes of the XIII-XIV centuries. Based on the pictured helmet was taken with a helmet in the Armory, which is considered canonical. The figure depicts a lightweight kit military gear: long underwear shirt with long sleeves, chain mail shirt with plate elements on the torso and shoulders. The hands depicted Bracers, legs greaves.
The work is made in three original copies. One monument put in the Kurgan region at the entrance to the village chastoozerye, the second one in Belarus in the village of Raubichi near chapel of St. Alexander Nevsky.