«Light of memory» move was organized in Smolensk

Thousands of people in Smolensk have celebrated 70-s anniversary since the day of Great Patriotic War and took part in the move «Light of memory», organized at the initiative of the regional department of «United Russia». 

At night on the 21-st – 22-nd of June in all municipal establishments of the region it was rendered a tribute to the memory of soldiers who defended our country.

Memorable events in Kardymovsky district were opened by Mass of the Resurrection in the church of Solovyevo village in honor of the Holy Mother of God Icon «In Search of Perishing».

The Solovyevo crossing is a stream crossing through Dnieper, located on the Old Smolensk road. At all times it was the only way to find a hole. During the Great Patriotic War the Solovyevo crossing became history as a place of bloody battles. They say that 50 or 100 thousands of soviet soldiers and officers perished there.

More than five hundred citizens of Kardymovsky district, city of Smolensk, Kardymovo school leavers, whose school leaving party was on the 21-st of June as well as 70 years ago, came to the Solovyevo crossing to honour memory of the heroes of the bloodiest war in the history of mankind.

Michail Kurkov, the first deputy Governor, Alexey Vorob’ev, a deputy Governor, Frants Klintsevich, the first deputy of the chairman of the committee on veterans’ issues of the State Duma, representatives of the Department of Corrections in Smolensk region, representatives of the Border Department of Federal Security Service of Russia in Smolensk region, military registration and enlistment office and others took part in the move.

Upon the end of the litia for the dead a religious procession went on from the church to the place of the move, icon lamps and candles were lighted up in hands of the move participants. War songs were heard, war news films were screened on a big display.

Within the move 70 lights to the memory of dead were set up on the float boat in the Dnieper river. After that every participant of the move got an opportunity to launch small float boat with light. 

After the move «Light of memory» the participants of the ceremony placed  flowers to the mass graves in Solovyevo, Elagino and Kardymovo villages.