Visiting main Russian front battlefields?

[Owen]

Great thread, it's as if I'm there. Just warmer sat here by the radiator.
I too would like to see the bas-reliefs.

[deadb_tch]

[1st Trip] Belltower itself

Ok now, let's get a closer look to belltower.

First of all I have to say that this belltower is half-religious building, it's more belfry than memorial. Of course this building was build with assitance of the Russian Orthodox Church and all bas-reliefs is stylised like its a church bas-reliefs.

On the top of tower is standing statue of (probably, I'm not sure because I'm out of religion) the Virgin Mary, here is close look to its statue:

A look from its right:

And look from its left:


As u can see statue is standing on big ball that is also stylised like its a church cupola. Under the cupola u can see some orthodox statement that is remindering about soldiers killed here in action.

Inside the belltower is mounted big bell that as I said before strikes one time every hour (it is not an atomic time replacement as it strikes at about 20 min of every hour as we all noticed when were there). Ring sound flows with the wind over nearby area - think such sound at night when there r very calm can scare even strong man . But maybe this is just my sensivity.
Here is look to bell from the ground:

And here is the bell itself:


to be continued..

[Owen]

Is there anything on You Tube of the Bell ringing?
So we can hear it.

[deadb_tch]

Originally Posted by Owen D

Is there anything on You Tube of the Bell ringing?
So we can hear it.

Hmm.. think answer is closer to no than to yes because I think there is no someone who recorded such sound to video and then uploaded to utube - this man must be a maniac I preparing to visit Prokhorovka more deeply (because I'vn't reached main Prokhorovka memorial) and there r memorial too on road to Kursk further that is also dedicated to Kurskaya Duga. And I'll try to record sound to my N93

[deadb_tch]

[1st Trip] Belltower bas-reliefs

So, time to see bas-reliefs. Let's go!

Let's begin with this bas-relief pic:

U can see there plot about St. George the Victorious wich is patron of our country.

This is view a bit lower St. George:

U can see here: under St. George various orthodox saints, under saints there is soldiers swearing the oath (?) or kissing the cross before going to war (?), under them soldiers is standing at parade and the lowest bas-relief is Marshal Zhukov at Victory Parade in Moscow may 1945.
Also u can see that swallows didn't gave a chance to Marshal - they live under his horse:


On this bas-relief u can see probably plot about people that looking to troops marching to war:


Here u can see people that was working in home front: grain grower, partisan, steel maker:



Here u can also see women, children and old men that waiting their family members from war:

Above them u see a number of orthodox saints

In upper side of this side of belltower we can see (Holy) Trinity - common plot in orthodox culture - it symbolize three instances of god in orthodox church - Father, Son and the Holy Ghost:


On this part of bas-relief u can see people listening to report of Sovinformbyuro (main 'mass-media' at Great Patriotic War) about advances of soviet troops:


On this shot u can see three figures of persons at war: women - military nurse, soldier (?) and its commander. Above them u can see soviet troops in attack, they r probably shouting "Uraaaah!" , above them at upper side is also orthodox plot with saints and probably another image of Holy Trinity:


On this bas-relief u can see german troops invading our country:


to be continued..

[Owen]

St George is England's patron Saint too.
By the way, they are House Martin (Delichon urbica) nests not Swallows.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...rtin/index.asp

[deadb_tch]

[1st Trip] Belltower bas-reliefs

Final post about bas-reliefs

This pic showing us a different type of soldiers:


Above them u can see soviet troops in hard fight with germans:


In upper side u can see orthodox plot with the Crucifixion and various saints:

Have to say that modern Russian Orthodox Church considered soldiers killed in Great Patriotic War as martyrs for their country and faith.

Sigh! I'm finished bas-reliefs. Have to say that I can be wrong somewhere in descriptions of bas-reliefs because I haven't ever read the meanings of this bas-reliefs..

to be continued..

[deadb_tch]

Originally Posted by Owen D

St George is England's patron Saint too.
By the way, they are House Martin (Delichon urbica) nests not Swallows.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...rtin/index.asp

I think that he is patron of both country because of our tsars became related with English king dynasty (as I remember their history).

Ow! My dictionary gave me this translation Thnx for correction

[von Poop]

When was the Bell-tower put up Alex?
I love that communist era style of art but it seems uncommon to see it combined with such strong religious imagery.

[Owen]

Originally Posted by Von Poop

When was the Bell-tower put up Alex?
I love that communist era style of art but it seems uncommon to see it combined with such strong religious imagery.

Read post #118.

Ok, here we go to belltower intself. Belltower building was started in october 1993 and completed in april 1995 to 50th anniversary of Great Victory.