Developing traditions

Sestroretsk has been living as a big friendly family. Founded by Peter the Great as an arsenal-town, it has been famous for not only rich historical and cultural traditions, but also for its residents. Many local dynasties took their roots in the 18th century, when the first craftsmen arrived in Sestroretsk in order to build the weapon factory.

To honour the glorious traditions of this local factory, the veterans of Sestroretsk Tools Factory initiated the erection of the architectural complex “Sestroretsky worker”, which is dedicated to builders and creators of our country — the workers of all professions. The monument was set up in a new square on the 17th of September, 2011. The sculpture composition “Sestroretsky worker” was made in a creative workshop “Pantheon,” by the sculptor Dmitry Bessmertnov under the direction of Marina and Sergei Obukhov. The composition represents the sculpture of a worker coming out of the arch, symbolizing the entrance to the factory. The arch is made of red brick (the same was used during the construction buildings of the factory) and is decorated with two bas-reliefs. They also has a symbolic meaning as the two inseparable components of the factory’s history: the first — the weapons, the second — the instrumental. The original screw-cutting lathe, which was previously in the workshop number 6 of Sestroretsk Tools Factory in the area of small-size instrument, is installed in the area of the square as well. The information boards, telling us about the history of Sestroretsk Weapon and then Tools Factory creation, are established in the new square which has already become the favourite vacation spot of inhabitants and city visitors.

The residents of our town have been used to working and living together not only on the glorious days, but also on the days of sorrow. They celebrate both the Foundation Day of the town and birthdays of its residents. You can’t count numerous holidays, performances, competitions and different events, in which the local people of any ages and foreign visitors take an active part.

One of the most important directions in the activities of the Municipal Council of Sestroretsk is the constant work aimed at keeping the historical and cultural heritage of the native town. The deputies regularly initiate the publishing of regional books. Since 2004 a large number of publications has been released making up the set of “patriotic Sestroretsk library”. The largest of the books are: the collection of memoirs, named “Blockade. Sestroretsky boundary”, that contains the memoirs of people who have survived the harsh time of the Leningrad blockade and defended the last boundary in Sestroretsk, a 2-volume collection under the title “Unconquered Boundary”, a four-volume “History of Sestroretsk and its surroundings”, the books by Vladimir Yakovlev “My Sestroretsk” and by Nikolay Solokhin “The legends and facts of the Karelsky isthmus”, by Vadim Solovyev, Iana Hramtsova, Marina Pimenova “History of Sestroretsk in stories for children”, and the book “We remember. We trust. We keep”, devoted to the construction history of the spiritual and architectural complex of the Russian Submarine Navy.

The local authorities support the creative efforts of countrymen.

By the 9th of May 2010 the poetry collection “The Victory Light” had been issued. This collection had been prepared by the members of the poetry society “Lukomorye”. Literary collection “Blockade metronome” had been published by the 27th of January 2011 as well as six collections of poems “About life, about the blockade, about the war,” written by World War II veteran Victor Shurygin. The creative members of art clubs of Sestroretsk had also taken part in edition of DVD-discs “We sing for you, our Sestroretsk!” and “Tell us, birds”, in which they performed their songs in great thanks to the veterans and other residents.

On the 60th anniversary of the Victory the huge granite monument with 2.500 printed names of Sestroretsk residents, who hadn’t returned from the war, was erected on the military cemetery, located at the 37th kilometer of Primorskoye shosse. The construction of the monument was initiated by the deputies of Municipal Council as well as the erection of the new

monument “The soldier”. On Tarkhovsky memorial burial place, which is called “Sestroretsk’s Piskarevka”, it is planned to establish memorable boards with the names of victims and the dead during the blockade years Sestroretsk residents and also the names of defenders of the northern boundary of Leningrad defense, which our city was during the Great Patriotic War.

These monuments, as well as other monuments such as “The sister”, have been united into the monument circle “The green belt of Glory” which includes some memorials in settlements Tarkhovka and Gorskaya and the notable obelisk devoted to the anti-aircraft artillery-women of the 8th anti-aircraft artillery regiment. At these places the mourning meetings are often held. To the 50th anniversary of the Great Victory the park in Tokarev Street was laid out as well as the memory alley at Vocational School №120. The initiators of this construction were the local citizens. A new majestic stele was installed at the alley in 2013 instead of the first foundation stone.

The memories about the countrymen — war heroes are piously respected in Sestroretsk. To honour Heroes of the Soviet Union Leonid Borisov and Grigory Grigoryev the granite obelisks were put up in the streets, which have their names. Every year there are some celebrations devoted to the Heroes of the Soviet Union. In 2012, with the support of the Municipal Council of the City of Sestroretsk and Northwest Chamber of Real Estate in the village of Dubrova in Pskov region, the homeplace of G. P. Grigoryev, a memorial stele was set up.

Municipal Council united its efforts with the youth patriotic club, which is called “Sestroretsky boundary”, in order to restore DOT at the 37th km of Primorskoye shosse. Nowadays there is a big military and historical exhibition packed with exhibits of the Second World War military machinery there. Visitors can attend the reconstructions of the battles, which were held on the Karelski isthmus.

There are some celebrations in Sestroretsk, organized by local people themselves. For instance, 5 years ago the Municipal Council of Sestroretsk supported the idea of the settlement Razliv’s people to establish a festival of the place. It was conducted with the active participation of the historical and cultural complex, better known as Lenin’s “Sarai” and “Shalash”.

Local lore reading on the history of Alexandrovskaya village took place in the newly renovated library with the participation of the public organization of poets, artists and ethnographers “Sestroretskaya wave”. Vsevolod Bobrov Street’s residents in Razliv proposed holding the cheerful children’s holiday “Records of our yard” in their street in memory of the famous football player. The children and the adults were so delighted with the holiday that, like many other activities it will be another good Sestroretsk tradition.

Some other objects were put up due to the suggestions made by Sestroretsk citizens. One of the first was a square of Chernobyl victims in the 38th block of Sestroretsk. The district offices of the Russian society of disabled people “The Union “Tschernobyl” of Russia”, the company of repressed citizens and public organization of flowers and wildlife supporters “Kurortnoye Poberezh’e” patronage above the public garden and a commemorative stele set at the house number 261 on the Primorskoe shosse.

A bit later the square of border guards was laid out to honour the heroism of all military regiments which had been located in Sestroretsk for a long time. It was the initiative of the KGB border guards — veterans, and it was supported by the local authorities.

In 2012, by order of the Municipal Council of the City of Sestroretsk a bust of the hero border guard Andrey Korobitsyn was put up here. The celebrations of the Border Guard Service of Russia were widely held in the park.

Our town has become famous for celebrating the family days.

These are special festivals when the family and family traditions are highlighted, when the couples celebrate their “gold” and “diamond” jubilees.

In 2010, a new permanent tradition was born — to conduct in a church of Peter and Paul the Orthodox festival in memory of the pious saints Peter and Fevroniya — the protectors of the family happiness, love and loyalty.