Login

 

Forgot password?
submarines shipbuilding Black Sea Fleet exercise Pacific Fleet Russian Navy Northern Fleet strategy cooperation Ukraine visits Russia piracy missiles trials Sevastopol history Sevmash presence contracts drills Baltic Fleet industry incident anti-piracy shipyards Gulf of Aden frigate training Somalia India developments reforms opinion Borei policy procurements Russia - India aircraft carrier Crimea arms exports USA St. Petersburg France tests financing Bulava Yury Dolgoruky Serdiukov US Navy Mediterranean cruise Zvezdochka NATO innovations United Shipbuilding Corporation Indian Navy Medvedev Arctic agreements commission Admiralteyskie Verfi Admiral Gorshkov Mistral Vladivostok accident hijacking corvettes overhaul Admiral Kuznetsov anniversary Russia - France Rosoboronexport Vysotsky ceremony event Yantar Severomorsk defense order negotiations aircraft conflict China deployment naval aviation Putin Black Sea investigations Varyag coast guard Novorossiysk Vikramaditya landing craft crime Far East marines Severnaya Verf meeting scandals memorials traditions Syria South Korea Japan escort statistics Yasen Neustrashimy tenders Marshal Shaposhnikov Admiral Chabanenko convoys Ukrainian Navy problems Severodvinsk Chirkov reinforcement tension firings tragedy technology Baltic Sea Almaz Moskva frontier service search and rescue Caspian Flotilla hostages provocation upgrade court Dmitry Donskoy keel laying rumors Turkey World War II death Admiral Panteleyev Atalanta helicopters Kilo class shipwreck Petr Veliky Kaliningrad Admiral Vinogradov Norway Rubin launching patrols Russia-Norway
Search
Our friends russian navy weapons world sailing ships
 
Tell a friend Print version

Russian mariners in Pilos

Joint Russian-French-British squadron defeated almost twice powerful Turkish-Egyptian fleet in Navarino Harbor on October 20, 1827. In the context of 182nd anniversary of that memorable battle the festivities were held in Greek port Pilos. Among guests were the crewmembers of RNS Caesar Kunikov.
Tuesday morning participants of the celebration drew together at Pilos City Hall where ladies dressed in Greek national costumes brought flags of winning countries. Later on, honor guards of Greek Army and Navy along with Russian seamen and marines marched to the military band accompaniment towards Square of the Three Admirals which opens up picturesque view of Navarino bay. National anthems of four countries were played and flags were hoisted in commemoration of events happened almost two hundred years ago. Then was orthodox moleben and afterwards Greek and Russian mariners paraded along the Pilos shore front.

In the evening the Russian military band and "St. Andrew's Flag" Ensemble gave a huge concert at Square of the Three Admirals. They played Russian popular songs and romances, and also Greek melodies beloved by locals. "We thank Russia for the celebration arranged at our place", said one of them. When the concert was finished, the mayor of Pilos George Chronopoulos declared decision to award Col. Igor Knyazev, Chief of Black Sea Fleet Orchestra directing the band with a title of honorary citizen. "You are our estimable and eminent citizen, brother for the people of Pilos", said the mayor to Knyazev.

According to the mayor, local authorities promote an idea to establish Museum of Navarino Battle in Pilos with interactive panorama of the battle. "There were a number of bureaucratic protractions but now building for the future museum is defined and hopefully the exhibition will be opened in a year", said the mayor.

It is important to note that large amphibious ship Caesar Kunikov called at Pilos after informal visit to Greek port Corfu. That visit was associated with social forum "Russian Week at Corfu" and Memorial Day in honor of famed Russian admiral Fiodor Ushakov. Under his command, Russian sailors freed the island from foreign invaders in 1799. In accordance with visit program, Capt 1 rank Sergei Zinchenko, cruise commander and Capt 2 rank Sergei Larchuk, Commander of LAS Caesar Kunikov paid a call to mayor of Corfu Mr. Satiris Mikhalev.

The official meeting of Corfu municipal authorities with Russian mission and diplomatic corps in Greece were held in the atmosphere of kindness. Among guests were Nikos Kanoulas, Russian honorable consul on the Ionian Islands, Valery Ganichev, Chairman of the Russian Guild of Writers, astronaut-pilot Sergei Treschev etc. Addressing the meeting, mayor of Corfu expressed appreciation of Ionian islanders to Russian mariners for their invaluable contribution to national liberation struggle of Hellas people against foreign invaders. Cruise commander Capt 1 rank Sergei Zinchenko in response speech expressed thanks to Greek party for supplying the ship at port and traditional open-armed welcome.

Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, Author: Vladimir PASYAKIN. 22.10.09
Translation: RusNavy.com