The military-historical festival “Battle of the Neva” was opened at Petropavloskaya Castle in Petersburg on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the birth of Prince and Saint Alexander Nevsky.
This was announced Saturday 11 September by the Petersburg Municipal Press Office, and the military history clubs of Petersburg and all of Russia participated in the opening ceremony of the festival.
The press office said that the purpose of the festival is to inform the public about the civilization of ancient Russia and Europe in the 13th century AD. The simulation play of the fateful military battle of the Neva against Sweden will be a focal event of the festival.
The press office recalled the significance of the victory of the Novgorod Prince, Alexander, in the battle of 1240, in which Prince Alexander’s army defended and secured the borders of ancient Russia. After his victory in the battle, the 20-year-old prince was given the nickname “Nevsky”.
The festival featured simulated battles between Russian soldiers and medieval European knights using traditional horses, swords and spears, as well as two-to-one competitions between soldiers.
It is noteworthy that memorial events on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the birth of Prince and Saint Alexander Nevsky are being held throughout Russia. On September 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the unveiling ceremony of the statue of Prince and Saint Alexander Nevsky in the western Russian province of Pskov.
It is worth mentioning that Prince Alexander Nevsky (1221 – 1263) achieved many important victories against the enemies of Russia, including the fateful victory against the German Crusaders on Lake Chudskoye in 1242, which stopped the German advance to the east. He is also famous as a diplomat, politician, military leader and clergyman who founded the first Orthodox Church in the Golden Orth.
And the Orthodox Church sanctified the prince in 1547. As for Emperor Peter the Great, he ordered that his remains be removed from the city of Vladimir in the east of the European part of Russia to the west in the city of Petersburg.