On 2 September 2024, in keeping with tradition, the Day of the Russian Guards was celebrated in the Hermitage. Each year, the Hermitage holds ceremonies devoted to the Day of the Russian Guards, the Day of the State Flag, (Orthodox) Saint George’s Day and the anniversary of “the expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia” in 1812. Some of these events were marked in the Hermitage long before they were declared official state occasions.
This year, the museum has begun holding formal ceremonies in the Hall of Russian Glory and Victories within the Exchange building of the State Hermitage, laying the foundations for future national and municipal ceremonies promoting the preservation of historical memory and a sense of involvement in the country’s military history.
The State Hermitage carefully preserves the traditions of Russian martial history. The Winter Palace was not only an imperial residence, but also a sort of military museum in which objects connected with Russian martial glory were kept. Military celebrations were held here, formal ceremonies in which the Guards participated, palace parades in which banners and standards were trooped, award ceremonies.
The formal ceremony was opened by the Honour Guard Company. With a band playing a welcoming march, they carried into the War Gallery of 1812 banners and standards of guards regiments in the Russian imperial army: the St George Standard of the Life-Guards Horse Grenadier Regiment of the 2nd Division (1851), the banners of Life-Guards Izmailovsky Regiment’s 5th battalion (1854) and St George Banner of the Life-Guards Semionovsky Regiment (1883).
Welcoming the gathering, Mikhail Piotrovsky, General Director of the State Hermitage, said:
“The Day of the Guards existed from the moment of the corps’ appearance. It
was here, though, in the Hermitage that we revived this celebration on Russian
soil. And we are very pleased that it has become a nationwide occasion. Today,
the heroes of the war in 1812 gaze down on us from the walls of the War Gallery.
Looking at them, we recall the heroes of the Northern War, when the corps of
Guards was born, the First World War and Great Patriotic War. Remembering the
heroes of past conflicts, we think of the heroes of the present day, of the
courage and heroism of our army. That link between times, that matrix of memory
is provided by the museum. We have many ceremonies that we have revived, that
take place within the walls of the Hermitage, in the Winter Palace. That is the
very best way of preserving memory and nurturing in people a sense of
responsibility towards the heroes of the past, love of one’s country and pride
in it.”
Saint Petersburg Vice-Governor Valery Moskalenko congratulated the gathering on the Day of the Russian Guards with a reminder of the importance of preserving traditions and continuity between generations.
“The Russian Guards Corps traces its history from the days of Peter the
Great. After the October Revolution, during the Great Patriotic War, in
difficult times for the country, it was a proper step to award the proud title
and transform into guards whole units and subdivisions for their heroism and
courage. For centuries, Guards units had gained victories in numerous wars,
bringing glory to Russian arms. Today we recall the great accomplishments of
the Russian Guards and are pleased to be involved in the preservation and
revival of this celebration within the walls of the Hermitage,” he stressed.
The ceremony was conducted by State Herold Master Georgy Vilinbakhov.
Honorary guests at the event were Andrei Golombiyevsky, Chairman of the Committee on Law, Order and Security; Colonel Vitaly Yankovets, Acting Deputy to the Commander of the Forces of the Leningrad Military District for Military-Political Work; Retired Colonel Valery Krylov, Director of the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps; Hieromonk Mark (Pavel Sviatogorov), clergyman of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Dean of the Church of the Vernicle – the Great Church of the Winter Palace.
An important part of the ceremony was the presentation of Guards badges to graduates of military colleges.
The event concluded with the performance of the marches of the Life-Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment, the Old Chasseurs March (of the Life-Guards Chasseurs Regiment) and the Farewell of Slavianka march. The traditional Russian tunes were played by the Band of the Military Institute (Engineering and Technical) of the General A.V. Khrulev Military Academy of Logistics conducted by Major Dmitry Malkov.
