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Russian patriarch begins celebrations on Day of National Unity with prayer for fatherland.

In 1612 this holy icon became the main shrine of the militia, who liberated Moscow from Polish and Lithuanian invaders

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, November 4 (Itar-Tass) - Hundreds of people came to the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin on Monday morning to pray for the Fatherland. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill is leading the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the Feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

In 1612 this holy icon became the main shrine of the militia, who liberated Moscow from Polish and Lithuanian invaders. After the national victory the Times of Troubles ended and the restoration of Russian statehood began, therefore, this holiday laid down the foundations for the Day of National Unity.

After the religious service Patriarch Kirill together with statesmen and public figures will unveil the obelisk dedicated to the reigning of the House of Romanovs in the Aleksandrovsky Garden at the Kremlin walls after the restoration. The monument, which was built on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov Royal Dynasty, was changed for the monument to the ideologues of the Communism in 1918. Now the initial form was brought back to the monument.

Then the celebrations will continue at the Central Exhibition Hall Manezh. A large-scale multimedia exposition “Orthodox Rus. The House of Romanovs” will open. The exposition was organized on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Russian royal dynasty and is devoted to its role in the fate of Russia without any embellishment, but at the same time with the focus on the achievements of each monarch. Russian President Vladimir Putin together with Patriarch Kirill will participate in the opening of the exhibition.

For nine days until November 12 the debates with essayists, historians, diplomats will be held, the first nights of the documentaries about different times of the Russian tsarist dynasty will be showed, spectacles and an opera will be staged at the House of Music.

Meanwhile, from November 4 to 12 at the exhibition people can venerate the miracle-making Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, which is considered as the divine patroness of the Romanov Royal Family. In 1613 first Russian tsar Mikhail from the Romanov dynasty was blessed to rule the country. The shrine is brought to the Russian capital for the first time.

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