Presidential Library marks National Unity Day. Ancient documents tell about overcoming Troubles in Russia

National Unity Day is a public holiday in Russia that is celebrated on November 4th, 2024. The holiday was first introduced in 2005 and commemorates the historical events that took place in 1612 when the people of Russia united to defeat the Polish invaders and liberate Moscow.

In 2004, on December 16th, the State Duma of Russia adopted amendments to the Federal Law on Days of Military Glory, which included the establishment of National Unity Day as a new holiday. The decision to establish the holiday was based on the historical significance of the events that occurred in 1612 and the importance of national unity in overcoming challenges.

National Unity Day commemorates the victory of the people's militia led by Minin and Pozharsky over the Polish invaders, which was made possible through the unification of Russian forces. The militia's victory in Moscow and Kitay-Gorod on October 22-26, 1612 (November 1st-5th in the new style) led to the surrender of the Poles and the liberation of Moscow. To commemorate this event, a religious procession was held on October 25, 1612 (November 4th).

Thanks to the liberation of the capital, conditions were created in the country for the restoration of state power and the mass movement against the interventionists.

The collection Overcoming the Troubles in Russia, dedicated to the events of 1612, is available on the portal of the Presidential Library. It contains historical studies about both the Time of Troubles as a whole and individual events that took place during that period.

Electronic copies of monographs and other documents are available in the collection that tell us about the events leading up to the Time of Troubles, such as the reign of Tsar Fyedor Ivanovich and the tragic death of Tsarevich Dmitri Ivanovich in Uglich.

Of great interest are the testimonies of foreigners about events in Russia during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. These historical sources allow us to understand the perception of Russian reality by foreign contemporaries. One such publication is the work by the Dutch geographer Isaac Masse, Tales of Masse and Herkman on the Time of Troubles in Russia, published in 1874.

Isaac Masse lived in Moscow during the reigns of Boris Godunov, False Dmitry I, and Vasily Shuisky, and had the opportunity to learn about Russian life in detail. His notes say that Russians feared the death of their country and sought ways to save it, referring to it as "the Most Pure House and Miracle-workers".

One of the sections of the collection is dedicated to the struggle for the Moscow throne. It includes publications on the highest state authorities, the justice system, and rulers during the Time of Troubles. Sections such as Godunovs, Pretenders and Marina Mniszech, and Shuyskys provide information about these figures. A recording of a video lecture titled Semiboyarschyna: From the History of the Troubles is available on the portal of the Presidential Library.

In the section titled Struggle for Liberation of Russia from Interventionists, visitors can find materials on the struggle against foreign invaders, such as the siege of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the leaders of people's militias. This section also includes information about Patriarch Hermogenes and folk heroes like Ivan Susanin. It covers events that took place in various cities, including Arkhangelsk, Smolensk, Veliky Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Pskov, and Yaroslavl. Visitors can also learn about efforts to preserve the memory of these national heroes through related materials.

Rare publications tell about Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, who led the liberation of Moscow from Polish invaders in 1612. The album of illustrations, Antiquities of the Russian State, published by the highest command (1849-1853), contains an image of Prince Pozharsky's banner. It is possible to learn more about the history of the People's Militia and read about the military exploits of its leaders and inspirers in the separate collection of documents, K. Minin and D. Pozharsky.

In January 1613, the Zemsky Sobor was held in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin to elect a new tsar. This was one of the largest and, according to historians, the first all-theological council. Even free peasants were invited to participate, as a sign of respect for all segments of the population that had helped the militia.

Of the many candidates for the Russian throne, 16-year-old Mikhail Romanov, a representative of a family that would later rule Russia for more than 300 years, was chosen. He was the cousin of the last Tsar of the Rurik Dynasty, Fyodor Ioannovich.

This event marked the beginning of the Romanov dynasty's rule in Russia. The collection Romanovs: The Accession of a New Dynasty explores this important period in Russian history.

In the collection Overcoming the Troubles in Russia works of fiction are available, including the drama in five acts The Liberation of Moscow in 1612 (1842), written by the Russian publicist Konstantin Aksakov. The play contains the following words: "Let us stand, brothers, for the Orthodox faith, for the Russian land; let us lay down our lives for it."

The photographs of Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorsky, a Russian scientist and pioneer in color photography, depict a difficult historical period in Russia. They include images such as the cross that Archpriest Irinarch used to bless Minin and Pozharsky before battle, as well as a portrait of the nun Marfa, the mother of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, created from a parsuna at the beginning of the 17th century.