The monument of Józef Stalin was unveiled on August 15 in the town of Wielka Łuki in the region of Pskov. It is an initiative of the Russian Knight Foundation and the local mill where it was installed.
Stalin's eight-meter monument was erected close the entrance to the Micron mill in large Luke in the Pskov Oblast on 15 August. The sculptor of the monument was Mikhail Krasilnikov. The Russian Knight Foundation, which erected Stalin's monument in the Pskov Oblast, was founded by veterans of russian KGB secret services. The Foundation promises to proceed building specified monuments throughout Russia. The foundation was founded by the association of Alpha veterans, or peculiar forces units of the russian KGB. He's in charge Gen. Aleksander Mirowiczenko, who has served in the KGB since 1973 (and after the dissolution of the USSR — in the FSB). KGB veterans are Vladimir Bierezovec, the Vice-President of the Association, and 2 members of the Board of the Foundation, Sergei Goncharov and Giennadi Zaitsev.
The Russian Knight Foundation, which writes a lot about Stalin's military merits on its website and calls it a "great humanist", does not intend to limit itself to 1 monument in the large Lukes, where, according to the foundation's website, Stalin's "triumphal march" by Russia began. The Foundation collects money to erect a monument at the entrance to Volga-Don Canal, and besides promises to erect a monument in Turuchansk close Krasnojarsk, where Stalin was in exile. However, the authorities of Volgograd, Moscow region and Voronezh have already refused the Foundation approval to erect specified a monument.
Monument in the large Arcs
Stalin's monument in the large Arches was consecrated by an Orthodox priest Antoni Tatarincev. During the ceremony he said Stalin and the Orthodox Church had the same goals. “We see the purpose, actions and life of Joseph Wissarionov. Of course, it is power, invincibility, strength and firmness of the russian Union. And to the same goal [...] we are all aiming, including our Russian Orthodox Church," said the clergyman. And thanks to the fact that the Church in Stalin’s time, as the priest put it, “he suffered”, “we now have many fresh martyrs and confessors of Russia, to whom we now pray and who aid us in the revival of our homeland.”
So much information. With us, of course, it was immediately connected with the unveiling of the monument to the governments of Vladimir Putin, who supposedly wants Stalin's glorification. However, the substance is not so simple, due to the fact that Putin, yes, considers Stalin to be an crucial historical figure for Russia, but does not let its glorification, given the crimes that occurred during his reign. While Stalin is recognized as the leader of the USSR, the winner in planet War II (the authoritative monument in Yalta together with Churchill and Roosevelt), there is no state worship of his person, and the Moscow authorities even prohibit the placing of billboards with his image even on May 9. The authoritative position of the Russian Orthodox Church, which opposes Stalin's cult, is besides important.
And so it did in this case, too. According to the portal “Arguments and Facts” (aif.ru), “Russian Orthodox Church refused to participate in the ceremony of unveiling the monument of Stalin”, and the clergyman who consecrated Stalin's monument in the large Lukes awaits inspection. We read: “The diocese of large Lukes began to control the participation of the clergy in the ceremony of unveiling the monument of Stalin in the large Lukes. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church were outraged not only by the fact that they participated in the ceremony, but besides by the words “colleagues” that thanks to Stalinist repression “we now have many fresh martyrs.” "Russian communists" and the Communist organization of the Russian Federation stood up for the clergy, saying Stalin's character "is worshiped among millions of people".
The Diocese of Pskov issued a message that the participation of the clergy in the ceremony and the words there “is not an expression of the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church and reflects their individual views and beliefs.” Bishop Sawwa (Tutunov) from Zielonograd, reported on the Telegram platform: "The situation with the "consecration" of Stalin's monument in the large Arcs is absolutely outrageous (who would explain to the priest what consecration is)". The bishop was peculiarly outraged by the words that “the church suffered during the reign of Józef Wissarionowski, but thanks to this we have many fresh martyrs and followers.” "These words are blasphemous," said the bishop. “Yes, the Lord turned evil for good, showing integrity in the days of persecution in the religion of many Christians who now service as our example and pray for us before his heavenly throne. But this cruelty does not become little evil, and we should not feel gratitude for persecution and persecutors." This position was supported by the head of the Synod Department for Relations between the Church and Society and Media of the Moscow Patriarchate Vladimir Legojda. "I support and confirm what Vladika said," he wrote on Telegram.
The Communists stood up for the priests. "Russian communists" demanded the cessation of cleric controls, sent an appropriate appeal to Cyril's patriarch. Head of the Party Sergei Malinkovich said RIA Novosti that “in the soul of the people, Comrade Stalin has long been canonized.” The Communist organization besides defended the participants of the ceremony. organization spokesperson Alexander Yushchenko said the paper “Arise” that cleric criticism by the diocese “brings of contradictions”, due to which “the burning of the Qur'an” comes. "Yes, the patriarch may resent Stalin's character, but millions present request Stalin's character," he said.
On this occasion it is reminded (gaseta.ru) of the gehenna passed by Orthodox Church in Russia. As he erstwhile said Hilarion metropolis (currently in Budapest's “scan”), "Stalin was aware of cases and knew what was going on, knew about the number of arrested due to the fact that he personally approved them. Stalin's work for the repression is so rather obvious. This may not be apparent only to those [people] who want to believe in myths alternatively than figures and facts.” According to Hilarion, the NKVD plan to repress the clergy ordered the arrest of a full of about 250,000 people. However, criminal authorities have far exceeded these figures. Only from August to November 1937 were 31.359 "spiritual and sectarian", including 166 metropolitan and bishops, 9116 "princes", 2137 monks and nearly 20,000 "ecclesiastical and sectarian Kulatian activists". Of this number, over 13,000 were sentenced to death.
Finally, let us mention that, unlike Russia, mass “production” of monuments of Bandera and Shuchewycz in Ukraine with the participation of clergy and hierarchs The Greek Catholic Church does not rise any discussion there and is treated as something obvious.
Jan Engelgard
In the photo: Stalin's bust in Batumi (Georgia). Until recently, the magnificent monument of Stalin besides stood in Gori, his hometown where the Museum of his name is located.
