11.10.2009
Source:
Russian First Lady Svetlana Medvedeva presented icon of St. Peter and St. Paul to new church in Sestroretsk, near St. Petersburg. The temple devoted to those saints was erected in commemoration of submariners, near the place where Peter the Great had put afloat a "secret" vessel, prototype of all subs.
The icon painted in second half of 18th century was triumphantly handed over by Medvedeva after consecration of church by Cyril Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia in the presence of Minister of Defense Anatoly Serdiukov, Navy Commander Vladimir Vysotsky, Governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matvienko, heads of sponsoring organizations and Sestroretsk citizens.
"I give this holy icon of patron saints on behalf of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and me personally", said Medvedeva.
"Duty of our society is to revive historical and spiritual traditions; we must commemorate sailors who made Russia a great maritime power", underlined wife of the President.
The First Lady laid flowers to monument wall sacred to the memory of died mariners and talked with undersea fleet veterans. During conversation with the military she ask where they had served and wished them luck.
