Russia’s Culture and Mass Media Minister Alexander Sokolov attends the solemn ceremony of committing to earth the remains of White Army General Anton Denikin and philosopher Ivan Ilyin and of their spouses. The ceremony was held in the necropolis of the Holy Done Monastery.
Photo: Vasily Shaposhnikov
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Reburial Mixed with Regret
The remains of White Army’s General Anton Denikin and Russian philosopher Ivan Ilyin and the remains of their spouses were committed to the earth in necropolis of the Holy Don Monastery, Moscow, on Monday, October 3, 2005. His Holiness Moscow and All-Russia’s Patriarch Alexy II delivered the requiem service for the dead. The policy makers of Russia, who attended the ceremony, acknowledged they “have reconsidered the history of Russia and are offering an apology to the offspring of the great sons of Russia.”
The reburial of Russian emigre that had been announced as “the action of reconciliation and agreement” was widely attended by the political elite of the country, including the Culture and Mass Media Minister Alexander Sokolov, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District Georgy Poltavchenko. The so-called professional Russophiles – prominent film director and head of the Russian Cinematographers Union Nikita Mikhalkov and State Duma’s vice speaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky - didn’t miss the event as well.
The honored guests started with taking part in the ceremony of consecrating the stone laid to found the chapel in memory of victims of “the civil discord and fratricidal strife.” Then, they headed for the Cathedral to attend the burial service for the dead. In their speeches made on that day, the officials covered a vast range of topics starting from patriotism to politics, some of them were seeking apology of those forced out of the county “by the ill fate”. Culture Minister Alexander Sokolov, who had managed to persuade President Putin that remains of philosopher Ivan Ilyin should be returned to Russia as well, turned out the only one aware the ceremony was attended by Anton Denikin’s daughter Marina.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 04, 2005
|
|
|
