Russian Patriarch to visit famous historical battlefield Sunday.

BELGOROD, May 2 (Itar-Tass) - Sunday May 2, the Patriarch of Moscow
and all Russia is expected to visit a memorial battlefield near the town
of Prokhorovka some 620 kilometers to the south of Moscow where an
unparalleled armor battle took place in the summer of 1943.
His Holiness Kirill, who is visiting the Belgorod diocese, will join
commemorative actions on the world-famous Prokhorovka Field, which will
bring together members of Russian government, deputies of the State Duma,
and World War II veterans.
He will begin the visit by laying flowers at the Belfry moments
designed by sculptor Vyacheslav Klykov by the 50th anniversary since the
end of World War II hostilities in Europe.
The central event during the visit will be a remembrance service in
the St Peter and Paul's Church, also built by the 50th anniversary since
victory.
The consecration of that church in the name of St Apostles Peter and
Paul was not at all a matter of random choice - it was on the day when the
Russian Church commemorates the two apostles that the tank battle near
Prokhorovka unfolded in 1943.
Jubilee medals will be awarded to war veterans right at the rostrum
near the church after the prayer.
Official functions will continue with the gala opening of the new
museum titled 'Russias Third Field'. In line with a tradition that took
shape in the 1990's, the Prokhorovka field is viewed as the third
crucially important one for the history of Russia after the Field of
Kulikovo where Moscow Prince Dimitry defeated the troops of the
Tatar-Mongols in 1380 and the Field of Borodino that turned into the site
of a major battle against Napoleon in 1812.
The sculptural composition 'The Ram-raiding', which stirs recall of
quite realistic events. The first ram raid on a tank was fulfilled by the
20-year-old sergeant Alexander Ivanov, who was awarded the title of Hero
of the Soviet Union posthumously.
The operation near Prokhorovka involved more than 1,200 tanks on both
sides at one and the same time and place.
The Nazis who had brought to the field their newest Tiger and Panthers
hoped to take a revenge for their defeats near Moscow and Stalingrad.
As a result of a bloody battle, the Nazi forces' assault was broken
down and two key cities, Olyol and Belgorod were liberated in less than a
month after that.
To mark their liberation, fireworks were organized in Moscow for the
first time since the beginning of the war.
-0-kle