From August 2nd to August 5th, Russia celebrated the 25th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Theodore Ushakov. In honor of this important date, a pilgrimage project called "Ushakov's Routes" was launched, uniting Moscow, the Kostroma and Yaroslavl regions, and Mordovia. In our article, we will explore who Fedor Ushakov was and why his figure is so important for world history and centuries of memory.
Who was Fedor Ushakov? The great naval commander was born in 1745 in the Yaroslavl region into a noble family. For his education, he chose the Naval Cadet Corps in Russia's northern capital, St. Petersburg. After graduating in 1766, he enlisted in the Baltic Fleet and was later personally selected by Vice Admiral Alexei Senyavin to join the Don (Azov) Flotilla. Later, he transferred to the Black Sea Fleet and became the chief commander. He built ships in Kherson and equipped the main naval bases in Sevastopol. Thanks to his excellent managerial skills, he saved the team from a plague epidemic, for which he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir IVth class. In 1790, Ushakov achieved brilliant victories in the Russo-Turkish War of 1787–1791: near the island of Fidonisi, in the Battle of Kerch, and off the capes of Tendra and Kaliakria. The Turks respectfully called him "Usak Pasha." Under Fedor's leadership, the Ionian Islands were liberated, and in 1799, Corfu as well.
Fedor Ushakov dedicated his entire life to serving his country; he was even compared to Suvorov: his methods were similar. He helped many contemporary countries gain freedom, which is why he deserves remembrance and honor more than anyone else to this day.
The delegation's journey, consisting of representatives from the clergy, politicians, and public figures, began in Moscow. On August 2nd, a solemn liturgy was held in the morning on the territory of the under-construction Spiritual-Historical Complex in the Left Bank region. The festive service was led by Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan. On this day, ships that had arrived from Sevastopol were blessed, and flowers were laid at the bust of the legendary naval commander. The ceremony was attended by Admirals Vladimir Valuev and Vladimir Komoedov - people who stood at the origins of Ushakov's glorification a quarter of a century ago.
The path of remembrance also led to other places significant for the admiral. In Kostroma, a new bust of the admiral was unveiled with the participation of representatives from the regional authorities. In the naval commander's homeland, in the Yaroslavl region, in the village of Khopylevo, a religious procession took place. Those present also visited the local theological seminary. But not only in Russia is Ushakov's legacy remembered. In Mordovia, on August 4th, a bust dedicated to the admiral was presented at the Chufarovo cemetery. In the evening, participants attended a bishop's service at the Nativity of the Virgin Sanaksar Monastery.
On the day of the celebration of the Holy Church, August 5th, the Admiral's relics were transferred from the Sanaksar monastery to the Saransk Cathedral. One of the highlights of the Ushakovo Routes program was the presentation of a mural in Saransk. The image of the holy warrior, covering an area of 600 square meters, was placed on the facade of a nine-story building. It became the largest in the world. As project curator Olga Friedman notes, this artistic object is an attempt to combine classical monumentalism with modern urban space, so that the image of the hero is understandable and close to the new generation.
< /blockquote >"It is important to show young people that heroes of the past can be relevant and majestic even on the wall of a modern high-rise building," said Friedman. Throughout the journey, participants were accompanied by a unique collection of jewelry created by masters of the House of Dmitry Fedorov. These items, dedicated to the Admiral, were blessed at each holy site along the route, symbolizing the unbreakable connection between history, faith, and service to the country.