On August 4, 2010 there was a rather interesting and significant solemn event - the opening of a monument to the Russian Patriarch. The city of Yoshkar-Ola distinguished itself with such a magnificent gift for Orthodox believers. The initiator of this project was the highest official of the Mari El Republic - L. Markelov. He was performed by the famous sculptor Andrei Kovalchuk, who became the author of other beautiful and magnificent monuments located not only in this republic, but also in a number of other cities of Russia and then the CIS. On the left bank of the Malaya Kokshaga River on Patriarch Square, in the end, a monument to Alexy II - the fifteenth Patriarch of All Russia, who became the founder of the Yoshkar-Ola and Mari diocese - was erected and now adorns the city.
New diocese
In 1993, on June 11, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church from the Kazan diocese decided to allocate the Yoshkar-Ola and Mari diocese. Patriarch Alexy II blessed the formation of this independent inheritance, which was headed by Archbishop John of Yoshkar-Ola (Timofeev).
On July 24, 1993, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church arrived in Yoshkar-Ola in order to perform the traditional rite of bishop ordination of the archimandrite, or the consecration of John to the Yoshkar-Ola and Mari bishop, on July 25, 1993 in the village of Semenovka in the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God.
Monument to Alexy II (Yoshkar-Ola)
As a sign of this event and in memory of His Holiness a huge bronze composition was created, which was placed on a granite pedestal, which was a single-figure composition. The Russian Patriarch stands at full height in a cassock with a panagia on his chest, and on his head is a cockle with seraphim. In one hand he holds a staff, and with the other hand he throws a dove upward as a symbol of peace, love and goodness. His gaze is fixed on Voskresenskaya embankment, on which Orthodox churches and churches are located (their construction dates back to the beginning of his accession to the patriarchal throne).
It is worth recalling that the Primate of Orthodoxy is also monumentally imprinted in Moscow, and on the island of Valaam, and in Minsk, and in Vitebsk, and in Tallinn.
Opening. Monument to Alexy II
At the opening, the opening address was made by President Mari El - Markelov, who very wisely noted that a Russian person without the Orthodox faith is an empty place, which is why in the cities and villages of Mari El, the destroyed temples are so energetically rebuilt and restored.
The city of Yoshkar-Ola is the capital of Mari El, before the revolution (1919) it was called Tsarevokokshaysk. Therefore, it was decided to erect a monument to Patriarch Alexy II here, because it was during his reign as a whole throughout Russia and in particular in the Republic of Mari El that there was an increase in dioceses, churches, monasteries, theological educational institutions, etc. And, importantly, the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the spiritual life of Russia and its politics has sharply increased.
After the opening remarks, the head of the republic and Archbishop John threw off the veil, and everyone saw an unusually beautiful and majestic monument to Alexy II - His Holiness Patriarch, releasing a dove into the sky.
After bishop John consecrated the monument and served a memorial service for the Patriarch. Vladyko John noted in his speech that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexy II, with great love in his heart took the Mari Territory and the people living in it. Every person who comes to this place will find comfort for himself. And those who saw him and communicated with him will again feel the love and warmth that his heart poured out. And may the Lord bless and strengthen people in the deeds to which the Patriarch of All Russia Alexy II called.
