The Russian Academy Of Arts

On April 24, 2008 to mark the 74th anniversary of the institution of the rank of the Hero of the Soviet Union, the President of the Russian Academy of Arts together with Inter-Regional Public Foundation for Social Security “Law and Order – Shield” arranged in Tsereteli Art Gallery a Day of Heroes of Motherland: Heroes of the Soviet Union; Heroes of the Russian Federation and Full Knights of the Order of Glory.

The event held under the auspices of Zurab Tsereteli on the eve of the 63rd anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War is a proof of permanent concern for Heroes of Motherland and an expression of our gratitude for their feats of arms and self-sacrificing service to Motherland. Many artworks by Zurab Tsereteli have been dedicated to glorification of heroes of Russia. In 1995 he immortalized the names of Heroes on the walls of the Glory Hall in the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow. The sculptor’s central bronze monument of the Memorial Complex on Poklonnaya Hill depicts the history of deeds from the start of the War to the Victory salute. The monument to Alexander Peresvet, hero of the Battle of Kulikovo as well as monument to Holy Venerable Irinarch the Recluse, who blessed Minin and Pozharski before the national militia set off on their liberation campaign to Moscow have been also created in memory of Russian heroes.  

Besides the Heroes of Motherland, among the attendees have been veterans of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945, heroes of the Chernobyl disaster and the war in Afghanistan, heroes of anti-terrorist operations in Chechnya, liberators of Nord-Ost hostages, representatives of  Force Ministries and Agencies.

The Russian Academy of Arts boasts its many veterans of War. The 107-year old People’s Artist of Russia Boris Efimov for his bold caricatures against fascism was included in the list of Hitler’s personal enemies. In 1945 as a special reporter he was present at Nuremberg War Crimes Trial Process. Among those who were involved in active war actions are such noted masters of fine arts as Efrem Zverkov, Andrei Mylnikov, Michael Kurilko-Ryumin, Vladimir Tsygal, Sergei Tkachev,  Oleg Eremeev, Mai Miturich, Ilya Bogdesko, Andrei Vasnetsov, Anatoli Levitin, Vladimir Pereyaslavets, Marat Samsonov and others.

The participants have seen the exhibits of the Gallery and have been presented with memorial gifts.

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