In this photo, we can see a moment of the ceremony of awarding Mikhail Kalashnikov with the Order of Saint Righteous Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. The event at which the order was awarded was dedicated to the opening of the restored St. Michael’s Cathedral in Izhevsk.
More about the people in the photo:
Patriarch Alexius II, bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church (1929 — 2008). Patriarch of Moscow and the whole Russia (June 7, 1990 — December 5, 2008).
On the 5th of August of 2007, Patriarch Alexius II came to Izhevsk for consecration of the main altar of the cathedral. He highly appreciated Kalashnikov’s contribution to the weapon industry. On that day, Mikhail Timofeyevich was solemnly invested with the Order of Saint Righteous Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. Representatives of the Izhevsk and Udmurtia archdiocese and government official of the Udmurt Republic, including its president Alexander Volkov, were present at the ceremony.
During the award ceremony, Kalashnikov said that his parents were devout believers and instilled in him respect for the Christian religion. However, he himself rarely visited church as he lived most part of his life according to secular laws.
The Order of Dmitry Donskoy is an award whose history is not very long yet. It was instituted on October 1st of 2004. According to the etiquette, the holders of the order wear it on the left side of their chest. The order looks like an equal-ended cross. At its center, there is a medallion with an image of Dmitry Donskoy in princely clothes.
St. Michael’s Cathedral near which this famous photo was taken is a jewel of Izhevsk. It is 67 meters high and is located in the Red Square of the town. Previously, that place was occupied by a cemetery where the factory workers were buried. There was the Trinity chapel at its territory. In 1784, it was decided to transform the chapel into St. Trinity church which later, in 1810, was severely damaged by a sudden fire.
During the Soviet rule, in 1929, the cathedral was closed and sealed off by order of the authorities. In 1932, a regional history museum opened in it.
On the 8th of April, 1937 it was decided to demolish St. Michael’s Cathedral, which was done shortly afterwards.
On the 11th of February, 2000 the government and the Presidium of the National Council of the Udmurt Republic made a joint announcement which stated that St. Michael’s Cathedral had to be rebuilt. It was announced that the church would be built at the same place as the demolished cathedral which was erected with people’s money. On May 16th of 2007, Nikolay, Metropolitan of Izhevsk and Udmurtia, consecrated the lower church. On August 5th of 2007, the main altar was consecrated by Patriarch Alexius II who also held the first divine service in the church in the presence of many officials of the Udmurt Republic, including Alexander Volkov who was its president at the time.
More about the people in the photo:
Patriarch Alexius II, bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church (1929 — 2008). Patriarch of Moscow and the whole Russia (June 7, 1990 — December 5, 2008).
Alexander Alexandrovich Volkov (1951–2017) Russian statesman and politician, member of the Federation Council, deputy chairman of the Science, Education and Culture Committee of the Federation Council (2014-2017) and first President of the Udmurt Republic (2000–2014).
On the 5th of August of 2007, Patriarch Alexius II came to Izhevsk for consecration of the main altar of the cathedral. He highly appreciated Kalashnikov’s contribution to the weapon industry. On that day, Mikhail Timofeyevich was solemnly invested with the Order of Saint Righteous Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. Representatives of the Izhevsk and Udmurtia archdiocese and government official of the Udmurt Republic, including its president Alexander Volkov, were present at the ceremony.
During the award ceremony, Kalashnikov said that his parents were devout believers and instilled in him respect for the Christian religion. However, he himself rarely visited church as he lived most part of his life according to secular laws.
The Order of Dmitry Donskoy is an award whose history is not very long yet. It was instituted on October 1st of 2004. According to the etiquette, the holders of the order wear it on the left side of their chest. The order looks like an equal-ended cross. At its center, there is a medallion with an image of Dmitry Donskoy in princely clothes.
St. Michael’s Cathedral near which this famous photo was taken is a jewel of Izhevsk. It is 67 meters high and is located in the Red Square of the town. Previously, that place was occupied by a cemetery where the factory workers were buried. There was the Trinity chapel at its territory. In 1784, it was decided to transform the chapel into St. Trinity church which later, in 1810, was severely damaged by a sudden fire.
In 1885, at the place where the destroyed cathedral stood, a beautiful 30-meter chapel was built. It could be seen from any point in the town. In 1876, a fund raising campaign for the construction of a new religious building was announced. Workers of the Izhevsk factory made their contribution as well: they paid 1% of their salary to the fund. The town administration concluded a contract for engineering of the church with Ivan Charushin, an engineer from the town of Vyatka. The first stone in the foundation was solemnly laid in 1897. In November 1915, the main altar of the church was consecrated.
During the Soviet rule, in 1929, the cathedral was closed and sealed off by order of the authorities. In 1932, a regional history museum opened in it.
On the 8th of April, 1937 it was decided to demolish St. Michael’s Cathedral, which was done shortly afterwards.
On the 11th of February, 2000 the government and the Presidium of the National Council of the Udmurt Republic made a joint announcement which stated that St. Michael’s Cathedral had to be rebuilt. It was announced that the church would be built at the same place as the demolished cathedral which was erected with people’s money. On May 16th of 2007, Nikolay, Metropolitan of Izhevsk and Udmurtia, consecrated the lower church. On August 5th of 2007, the main altar was consecrated by Patriarch Alexius II who also held the first divine service in the church in the presence of many officials of the Udmurt Republic, including Alexander Volkov who was its president at the time.
