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The ceremony on Moscow’s Red Square was the first in the series of events on Nov. 4 that Putin is due to attend on occasion of the National Unity Day. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and heads of other confessions, including Ravil Gaynutdin, the Grand Mufti of Russia, took part in the ceremony.
The Russian leader later talked to the religions figures and representatives of public organizations, and also took part in a photo shoot with youth activists.
Later on Nov. 4, the president will unveil a monument to Prince Vladimir on Borovitskaya Square jointly with the patriarch and hand out state awards in the Kremlin to foreign nationals for special achievements in enhancing peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between people.
The National Unity Day marks Russia’s liberation from Polish invaders in 1612. The holiday was established in 2005 replacing the Day of Consent and Reconciliation, which had been celebrated on November 7 (formerly Revolution Day) since 1996.
The monument to Minin and Pozharsky unveiled in 1818 on Moscow’s Red Square is the work of sculptor Ivan Martos. This was the first monument in Russia’s history not to the tsar or commander, but to national heroes.
Source: TASS
