What holiday is associated with Minin and Pozharsky? National Unity Day - the history of the holiday
This is a public holiday that was only recognized in 2005. This holiday is now celebrated on November 4 throughout the country. Schools traditionally hold open lessons, and city authorities are preparing a festive program for residents. Unfortunately, according to surveys, only a third of the population knows about this date. But today only a few understand the true meaning that was originally invested in the celebration.
History of the holiday of national unity
Although this holiday was officially recognized not so long ago, its roots go back to the distant 17th century. National Unity Day is celebrated as a sign of liberation from Polish invaders in 1612.
One of the most important and famous events in history is the people's militia led by Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. They managed to rush to Kitay-Gorod and force the command of the Polish interventionists to sign a document of surrender. Dmitry was the first to enter the liberated city. In his hands was an icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Since then, in Rus' they firmly believed that it was this icon that helped protect their native lands from the Polish invasion and preserve faith in the hearts of people.
A little later, Prince Dmitry, in honor of the icon of the Mother of God, erected a wooden church on Red Square at his own expense. After the fire in Moscow, nothing remained of the church and the Kazan Cathedral was erected in its place. A few years later, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich proclaimed November 4 as the day of the Kazan Mother of God. This holiday was celebrated annually until the 1917 revolution. Then they began to gradually forget about the date right up to the present day.
Today, the holiday of National Unity Day has acquired a slightly different character. It is practically not associated with the church. Instead, citizens of the country celebrate a day of remembrance and gratitude to those who at one time defended the country. From the point of view of clergy, many residents of the country do not understand the very essence of the word “unity”. According to history, this day is intended to remind the people of the country that only in unity is power, and in power and integrity is joy.
National Unity Day - the purpose of the holiday
Nowadays, it is customary for residents of the country to celebrate National Unity Day every year as a sign of the victory of the Russian army over the Poles. This is not just an occasion to organize social events and once again emphasize the status of a great country.
The main idea was the unity of the people. Regardless of religion and nationality, in 1612 people were able to unite and thus defend their freedom. The National Unity Day holiday personifies respect for the patriotism and courage of the country's citizens of all generations, recognition and gratitude to those who were able to defend and protect their homeland in the darkest moments of its history.
National Unity Day - holiday traditions
On this day, it is customary to hold various concerts with the participation of domestic celebrities, processions and demonstrations. 
Charity events are often organized on National Unity Day.
A gala government reception is being held in the Great Kremlin Hall. At this reception, everyone who has made a great contribution to the development and prosperity of the country is awarded. Towards evening, festivities begin with a concert program, fireworks and visual shows. The history of the holiday of national unity is told to school students every year so that from childhood they learn to appreciate and be proud of their country, know its history and understand the very essence of the celebration. Fortunately, this holiday is celebrated by more and more people every year, and it has already become quite important for the residents of the country.
This holiday in its modern form appeared relatively recently. At the end of 2004, the State Duma of the Russian Federation amended the law “On Days of Military Glory (Victory Days of Russia)”, adding a new holiday - National Unity Day. The holiday was first celebrated on November 4, 2005. Despite its youth, this holiday has deep historical roots. The basis for the emergence of the holiday was the people's liberation movement of the 17th century, which arose to fight the Polish invaders. During the Russian-Polish War of 1609-1618 between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Polish-Lithuanian troops occupied the Moscow Kremlin for two years (from 1610 to 1612). The rise of the people's liberation movement began in Russia in 1611. The leaders of the militia were Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky. In August 1612, the militia defeated the Polish army near Moscow. The remaining forces of the Polish-Lithuanian troops retreated to Moscow. October 22 (November 4 Gregorian calendar) 1612 The militia, led by Minin and Pozharsky, stormed Kitay-Gorod and successfully entered it. The remnants of the Polish garrison retreated to the Kremlin, but soon signed a capitulation. And although the end of the Russian-Polish war was still far away, this important victory became the main step in ending the Time of Troubles in Rus'. The period of anarchy after the suppression of the royal family of Rurikovich ended in February 1613 with the election at the Zemsky Sobor of a new king - Mikhail Romanov, who became the first monarch in the Romanov dynasty. It is believed that the people's militia, during the fight against the Polish occupiers, carried with them Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. According to legend, Prince Dmitry Pozharsky made a vow to build a temple in honor of the intercessor icon, with the help of which the victory was won. In 1625, at his own expense, he built the first (wooden) church on the corner of Red Square and Nikolskaya Street, but in 1634 this church burned down in a fire. In 1636 Kazan Cathedral was revived in stone form at the expense of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. In 1649, by decree of the second Russian Tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Alexei I Mikhailovich, October 22 (November 4) began to be celebrated as a church and state holiday. The reason for giving official status to the holiday was the birth of the first-born and heir to the throne - Dmitry Alekseevich, who was born on October 22 (November 4), 1648, that is, on the day of veneration of the Kazan Icon. Unfortunately, the heir died in infancy in 1649, not having lived even a year. However, the official status and tradition of venerating the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God passed through the centuries until the revolution of 1917, after which church holidays lost their former meaning. Revival of the holiday happened in 2005. According to experts, the reason for this was the cancellation of the November 7 celebration. The Day of the Great October Socialist Revolution could not be transformed into the Day of Accord and Reconciliation; too many disputes arose around this historical event. In this regard, an initiative was born to replace November 7 with another, more unifying holiday. As a result, it was decided to revive the ancient holiday of veneration of the Kazan Icon in new modern realities. Now November 4th no longer has a clear religious context and is more viewed as a historical event. Today, the Day of National Unity of Russia is intended to emphasize the cohesion of all people, regardless of religion, origin and position in society. Thus, the meaning of the holiday has shifted to the historical and social role of the unity of the people in the face of any external and internal threats. On this page you will find many congratulations on National Unity Day that you can send to your relatives, friends, colleagues and just good acquaintances. See also:
Excellent congratulations on National Unity Day
On National Unity Day, I hasten to congratulate you! I have been breathing the same air with you for many years!
I want to wish you happiness, many warm, bright days, never be upset, many loyal friends!
Be always healthy, strong in spirit and mind! We are united, that’s the basis! We live in the same country!
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Let's celebrate National Unity Day
National Unity Day Let's meet together at the table. He helped unite everyone we live next to!
Today we raise a toast to a worthy day of the year! And we solemnly wish the Unity of our thoughts!
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Holiday of National Unity
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On National Unity Day (short)
On National Unity Day, We will all get drunk and drunk, And when we are drunk, we are united, And therefore we are invincible!
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Holiday of National Unity
National Unity Day Preserved the shadow of traditions. We wish you good luck on this holiday, this day.
So that joy knocks on your home Morning, evening and day, We wish you peace on earth, And bread and salt on the table!
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Today is Unity Day
They don’t argue with history, they live with history, it unites for heroism and work.
There is one state, When the people are united, When He moves forward with great strength.
He defeats the enemy, united in battle, and liberates Rus', and sacrifices himself.
For the glory of those heroes, we live by the same destiny, Today is Unity Day, we celebrate with you!
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Cool congratulations on National Unity Day
Glorious is the holiday of twinning. From ancient times to this day, the Day of National Unity is not a big deal!
Khanty, Nenets, Kabardians, Today, once a year, on National Unity Day, We are one people!
Have fun, united people! Let the beloved cry be heard from end to end: “Come on, pour it!”
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There are many people in our country
There are many peoples in our country, and this is the flavor of the country. Let the faithful sons walk along the right path of the Fatherland!
And on the day of national unity, I wish you only good things, So that atrocities are alien to everyone, Let the people shout “hurray”!
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Me on National Unity Day
On National Unity Day, I would like to wish throughout the country that the sky be peaceful, clean, and that they say “no” to war!
So that we truly stick together, So that we respect our people, Together we escape from problems, And we live like this from year to year!
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Down with all the quarrels
Down with all the quarrels, misunderstandings - Let it hide in the forest, The holiday of National Unity has been around the corner for a long time!
Let's all live together, No sorrows, no sorrows, We don't need to swear at all, It's better to hug each other!
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Are all Russians in Russia?
The children once asked their father: “Are all Russians in Russia?” - How should I tell you, kids? Here are the neighbors - the Chuvash,
Godfather is half Jewish, Uncle is a glorious Armenian, Great-grandfather of godmother Nina was truly Georgian.
We are all different, so what? We are all Human, we are all alike. We will live in friendly unity, There is no need to drink each other's blood.
Our Mother Russia will remain strong as before. The holiday is the day of patriotism, Hail, proud Fatherland!
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On the fourth day of November we have a day off for good reason. Celebration, feast, fun - Day of People's Unity.
Minin K. and D. Pozharsky, That they were in the royal service, The city of Moscow was liberated, They accomplished a glorious feat.
This is what happened on this day in the world four centuries ago. Let's gather together, brothers, at the table, not in the battlefield!
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Young holiday
Day of National Unity (Although the holiday is young, But with a history of three hundred years) We will celebrate with you.
Let us wish each other Unity, love, So that life is not difficult for everyone, including the two of us,
So that life in the country becomes easier, more fun, So that we walk more boldly, So that we are doubly lucky in everything!
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We will be close on Unity Day
On Unity Day we will be close, We will be together forever, All the nationalities of Russia In distant villages and cities!
Live, work, build together, sow bread, raise children, create, love and argue, protect the peace of people,
To honor our ancestors, to remember their deeds, to avoid wars and conflicts, to fill life with happiness, and to sleep under a peaceful sky!
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Minin and Pozharsky
Although this holiday is young, Its history goes back to that difficult age, Which was called the Time of Troubles.
Pozharsky and Minin were able to gather a people loyal to Russia, and together liberate Moscow from the Polish invaders!
Today is Unity Day We celebrate the whole country, We wish each other to live in peace, happiness, kindness from the bottom of our hearts!
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Strength is in friendship
Let congratulations fly from heart to heart on this fourth day of November! Our strength is in friendship, in unity! And we must never forget about this!
Let the country live and prosper like one big friendly family! Happy National Unity Day, Russians, I wish you happiness and joy, friends!
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On National Unity Day
On National Unity Day I sincerely wish Heaven - only free Heaven without end and without edge!
And on it are endless Clouds like white cotton wool! May God grant you a prosperous, bright, rich life!
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Poems for National Unity Day
Let it be November outside the window: the sun is low. And the sky is cloudy and cold again. And winter is very close. But we will not indulge the bad weather!
Today we celebrate the Day of National Unity, We celebrate this holiday so that all squabbles and reigning discords come to an end, and so that peace and harmony come to Russia at last!
May all the clouds clear over your country, May the heavenly light illuminate our land. May our people, united and therefore powerful, protect you from all enemies!
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Congratulations on Unity Day for the whole family
The holiday of all free Russians, regardless of class and rank. Accept congratulations, family, gathering relatives from the flanks.
This holiday is unity in everything: In joy, in business, in family, in worries, In the country in which we live, We go to work for work.
Let your hopes and words come true With wishes of goodness and prosperity, May your head spin from success, And may your efforts bring wonderful fruits!
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Happy Unity Day, citizen!
Happy Unity Day, citizen! This means you are not alone here, Look around - we are all one: Children, women, men.
In a word, this is called the PEOPLE. And I’ll tell you without flattery: It’s great when we’re together!
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Poem for National Unity Day
Happy National Unity Day. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart! Give a poem On this holiday, allow:
Our friendship, our faith will always be strong, our strength, our will will never weaken!
National Unity Day - Red Day in the calendar This is a holiday of friendship of nations, a holiday of peace on earth!
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We sincerely congratulate you on National Unity Day
Happy National Unity Day, we cordially congratulate you! We wish you happiness, joy and strength from the bottom of our hearts!
Be faithful sons of our mighty Motherland! Conquer all adversities, Live better every day!
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Holiday of National Unity
Let me congratulate you on the holiday, National Unity Day! And even though we are all a little different, we will still understand each other!
In order for us to find understanding among our loved ones and relatives, Let us not forget the tradition of our distant glorious days!
I wish you all good health, many happy, bright days, and fulfillment of your cherished dreams, and life to be more fun!
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Thanks to Minin and Pozharsky
I say “thank you” to Minin and Pozharsky For the fact that on this holiday I can congratulate you beautifully and wish you unity with the people. Health, pure love And never lose heart!
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For national unity
Let's drink to the bottom for national unity! Let your thoughts be pure and let the war go into the distance!
Congratulations to everyone today on this long-awaited day! We wish you peace and joy, We don’t care about all the troubles!
May there be happiness everywhere, Blue sky above. Our main wealth is when we look up together!
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Congratulations on National Unity Day to friends
Happy National Unity Day Congratulations to you, friends! It's hard to break together, Alone is twice two.
We wish you warmth of hearts, Even in the fierce winter Let the sorrows go away! Know, my friend, that I am with you!
Many Russians like to spend extra non-working days on travel and other recreation. In November, residents of our country will have a long weekend of three days thanks to the national holiday - National Unity Day. It's amazing, but 2/3 of our country doesn't actually know that we celebrate November 4th. Let’s dot the i’s in our “Question and Answer” section.
Russia celebrates the national holiday Day of National Unity on November 4. It was approved in December 2004. This decision was made by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The head of state introduced amendments to the Federal Law “On the Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) of Russia,” which declared November 4th as the Day of National Unity. The country celebrated the new holiday for the first time on November 4, 2005.
What is it dedicated to?
The National Unity Day holiday dates back to the distant year 1612. On November 4, according to the new style, the militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky expelled the Polish invaders from the Russian capital. Historically, this holiday is associated with the end of the Time of Troubles in Russia, which lasted since 1584.
It began after the death of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. His heir Fyodor Ioannovich, who was far from state affairs, ascended the throne. In 1598 he died, and since he had no heirs, the royal Rurik dynasty ended. This was followed by about 15 years of deep national crisis.
The Time of Troubles was the time of the appearance of impostors, the rule of the boyars, a terrible famine and war with the Poles. Russia was in a fever from widespread robberies, robberies, theft, and widespread drunkenness. The united Russian state collapsed. In 1610, Russian boyars, led by Prince Fyodor Mstislavsky, allowed Polish troops into the Kremlin with the intention of placing the Catholic prince Vladislav on the Russian throne.
The first people's militia to liberate the capital from the Poles was led by the Ryazan governor Prokopiy Lyapunov. But this anti-Polish uprising was defeated. In September 1611, the Nizhny Novgorod zemstvo elder Kuzma Minin called on the people to create a people's militia. A nationwide collection of money began to carry out the plan. Novgorod Prince Dmitry Pozharsky was invited to the post of chief governor. A huge army for that time gathered under the banners of Pozharsky and Minin - more than 10 thousand serving local people, up to three thousand Cossacks, more than a thousand archers and many peasants. With the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God, revealed in 1579, the Nizhny Novgorod zemstvo militia managed to storm Kitay-Gorod on November 4, 1612 and expel the Poles from Moscow. The Great Zemsky Council of 1613 was the final victory over the Troubles, the triumph of Orthodoxy and national unity. In the same year, the first of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, reigned on the Russian throne.
Later, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich established a holiday in honor of this great event, which became the Orthodox state holiday of Moscow Rus' (celebrated until 1917). This day was included in the church calendar as the Celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in memory of the deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612.
These are completely different holidays. November 7 and 8 were non-working days in the USSR; people celebrated October Revolution Day.
On the night of October 25-26 (old style), 1917, thanks to an armed uprising, the Bolsheviks captured the Winter Palace, arrested members of the Provisional Government and proclaimed Soviet power.
In 1996, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree “On the Day of Harmony and Reconciliation”, while the day remained non-working, but the essence of the holiday changed radically. According to the head of state, it was supposed to be a day of renunciation of confrontation, a day of reconciliation and unity of various strata of Russian society.
As we described above, in 2004, President Putin, by decree, approved a new holiday - National Unity Day. The November 7 holiday was cancelled.
National Unity Day is a national holiday in Russia. Established on the initiative of the Interreligious Council of Russia, it is celebrated on November 4 every year since 2005.
On this day, in different cities of Russia, political parties and social movements organize rallies, processions and concerts, charity events and sporting events.
In South Ossetia, National Unity Day is included in the calendar of memorable dates and holidays, but is not a day off.
History of the holiday
The immediate reason for the introduction of the new holiday was the government's planned cancellation of the celebration of November 7, which in people's minds is associated with the anniversary of the October Revolution of 1917.
The idea to make November 4 a holiday as National Unity Day was expressed by the Interreligious Council of Russia in September 2004. The initiative was supported by the Duma Committee on Labor and Social Policy and, thus, acquired the status of a Duma initiative. Later, the initiative of the Duma to establish a celebration on November 4 was publicly supported by Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Rus'.
In November of the same year, a bill was submitted to the Duma for consideration of amendments to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation: the abolition of the celebration of November 7 - the anniversary of the October coup and December 12 - Constitution Day, the increase in the New Year holidays from 2 to 5 days, as well as the introduction of a new holiday 4 November.
On the same day, members of the Presidium of the Interreligious Council of Russia appealed to the Chairman of the State Duma, Boris Gryzlov, with a request to consider the Council’s statement on establishing the date November 4 as a holiday. The Council supported the initiative to introduce a new holiday. The corresponding appeal, along with the text of the statement, was distributed in the Duma in connection with the consideration in the first reading of amendments to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation related to the revision of holiday dates.
At the Duma meeting, the bill was adopted in the first reading. The communists opposed it.
On December 27, 2004, the draft was adopted in the third reading and became law. 327 deputies voted in favor, 104 (all communists) voted against, two abstained.
In memory of the Time of Troubles
National Unity Day was established in memory of the events of 1612, when the people's militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from Polish invaders.
Historically, this holiday is associated with the end of the Time of Troubles in Russia in the 17th century. The Time of Troubles - the period from the death of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1584 until 1613, when the first of the Romanov dynasty reigned on the Russian throne - was an era of deep crisis in the Moscow state caused by the suppression of the royal Rurik dynasty.
The dynastic crisis soon developed into a national-state crisis. The united Russian state collapsed, and numerous impostors appeared. Widespread robberies, robbery, theft, bribery, and widespread drunkenness struck the country.
Power in Moscow was usurped by the “Seven Boyars” led by Prince Fyodor Mstislavsky, who sent Polish troops into the Kremlin with the intention of placing the Catholic prince Vladislav on the Russian throne.
In this difficult time for Russia, Patriarch Hermogenes called on the Russian people to defend Orthodoxy and expel the Polish invaders from Moscow. The first people's (zemstvo) militia was headed by the Ryazan governor Prokopiy Lyapunov. But due to infighting between the nobles and the Cossacks, who killed the governor on false charges, the militia disintegrated. The anti-Polish uprising that began prematurely in Moscow on March 19, 1611 was defeated.
Minin-Pozharsky's militia
In September 1611, the “trading man”, Nizhny Novgorod zemstvo elder Kuzma Minin, appealed to the townspeople to create a people’s militia.
At Minin’s suggestion, the 30-year-old Novgorod prince Dmitry Pozharsky was invited to the post of chief governor. Pozharsky did not immediately accept the offer; he agreed to be a governor on the condition that the townspeople themselves would choose an assistant for him who would be in charge of the treasury of the militia. And Minin became “the elected man of the whole earth.” So at the head of the second zemstvo militia were two people elected by the people and invested with their complete trust.
Under the banners of Pozharsky and Minin, a huge army for that time gathered - more than 10 thousand serving local people, up to three thousand Cossacks, more than a thousand archers and many “dacha people” from the peasants.
Liberation of Moscow and the first Romanov
With the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God, revealed in 1579, the Nizhny Novgorod zemstvo militia managed to storm Kitay-Gorod on November 4, 1612 and expel the Poles from Moscow. This victory served as a powerful impetus for the revival of the Russian state. And the icon became the subject of special veneration.
The liberation of Moscow created the conditions for the restoration of state power and the election of a new tsar - in November 1612, the leaders of the militia sent letters to the cities convening the Zemsky Sobor. At the end of February 1613, the Zemsky Sobor, which included representatives of various strata of the country's population (clergy, boyars, nobility, Cossacks, black-growing peasants, etc.), elected young Mikhail Romanov (son of Metropolitan Philaret), the first Russian Tsar from the Romanov dynasty, as the new Tsar .
After the expulsion of the Poles from Moscow, Prince Dimitry Pozharsky, according to the Nikon Chronicle, placed the holy Kazan icon in his parish church of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Lubyanka in Moscow. Later, with the money of Prince Pozharsky, the Kazan Cathedral was erected on Red Square. The holy icon, which was in Pozharsky’s troops during the liberation of Moscow, was transferred to a newly built church in 1636, where it was kept for almost 300 years.
Now this holy image is in the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow.
Old new holiday
In memory of the liberation of Moscow from foreign invaders, by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who ruled in 1645-1676, a holiday was established - the Day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, who was in the militia and became its main symbol. It became an Orthodox state holiday in Moscow Rus' and was celebrated until 1917. This day was included in the church calendar as a celebration in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (in memory of the deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612). Celebrated on November 4 (October 22, old style).
Thus, National Unity Day, in fact, is not a new holiday at all, but a return to the old tradition.
Long weekend and thousands of people marching
This year, in connection with the celebration, Russians will have three days off in a row - directly on the holiday, which falls on Friday this year, as well as on Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6.
A procession and rally-concert “We are United!” will be held in Moscow on November 4. They will gather more than 10 thousand participants and may become an annual event.
Public order on National Unity Day will be protected by more than 17 thousand police officers, along with law enforcement officers, troops of the National Guard will also serve.
The holiday was established by the Federal Law “On the inclusion in Article 1 of the Federal Law “On the Days of Military Glory (Victory Days) of Russia”, signed in December 2004 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
National Unity Day was established in memory of the events of 1612, when the people's militia led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky liberated Moscow from Polish invaders. Historically, this holiday is associated with the end of the Time of Troubles in Russia in the 17th century. The Time of Troubles - the period from the death of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1584 until 1613, when the first of the Romanov dynasty reigned on the Russian throne - was an era of deep crisis in the Moscow state caused by the suppression of the royal Rurik dynasty. The dynastic crisis soon developed into a national-state crisis. The united Russian state collapsed, and numerous impostors appeared. Widespread robberies, robbery, theft, bribery, and widespread drunkenness struck the country.
It seemed to many contemporaries of the Time of Troubles that the final ruin of the “blessed kingdom of Moscow” had occurred. Power in Moscow was usurped by the “Seven Boyars” led by Prince Fyodor Mstislavsky, who sent Polish troops into the Kremlin with the intention of placing the Catholic prince Vladislav on the Russian throne.
In this difficult time for Russia, Patriarch Hermogenes called on the Russian people to defend Orthodoxy and expel the Polish invaders from Moscow. “It’s time to lay down your soul for the House of the Most Holy Theotokos!” - wrote the patriarch. His call was taken up by the Russian people. A broad patriotic movement began for the liberation of the capital from the Poles. The first people's (zemstvo) militia was headed by the Ryazan governor Prokopiy Lyapunov. But due to infighting between the nobles and the Cossacks, who killed the governor on false charges, the militia disintegrated. The anti-Polish uprising that began prematurely in Moscow on March 19, 1611 was defeated.
In September 1611, the “trading man”, Nizhny Novgorod zemstvo elder Kuzma Minin, appealed to the townspeople to create a people’s militia. At a city meeting, he made his famous speech: “Orthodox people, we want to help the Moscow state, we will not spare our bellies, and not just our bellies - we will sell our yards, we will pawn our wives and children and we will beat our heads so that someone will become our boss. And what praise will all of us receive from the Russian land that such a great thing will happen from such a small city as ours.”
At Minin’s call, the townspeople voluntarily gave “a third of their money” to create a zemstvo militia. But voluntary contributions were not enough. Therefore, a forced collection of “fifth money” was announced: everyone had to contribute a fifth of their income to the treasury of the militia for the salaries of serving people.
At Minin’s suggestion, the 30-year-old Novgorod prince Dmitry Pozharsky was invited to the post of chief governor. Pozharsky did not immediately accept the offer; he agreed to be a governor on the condition that the townspeople themselves would choose an assistant for him who would be in charge of the treasury of the militia. And Minin became “the elected man of the whole earth.” So at the head of the second zemstvo militia were two people elected by the people and invested with their complete trust.
a huge army for that time - more than 10 thousand serving local people, up to three thousand Cossacks, more than a thousand archers and many "dacha people" from the peasants.
Representatives of all classes and all peoples that were part of the Russian state took part in the national militia, in the liberation of the Russian land from foreign invaders.
With the miraculous icon of the Kazan Mother of God, revealed in 1579, the Nizhny Novgorod zemstvo militia managed to storm Kitay-Gorod on November 4, 1612 and expel the Poles from Moscow.
This victory served as a powerful impetus for the revival of the Russian state. And the icon became the subject of special veneration.
At the end of February 1613, the Zemsky Sobor, which included representatives of all classes of the country - the nobility, boyars, clergy, Cossacks, archers, black-growing peasants and delegates from many Russian cities, elected Mikhail Romanov (son of Metropolitan Philaret), the first Russian Tsar from the dynasty, as the new Tsar Romanovs. The Zemsky Sobor of 1613 became the final victory over the Troubles, the triumph of Orthodoxy and national unity.
The confidence that it was thanks to the icon of the Kazan Mother of God that the victory was won was so deep that Prince Pozharsky, with his own money, specially built the Kazan Cathedral on the edge of Red Square. Since then, the Kazan Icon began to be revered not only as the patroness of the House of Romanov, but by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who reigned in 1645-1676, a mandatory celebration was established on November 4 as a day of gratitude to the Most Holy Theotokos for her help in liberating Russia from the Poles (celebrated before 1917). This day was included in the church calendar as the Celebration of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in memory of the deliverance of Moscow and Russia from the Poles in 1612.
Thus, National Unity Day is essentially not a new holiday at all, but a return to an old tradition.
On National Unity Day, in different cities of our country, political parties and social movements organize rallies, processions and concerts, charity events and sporting events.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources