In the evening of June 30, 2012, during his patriarchal visit to the diocese of Bryansk, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the ‘Partisans’ Glade’ war memorial, near Bryansk.
The day before, June 29, was the Day of Partisans and Clandestine Fighters in Russia declared by the State Duma in 2009 on the initiative of the Bryansk Regional Duma ‘to commemorate the selfless struggle of partisans and clandestine fighters in the rear of the enemy, who made an essential contribution to the victory of the Soviet people over the fascists invaders during the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War’.
Patriarch Kirill was accompanied by Bishop Alexander of Bryansk, A. Beglov, Presidential Envoy for Central Russia and N. Denin, Governor of the Bryansk Region.
His Holiness laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and addressed the gathering. He greeted the war veterans personally.
In the evening of June 30, 2012, Patriarch Kirill visited the war memorial in the village of Khatsun, where hundreds of civilians were killed by a punitive squad in October 1941.
His Holiness laid flowers at the memorial. ‘Eternal memory’ was sung for the innocent victims.
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The Partisans’ Glade is a war memorial located in Bryansk forests 12 km away from the city. It was a traditional meeting place for partisans and clandestine fighters in what is now Russia and CIS countries. Here, in September 1941, a general meeting of partisan detachmenst took place to launch their combat actions.