Solemn events on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the 55th Podolsk Infantry Regiment were held in Bendery. The fate of this division of the Russian Imperial Army is closely intertwined with the history of Pridnestrovie. The Podolsk infantry regiment, which went through many wars and was awarded the St. George banners, was stationed in the Bendery fortress for more than a quarter of a century. The inhabitants of our region stood guard over the Fatherland in its ranks, participating in the battles of the First World War.
The 55th Podolsk Regiment was formed from units of the Rochensalm Regiment, founded in 1798. Soldiers of the 55th Podolsk Regiment fought in the largest wars of the 19th century: the Patriotic War of 1812, the Russian-Turkish wars, the Crimean War, the First World War. The Russian Emperor Nicholas II during the Russo-Japanese War personally reviewed the 14th division in positions near Tiraspol, which included the Podolsk regiment. The last commander of the the 55th Podolsk Regiment was Isai Parfelyuk from the village of Kitskany.
The President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Vadim Krasnoselsky initiated the honoring of this military unit in 2017. Since then, the regimental holiday of the 55th Podolsk Regiment soldiers has become a tradition. It is celebrated every year on August 29, the Orthodox holiday – the Day of the Transfer of the Image of the Lord, who patronized the regiment. The commemorative event takes place on the territory of the Bendery Military Historical Memorial Complex, created on the burial site of soldiers and officers of the Russian Imperial Army.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky with his wife, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov with his wife, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the PMR Alexander Korshunov, Chairman of the Government of the PMR Alexander Rosenberg, representatives of ministries and departments were among the numerous participants in the celebration today.
The event began with a prayer service at the temple, which bears the name of the Image of Jesus Christ Not Made by Hands, as it used to be the regimental church of the 55th Podolsk Regiment. The service in memory of the fallen soldiers was held by the Archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubossary Sawa. The procession followed to the central cross of the memorial. The opening ceremony was held here under the performance of the anthems of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic and the Russian Empire.
Addressing the audience, the PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky spoke about why it is so important to remember the past and honor the memory of Russian soldiers. The President is convinced that there is no continuity of generations without memory.
“It is here that five thousand soldiers of the Russian Empire of one hundred and fifteen regiments of the Russian Imperial Army are buried. A special place in this list is occupied by the 55th Podolsk Infantry Regiment for the reason that it was stationed in the city of Bendery before its disbandment. Throughout its history, this unit took part in all the battles that the Russian Empire waged to protect its borders, or waged wars of liberation. In fact, the soldiers of this unit saved many people from complete annihilation,” said Vadim Krasnoselsky. Without respect for their ancestors, the peoples cannot have a bright future, the PMR President considers. “Everything is in order with both memory and conscience in Pridnestrovie. I don’t know where else in the post-Soviet space there are memorials of such content and such essence, where they still celebrate the regimental holidays of those soldiers who gave their lives to defend Russia, the Russian Empire. I am convinced that Pridnestrovie will have a good history and a good future. We deserve it. The God will not leave us,” said Vadim Krasnoselsky.
The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov spoke about the heroic deeds of Russian soldiers. “Today we pay tribute to the memory of those soldiers, officers, generals of the Russian army here, at this memorial. This memorial is a kind of collective memory of all Russian soldiers who participated in numerous battles in the 17th, 18th, 20th, and 21st centuries. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the initiators of the creation of this pantheon of memory. You especially feel at this place the pain and loss of those people who laid down their lives for our lives. I repeat, it was many centuries ago and it was quite recently,” Oleg Vasnetsov noted.
Solemn events continued at the monument of Russian military glory, on top of which an eagle proudly spread its wings. The monument was created in 1912 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Patriotic War at the expense of the soldiers and officers of the honored regiment. A commemorative inscription is carved on the stone: “To valiant ancestors from descendants. From the 55th Podolsk Infantry Regiment. Initially, the monument was erected in the Bendery fortress, it was moved to the territory of the city in 1967. Litiya was served at the monument today, and fresh flowers lay at its foot. Ceremonial regiment of cadets, Suvorovites, students of the Tiraspol Law Institute and a guard of honor company marched in a solemn march at the monument.
