Eternal memory of someone or something. As a rule, it is included in the thematic
Flowers are always brought to him, they come to bow, stand and be silent. It burns in any weather: in winter and summer, at any time of the day: day and night, not allowing human memory to fade ...
The eternal flame was lit in For example, in ancient Greece, the Olympic flame burned without fading. In many temples, special priests supported it as a shrine. Later, this tradition migrated to ancient Rome, where an eternal flame burned constantly in the temple of Vesta. Prior to that, it was used by both the Babylonians and the Egyptians and Persians.
In modern times, the tradition was born after the First World War, when in Paris in 1921 the memorial of the unknown soldier was opened - a monument whose eternal flame illuminates. In our country, for the first time, it was solemnly lit not in the capital, but in the small village of Pervomaisky near Tula, at the monument to the heroes who fell in Great Patriotic War. In Moscow, today three symbols of memory are burning at once: at and also on and on Poklonnaya Hill.
For many, military monuments are a sign of gratitude to those who were able to ward off the threat of fascism from the world, but the Eternal Flame is special. Sometimes it seems that the flame breaks out of the stone by itself, but this is not entirely true, since a person sees only the result of the work of very complex devices. The mechanism is a pipe through which gas is supplied to the device, where a spark is created. Such a design needs periodic maintenance. Specialists regularly check the integrity of the pipeline, clean the mechanism that produces a spark from settling dust or carbon deposits, and renew the outer lining, usually made of metal in the form of a torch or a star.
Combustion inside the device takes place in a burner, where oxygen access is limited. The flame, going out, flows around the cone through the holes in the crown. The eternal flame burns regardless of the weather: from rain, snow or wind. Its design is thought out in such a way that it remains protected at all times. When there is no wind, the rain falling into the cone is self-discharged out through the drainage pipe, and the water that is at the bottom of the metal cylinder flows evenly from the holes in it. And when there is an oblique downpour, the droplets, falling on a red-hot burner, immediately evaporate without reaching the core of the flame. The same thing happens with snow. Once inside the cone, it immediately melts, coming out. At the bottom of the metal cylinder, snow only surrounds the flame and cannot extinguish it in any way. And the teeth provided on the crown reflect gusts of wind, forming a kind of air barrier in front of the holes.
Memorials created in memory of the fallen heroes were erected in many cities of the former republics of the USSR. And almost everywhere they are preserved, as evidenced by their numerous photos. The eternal flame is an obligatory attribute of these memorials, remaining the most holy and most precious symbol of the memory of the feat.
For the first time in the modern history of the world, the Eternal Flame was lit on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris, near the Arc de Triomphe. The fire appeared in the memorial two years after its inauguration, after which the French sculptor Gregoire Calvet proposed placing it in a special gas burner. With the help of this device, the flame really became Eternal - now it illuminated the tomb not only during the day, but also at night.
Since 1923, the Eternal Flame at the French memorial has been lit daily and with the participation of World War II veterans.
The tradition of lighting the Eternal Flame was adopted by many states that created city and national monuments - in memory of those who died in the First World War. So, in the 1930-1940s, the Eternal Flame lit up in the Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Canada, the USA and Belgium. Then it was lit by Poland, thus perpetuating the memory of the fallen heroes of the Second World War, and in Berlin they went even further and installed a glass prism with a burning fire inside over the remains of an unknown German soldier and an unknown victim of concentration camps.
Eternal flame in Russia
In Russia, the Eternal Flame first lit up in Leningrad in 1957 - it was lit at the monument to the "Fighters of the Revolution", which is located on the Field of Mars. It was this flame that became the source from which military memorials began to be lit throughout Russia, in all Soviet hero cities and cities of military glory. Then the grand opening of the Eternal Flame took place on May 8, 1967 - it was lit on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall
Today, many Russian cities light the Eternal Flame only on memorial days and military holidays.
At present, the ignition of the Eternal Flame in Russia is gradually fading away, since in the conditions of the need for urgent financing of many industries, paying for its maintenance seems to be burning money. In addition, the Eternal Flame is a complex engineering structure that requires constant gas supply and security, and also depends on temperature differences. An additional nail in the situation is driven by the lack of a legislative framework for securing the status of the Eternal Flame and technical regulations for its maintenance. All these factors allow Russian gas companies to charge a lot of money from city authorities for gas supply and maintenance of the gas burner itself.
The eternal flame symbolizes the courage and bravery of warriors who gave their lives for a brave cause. When the Nazi invaders violated the non-aggression pact and treacherously invaded the territory of the Soviet Union, everyone, young and old, did their best to contribute to the Great Victory. Most of the boys and girls volunteered to go to the front to beat the enemy, those who did not go to the front stood behind the machines, making shells and tanks for the Soviet army, mostly these workers were children.
The first days and months of the war were very difficult and tense. With incredible courage and courage, the Soviet people defended their great Motherland. Volunteer partisan detachments were organized in the Belarusian forests, which, by their actions, tried to thwart Adolf Hitler's lightning-fast plan to seize the Soviet Union.
Opening of the first Eternal Flame of Glory
One of the first monuments to fallen soldiers was opened in 1921. The memorial complex was built under the Arc de Triomphe in the French capital - Paris.
In the collapsed Soviet Union, in Moscow, in honor of the celebration of the Great Victory in 1955, the Eternal Flame was solemnly lit at the monument. However, it is difficult to call it "eternal", since it was lit periodically, only a few times a year:
- for the celebration of Victory Day;
- on the Day of the Armed Forces and the Navy, later, since 2013, on Defender of the Fatherland Day;
- on the Day of the Liberation of Shchekino.
A truly Eternal Flame is considered to be the fire in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), which was lit on November 6, 1957 on the Field of Mars.
To date, there are only three such memorial complexes in the capital. The first Eternal Flame was lit on February 9, 1961. Over time, the gas pipeline supplying gas wore out, and, starting in 2004, it was temporarily turned off for the duration of the repair work, and by 2010 it was lit again.
Monuments and memorial complexes, built in the 50-60s of the twentieth century, have pretty worn out by our time. The gas pipelines leading to the fire are especially affected. Therefore, the government annually allocates funds to reconstruct and replace pipes at many monuments of the country as quickly as possible.
Photos of the memorial complex
The photo below shows the Eternal Flame near the Kremlin Wall, which was lit on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1967. The opening ceremony was personally led by Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. In 2009, the fire was moved to Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill. In 2010, it was returned to the Kremlin wall again.
A proposal to open a memorial on Poklonnaya Hill was made by representatives of the Moscow Veterans Society. The public warmly supported this initiative, because such monuments symbolize the eternal memory of the fallen soldiers and teach today's youth not to forget the terrible pages of the history of their country.
Remarkable and brave citizens were awarded to light the Eternal Flame:
- Participant in the hostilities during the defense of Moscow, honorary citizen, chairman of the council of war and labor veterans Vladimir Dolgikh.
- Hero of Russia Colonel Vyacheslav Sivko.
- Representative of the public organization Nikolai Zimogorodov.
After the opening of the memorial complex, this place became the most visited in the Russian capital. Not only residents of Moscow come here, but also numerous tourists who want to see the sights of the hero city.
Do you need an Eternal Flame?
Modern youth is less and less interested in history and those distant anxious days of the Great Patriotic War. There are fewer and fewer people who have passed through the fiery walls of hell of those years. But nevertheless, we should never forget about the feat that our fathers and grandfathers accomplished in the name of the world of future generations. One of these reminders are monuments and memorials with eternal and unquenchable fire, reminiscent of the heroic deeds of soldiers on the battlefields.
When designing and restoring monuments, experts are thinking about how to make the Eternal Flame, but there are people and officials who are against it. They argue this by saying that extra material costs are needed for supplying and maintaining gas pipes and burners. But it is very good that there are only a few such people, because the Eternal Flame symbolizes the eternal memory of the feat that people have accomplished in the name of peace.
Where Veterans Meet
In many cities of the vast expanses of Russia, monuments and memorials with the Eternal Flame have been opened. These places have long become sights and visiting cards of cities; they attract many people of different ages, guests and tourists. For veterans, they serve as a meeting place and memory of distant war days and fallen comrades.
On the day of the celebration of the Great Victory over the Nazi invaders, May 9, fresh flowers are brought to monuments and memorials and wreaths are laid. Here, too, a field kitchen for veterans is very often deployed with the obligatory front-line one hundred grams.
Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
During the bloody battles, a huge number of soldiers and officers went missing. Until now, the remains of the dead soldiers are found in the former places of hostilities. During the defense of Moscow back in 1941, a huge number of workers and soldiers were killed, in their honor in 1967 the monument "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" was built. At its foot, pointed flames burst out of a bronze five-pointed star, symbolizing the unforgettable deeds of the heroes.
The Eternal Flame monument serves as a meeting place, because every day people bring fresh flowers to it, thereby honoring the memory of the soldiers who gave their lives for a brighter future. It serves as a meeting place for students of Moscow (and not only) schools with war veterans. Each child then captures what they see by creating a drawing. The eternal flame flares up with a bright flame in young hearts.
Create a drawing
How to draw an Eternal Flame? Before proceeding with the sketches, it is necessary to look at it live at least once. It is best to make a sketch without leaving the memorial, so you can choose the most suitable angle. The monument should be photographed in order to complete the drawing at home.
On a piece of paper you need to sketch out the outline of the memorial. It is important to remember when creating a drawing: The eternal flame should not reach the edges of the sheet, you should leave indents of two to three centimeters. In this case, the image will turn out beautiful and voluminous. The sketch and the drawing itself should be done with a sharp simple pencil, applying light lines.
Shutdown
The next step is to draw clearer outlines. Parents can give their children their advice on how to draw the Eternal Flame, but it is better to do it in the form of a five-pointed star in the form of rays with the drawing of all sides of the figure.
To give volume from each vertex of the star, we raise (lower) perpendicular lines relative to the entire picture and connect them with parallel lines. The final moment will be the connection of the center of the star with its tops. After that, you should go directly to drawing the flame. It is better not to paint the tongues of fire in a catchy bright red color, but to make it orange-red.
Finally, erase all auxiliary lines with an eraser and color the picture using colored pencils or watercolors.
Hero cities
The inscription on the granite slab of the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" memorial reads "Your name is unknown, your deed is immortal." In continuation of the historical ensemble, along with the Kremlin wall, urns with earth taken from hero cities: Minsk and Leningrad, Sevastopol and Kyiv, Kerch and Volgograd, Brest and Smolensk, Tula and Murmansk were installed.
As you can see in the photo, "Eternal Flame" is a monument that always has a lot of people. The flame burns constantly, and the top of the memorial ensemble is decorated with a soldier's helmet cast in bronze, a laurel branch and a battle banner. On May 9, Victory Day, thousands of people come to look at the Eternal Flame, as well as veterans who, with a minute of silence, honor the memory of the fallen soldiers who showed extraordinary courage and fortitude in the struggle for freedom during the Great Patriotic War.
Craft for Victory Day
The craft "Eternal Flame", made with your own hands, will be the most beautiful and expensive gift that a schoolboy can give to grandparents who fought. On the eve of the holiday at school and at home, adults should have a conversation with children about the heroic deeds of Soviet soldiers on the battlefields against the Nazi invaders.
The craft is made from paper or other improvised materials. It should not be difficult, so as not to discourage children from doing it. To make the Eternal Flame out of paper, the child will need perseverance, attentiveness, the ability to use scissors and glue. Such crafts are best done by middle school students, students of the fifth or sixth grades. To make a gift, you will need scissors, colored paper, glue, a simple pencil and a ruler. First you need to draw a star on the back of the colored paper, cut it out and glue the three-dimensional figure. You also need to do with the image of fire.
You can make an Eternal Flame with your own hands in an easier way. This will require the following components: half a glass of flour, water and one tablespoon of vegetable oil. Ask the elders or try to knead the dough yourself. From it, as from plasticine, make a cake and press it down with something flat, such as a saucer or plate. From the resulting cake, a five-pointed star should be cut with a knife. In the middle, make five small holes for the fire. To make flames, you need red colored paper. On the reverse side, draw a fire, then cut it out. There should be five flames. After cutting out of paper, they must be inserted into the holes made in the dough. The craft is ready, and you can give it to your grandmother or grandfather!
The fire of eternal glory burns
Many representatives of the younger generation do not even know that once their grandfathers and great-grandfathers fought for the freedom of the Motherland. The primary task of teachers and parents is to work with children so that they do not lose the thin thread that connects the history of past glory and the realities of present life. Almost no one can answer the question of when the first Eternal Flame was lit, few will be able to tell why it burns and what it symbolizes. War stories are an integral part of the upbringing and development of the child.
The eternal flame in Moscow and many cities of the vast expanses of the Motherland burns at the foot of memorial ensembles and monuments.
Memory is imperishable
In Cherkessk, on the celebration of Victory Day in 1967, a fire was solemnly lit at the memorial to the fallen soldiers-liberators who gave their lives for the independence and freedom of Russia. From a conversation with the director of the local history center, S. Tverdokhlebov, it was possible to find out that he collected bit by bit information about the soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War, defending the city of Cherkessk. Based on this material, a book was published and the memory of the heroes was immortalized in the form of a memorial complex with an Eternal Flame.
It is very important that the present generation never forget about the terrible crimes against all mankind committed by the Nazi invaders, so that the horror of the war that our grandfathers experienced will never be repeated, especially since every year there are fewer and fewer witnesses of those terrible and busy days.
On May 8, 1967, the Eternal Flame was lit near the Kremlin wall at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in memory of the people who fell in the bloody struggle against fascism.
51 years ago, in May, a symbol of memory and tribute to those people who gave their lives in the fight against the German invaders lit up near the Kremlin wall.
Since then, the fire has been burning continuously and constantly - reminding us of the price that our ancestors gave us freedom. And even though dozens of veterans remain next to us now, the memory of their feat will live forever.
However, few people know that the tradition of maintaining fire in special burners, at various memorials, monuments and cemeteries originated in the Ancient Rome. The symbol of fire was described in ancient myths, where both people and gods appeared. It is interesting that the original possession of fire is attributed to women, and men received it later. The reflection of this prescription has found itself in modern times - now a woman is considered the keeper of the family hearth (fire).
From the point of view of sacraments and symbolism, the “fire sign” also carries a lot in itself. Thus, earlier in mythological systems, fire was classified as an object of a purely religious attitude, which people worshiped. Since ancient times, light has always carried the symbol of the "divine" and illuminated the human path. Moreover, the first people on earth considered the flame to be a manifestation of God himself, which was available for perception. In essence, fire at all times was considered a symbol of purification, transformation and renewal of life, as well as the family (which gathers around its light and warmth) and patriotism.
For the first time, an eternal flame was lit in Paris at the Arc de Triomphe on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in which the remains of a Frenchman who died in the battles of the First World War were buried. The flame of memory has been burning in Paris since January 28, 1921. After that, the tradition of lighting a fire was adopted by many states and countries. So, in the 1930s-1940s, the flame caught fire in Belgium , Romania , Portugal and Czech Republic in memory of the soldiers who fell in the First World War.
The first "Eternal Flame" in the USSR was lit in Tula region in the village of Pervomaisky on May 9, 1957 in memory of those who died in the Great Patriotic War. However, the first Eternal Flame at the state level in the USSR appeared on November 6, 1957 on the Field of Mars in St. Petersburg.
Currently in Moscow three eternal flames are burning. The first was lit at the Transfiguration Cemetery on February 9, 1961 from a flame on the Field of Mars. The second is located near the Kremlin wall on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Heroes of the Soviet Union A.P. Maresyev and G.F. Muslanov took part in the ceremony of lighting the fire near the Kremlin wall. Then Maresyev handed the torch with fire into the hands of the Secretary General Central Committee of the CPSU L. I. Brezhnev, who lit the fire on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The ashes of the unknown soldier were transferred from the mass grave on the 40th kilometer of the Leningrad highway in Zelenograd to the Alexander Garden on December 3, 1966. The third fire appeared on April 30, 2010 on Poklonnaya Hill.
At the moment, the Eternal Flame has been lit in many Russian cities. And while the symbol of victory, heroism and steadfastness will burn, we will remember the great feat of our grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and those who won this Victory over Nazism.
