The event gathered both countries' VIPs. The Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet has sent its "Moskva" missile-carrying cruiser and destroyer "Smetlivy" to take part, says Sergei Toritsyn, Russian Vice-Consul to Greece.
Prominent on Days program is commemoration of Cossacks who found shelter in Lemnos, 1920-21, after flight from Russia. A 23,000 surviving force of Baron Wrangel's White Army, which Reds routed in the Civil War, took refuge in several French-guarded camps. After the camps were closed, a trustful part of the Cossacks came home to Russia to meet their death by Bolshevik firing squads. Others dispersed all over the world among the many Russian emigres.
Approximately five hundred White soldiers found their last abode in Lemnos. The cemetery was abandoned with the years. The Russian Embassy recently trimmed it up, and a large cross will soon rise over a Cossack common grave.
A liturgy was served today in the Trinity Cathedral of Myrina, one of the island's principal towns. Greek and Russian priests were serving together. A religious procession after the service came to the graves of two Greeks who arranged a popular meeting of a Russian naval squadron under Admiral Alexis Orlov in 1770, with one of the Russo-Turkish wars on. Metropolitan Joachim of Lemnos and schoolmaster Cosmas were martyred by Turks. After a graveside commemorative service, a Russian delegation laid wreaths to their monument. Leading the Russian delegates were Sergei Baburin, Vice-Speaker of the State Duma, parliament's lower house, and Andrei Vdovin, Russian Ambassador to Greece.
A monument to Count Alexis Orlov and Admiral Dmitry Senyavin was next unveiled on the Myrina seaside embankment. The marble slab represents a sailing vessel and is inscribed, "In memory of Russian sailors of the squadrons under Count Alexis Orlov and Vice-Admiral Dmitry Senyavin, who contributed to the Greek independence cause."
"The people of Lemnos are cherishing our sailors' memory, and preserve the history we share. We Russians are grateful," Sergei Baburin said at the unveiling ceremony.
A Russian naval squad saluted as the slab was unveiled, and the Black Sea Fleet band was playing. A fleet parade followed.
Count Alexis Orlov, Catherine the Great's favorite, covered himself with glory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-74. A squadron commander, he blueprinted a Mediterranean naval expedition against the Ottoman Empire. In the famous Battle of Cesme, June 24-26, 1770, he and Georgy Spiridov led a Russian force that vanquished a Turkish fleet twice its stronger. The battle established Russian naval superiority in the East Mediterranean for many years to come.
Dmitry Senyavin, brilliant Russian naval commander of the Napoleonic wars, led a squadron active in the Adriatic and Aegean seas against the French and Ottoman navies, 1805-07. Russians overtook a Turkish fleet on its way from Lemnos, June 19, 1807. They clashed opposite Mount Athos, renowned monastic center. The Peace of Tilsit robbed Russia of the fruit of that glorious victory. However, it was destined to inspire, years after, a mighty Greek insurrection against Turkey, 1821, in which Greece regained independence.
