On November 4, 2024, in honor of National Unity Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ participated in a solemn ceremony to lay flowers at the monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky on Red Square. Following this tribute, they visited the 20th annual church and public exhibition-forum, “Orthodox Rus’ – for National Unity,” held at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow.
Accompanied by Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea, head of the Patriarchal Council for Culture, President Putin and Patriarch Kirill explored the exhibit on Orthodox social service.
One of the highlights was an icon crafted specifically for the exhibition, depicting the holy martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. This icon, painted in the academic style of the late 19th to early 20th centuries, was consecrated in honor of the 160th anniversary of her birth.
President Putin also toured the multimedia exhibit “Hurry to Do Good,” which showcases the traditions of volunteering and charity in Russia, tracing them from early Christianity to the present. This exhibit highlights individuals who have exemplified the importance of compassion and mutual aid, featuring a rich collection of well-known and lesser-known stories from the lives of Russian saints, statesmen, public figures, military personnel, and cultural icons, according to the website of the President of Russia.
Translated from Russian by: Konstantinos Menyktas
