The first Saturday of November in many units, institutions and educational institutions of the Ministry of Defense is associated with events on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of the Fatherland. The tradition of performing a special rite of remembrance on this day "for Orthodox soldiers and all those who were killed on the battlefield for their faith and Fatherland" appeared in the XIV century, when 40 days were celebrated from the day of burial of the fallen on Kulikovo Field. On the advice and with the blessing of Sergius of Radonezh, Dmitry Donskoy established an annual commemoration of the fallen soldiers on the first Saturday after St. Dmitry of Solunsky, the heavenly patron saint of the valiant prince. This day was called Dmitrievskaya or Dimitrievskaya Saturday.

page 2