The event which had been awaited for more than 40 years by the survivors of the Siege of Leningrad finally took place on January 26. A monument with a symbolic name “To the fortitude of Leningraders who defended the city” was unveiled and consecrated in Siege of Leningrad Survivors’ Square next to Square of Fortitude (Ploshchady Muzhestva). The Grachya M. Pogosyan Charitable Foundation funded its creation and erection.
This six-meter high monument is dedicated to those people who didn’t surrender and gave all their power, and strength, and lives to defend the besieged city in spite of unbearable living conditions. Bronze figures holding the city on the shoulders symbolize rebel militias, workers, young Leningraders and the old, who are listening to the radio in hopes, and watch beholders from above. Alongside the living there are the dead taken on their final journey across Square of Fortitude to Piskaryovskoye Cemetery… It is the contribution of Leningraders to the liberation of the city and their strength of character that Honored Artist of Russia, sculptor Yevgeny Rotanov tried to translate in this image.
The bronze monument is standing on two cubes made of Dymovsky granite. The main words “To the fortitude of Leningraders who defended the city” are carved on the upper cube and the dates – 1941-1944 – on its reverse side.
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But it is a moment long overdue. The story began long ago, in the years after the World War II.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Victory in 1975, they started to talk about a monument to tribute survivors of Leningrad Siege on the square, named Square of Fortitude in 1965. It was the square that people pass on their way to the evacuation or to the front, and those who died of bombings and hunger were taken to Piskaryovskoye Cemetery along present day Nepokorennyh Avenue.
Then, far back in the 70s, the initiative of social activists was just words. But the eyewitnesses of those horrific events didn’t give up and raised the question at various levels of government again and again. For obvious reasons, the monument was almost forgotten during the 1990s.
Only for the 60th anniversary of the victory in World War II in 2004, an action group including concerned citizens and survivors of Leningrad Siege laid the stepping stone in the square, soon named Siege of Leningrad Survivors’ Square. On the plate there was written: “The stone is laid to tribute the 60th anniversary of Victory over fascism. Here it will be a monument to the glory, fortitude, heroism and courage of Leningraders who defended the city.”
Yet the monument wasn’t erected. The question progressed in 2014. Then Saint-Petersburg’s society “Survivors of the Siege of Leningrad” attempted to find the possibility to realize the project. President of the Society I.B. Skripacheva addressed Grachya M. Pogosyan, a philanthropist and public figure of St. Petersburg, and an honored member of their society, to fund the project. The City of St. Petersburg’s Urban Planning Architecture Committee invited tenders to choose a draft monument. But the sketch offered by Grachya Pogosyan failed the selection. Following the results of the competition the maquette by Honored Artist of Russia, sculptor Yevgeny Rotanov and architect Leonid Kopylovsky won. The final cost was so high that because of lack of funding the project wasn’t realized again.
But social activists didn’t abandon hope to see the monument in Siege of Leningrad Survivors’ Square. In May 2017 Saint-Petersburg’s society “Survivors of the Siege of Leningrad” sent an official letter to Grachya Misakovich Pogosyan again asking to fund the erection of the monument that had been chosen by the citizens and approved by the City of St. Petersburg’s Urban Planning Architecture Committee.
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In general at the initiative and expense of Grachya Pogosyan more than 90 sites of cultural, spiritual and historical heritage have been installed, restored and reconstructed. 26 monuments out of them are devoted to the events and the people of World War II. He has touched the 3000-year history between Russia and Armenia. Now his charity work includes 11 countries.
With the approval of the City of St. Petersburg’s Urban Planning Architecture Committee the final cost was reconsidered and reduced significantly. So, Grachya Pogosyan agreed to fund the production and erection of the monument. It was decided to create Grachya Pogosyan Charitable Foundation that officially undertook the realization of the project.
In August 2017 the works on creation a full-size model of the monument started. The Arts Council took place in October where leading artists and sculptors were present and which approved the sculpture. On November 30 the site in Siege of Leningrad Survivors’ Square was consecrated. Vyacheslav Makarov, Chairman of Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, survivors of Leningrad Siege, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of CIS participated in the ceremony. Among the guests there were deputies of the National Assembly of Armenia.
Then it was clear that a long-awaited wish would come true.
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It was decided to unveil the monument to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the breakthrough of Leningrad Siege and the 74th anniversary of lifting the Siege. As part of these celebrations the monument “To the fortitude of Leningraders who defended the city” had its opening on January 26.
Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of St. Petersburg, Vyacheslav Makarov, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Viktor Minenko, Chief Federal Inspector of St. Petersburg, Eduard Sharmazanov, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Elena Tikhomirova, President of society “Survivors of the Siege of Leningrad”, Grachya Pogosyan, President of the Charitable Foundation participated in that ceremony. Among guests of honor there were deputies of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, representatives of executive authorities of the city, representatives of veterans’ organizations, key personnel of the Western Military Region troops and the Northwestern Region of National Guard troops, representatives of the Consulate General of RA in St. Petersburg, the Parliament of RA, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of CIS, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Procuratorial Academy in St. Petersburg, quests from Moscow and thousands of citizens of the Northern Capital.
Georgy Poltavchenko, Vyacheslav Makarov, Viktor Minenko, Eduard Sharmazanov, Elena Tikhomirova, Grachya Pogosyan, the person who is thanked for the erection of the monument, were honored to unveil it.
The participants of the ceremony observed a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of those who died in the years of the siege of Leningrad and during World War II.
Then the floor was given to Georgy Poltavchenko, Govenor of St. Petersburg.
“This is a monument to the feat of our great city and of those who defended, lived and fought. The feat will be remembered not only by Square of Fortitude and Nepokorennyh Avenue, but by the monument which depicts heroic defenders in stone, “ Poltavchenko said.
Vyacheslav Makarov, Chairman of Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, pointed out: “The monument doesn’t only pay tribute to our veterans. It also serves as a reminder of those hard times, of the people who survived and those died then. This is a symbol of our gratitude to those who granted us life and liberty. They say there isn’t a reward equal to the feat of those who defended the city, but there is one: it is our memory. The Siege survivors have specific fortitude and character. Today there are a lot of children here; they are grandchildren and great grandchildren of the defenders of Leningrad. It is necessary to cultivate certain values such as love for the Motherland and the city we live in, and willingness to die for the country. Our task is to fulfill the will of our fathers and grandfathers – to guard and strengthen Russia and make every effort for the country to be the Great Power for good. I thank all the initiators, those who has taken part in the creation of this monument – sculptors, architects and builders. Of course, I thank the Grachya M. Pogosyan Charitable Foundation, which has funded the project. I’m sure we’ll always see people and flowers around the monument as the memory of the heroism of Leningraders lives in our hearts.”
Viktor Minenko, Chief Federal Inspector of St. Petersburg, conveyed congratulations from Alexander Beglov, Plenipotentiary of the President in the Northwestern Federal District. He stressed that Leningraders did everything possible to defend the city and to provide its defense capabilities by working heroically at factories and plants.
Elena Tikhomirova, President of society “Survivors of the Siege of Leningrad”, reminded that they came up with an idea to erect the monument decades ago. Only thanks to Grachya Pogosyan, an honorable member of our society, the monument has finally been installed.
“We are glad that we’ve managed to implement it. Look at the monument. This is and example of unity: here we see a mother with her child, soldiers, workers – every one who was in the city then. The only thing I can tell our children – ask us about the way it was like in those times, ask us while we are alive,” Elena Sergeevna said.
Eduard Sharmazanov, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, reminded that the defense and the siege of Leningrad mean much not only to the people of Russia but to the people of Armenia as well. He mentioned some names: Anastas Mikoyan who was responsible for the supply of the Leningrad front, Ivan Isakov (Ovanes Ter-Isaakyan) who fought against fascists in the Baltic Sea, Joseph Orbely who led the evacuation of the Hermitage exhibits.
Addressing the people present, Grachya Pogosyan, the President of the Charitable Foundation, said: “You don’t have to be born in St. Petersburg to love it from the bottom of your heart and I’m very happy about being able to contribute to its history. I’m glad that I’ve managed to touch the history of St. Petersburg creating monuments, films, books with the support of veterans and survivors of Siege of Leningrad.
He thanked everybody who helped and facilitated the realization of the project having stressed that there were no problems when constructing the monument and the doors of all involved institutions were open in front of him.
The vicar of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra bishop of Kronshtadt Nazarius, in the service of the clergy of the monastery, blessed the monument.
Then a lot of scarlet flowers and floral baskets were laid at the pedestal of the monument “To the Fortitude of Leningraders”. They were from the Administration of the Plenipotentiary of the President in the Northwestern Federal District, the Government of St. Petersburg, Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, National Assembly of Armenia, from the siege of Leningrad survivors, the Grachya Pogosyan Charitable Foundation, the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of CIS, the Consulate General of RA in St. Petersburg, the officership of the Western Military Region and the commander-in-chief of the Northwestern Region troops of National Guard, the Interregional Public Organization of Veterans and Soldiership, the Procuratorial Academy in St. Petersburg, the Armenian Apostolic Church in St. Petersburg, the Main Department of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg Eparchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, veterans of the Land Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Federation of Cosmonautics in RF and the All-Russia Youth Social Organization MIR (Youth, Initiative, Development). It seemed as if the monument was floating above the scarlet sea of bright red flowers laid with great love by every one who had visited the opening ceremony.
On that day Grachya Pogosyan’s work was honored at the different levels. The patron was awarded the Medal for Cooperation from the Director of the Federal Service of National Guard Troops and Commander of the National Guard Troops Viktor Zolotov. The award was presented by the Deputy Commander in charge of personnel of the Northwestern National Guard Troops Region, Major-General Nikolay Nikolaev. The Medal of the Order of the General of the Army Margelov from the All-Russia Union of Public Association of landing troops veterans “Union of paratroopers of Russia” the Hero of the Soviet Union Col. Gen. Valery Vostrotin was given by the executive director of the International Union “Brothers in Arms”, the Deputy Director of “Brothers in Arms” in Moscow, the chief editor of IA “Veteranskie Vesty”, retired Lt. Colonel Vyacheslav Kalinin. Yekaterina Suschenko, a social activist, the leader of the Association for children and young people “Pamyat Serdtsa” gave the public Medal for Social Activism to thank for a magnificent monument to children of Leningrad who perished that was created in Tikhvin, Leningrad region.
The Head of the Russian and Novo-Nakhichevan diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Ezras sent his blessing for the charitable deed. He underlined the importance and consequence of that event. “We are sure that the monument will become one more evidence of immortal heroism of our fathers and grandfathers. It will always be the source of morality and a bright example of moral integrity for millennials,” the Archbishop wrote.
The participants of the ceremony stayed there for a long time listening to the eyewitnesses of the siege of Leningrad who shared their experiences of living in the besieged city and to their descendants who told family stories. Everyone was glad that there is a monument at last on the site which they fought for not to let the construction of a fast food restaurant. A kitchen truck was working at some distance diffusing an odour of buckwheat porridge. Each person could confide memories of that happy day warming their hands and enjoying the food.
Dina Nikiphorova
Photo Andrey Mukhin, Dmitry Sazonov
IA “” Veteransky Vesty”