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Official website of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival
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Official website of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival
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Official website of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival
30 August 2017

Day of Horse at «Spasskaya Tower» Festival

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On the 31st of August as a part of X International Military Music Festival «Spasskaya Tower» the Day of Horse was announced in memory of Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus, which were considered as patrons of horses and other domestic animals in the ancient Russia. At 11:30 a thanksgiving service will take place and at 14:30 a performance of the Kremlin Equestrian School.

The tradition of the worship of Florus and Laurus came to Russia from the Balkans, the birthplace of the saint brothers. It is known that they lived in II century, worked as stone cutters and constructed a pagan temple in Illyria (the modern Yugoslavia). When the construction was over, Florus and Laurus gathered the Christian people, who participated in the construction, crushed the idols and put a Saint cross in the temple. After that they stayed praying the whole night. As a punishment for what they did, they were thrown to an empty well and covered up with soil in accordance with the order of Liakon, the governor of Illyria. As the legend says, when their hallows were found, loss of cattle stopped. Since then it was decided that the icons of Florus and Laurus shall be painted with images of horses, which they patronize. These icons can be found in many Russian temples.

In the ancient times the Day of Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus was celebrated all across the country. This day horses were treated in a special way: they weren't neither saddled nor tackled, but only cherished and fondled, and their manes were plaited with ribbons. Prayer services were organized this day, and later a «horse entreaty», when the horses were sprinkled with water. In this way horses were cured and made strong and sturdy.

It is notable that the names of Holy Martyrs were used to give names to some of the parts of the ancient Kremlin. It is known that the Spasskaya Tower was initially named as «Frolovskaya Gatehouse», because it was located at the same exact place as the ancient one. It is suggested that it was named after the Church of Florus and Laurus, located a short distance away inside the Kremlin. In 1658 following a special order of the Russian Tzar Alexey Mikhailovich the tower was renamed to Spasskaya.

Thematic events as a part of «Spasskaya Tower» Festival take place at the Children Village near the Kremlin walls every day.

X International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower” takes place at the Red Square from the 26th to the 3rd of September 2017.

To get your accreditation, you can write an email to sb2017press@gmail.com or call Evgeny Eremeev (+79030034135) before 18:00 of the 30th of August 2017.

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