In 2006, the ancient town of Azov celebrated the 365th anniversary of the “Azov Sitting”
of the Don Cossacks. The Great Don Cossack Host welcomed visitors from near
and far. Even though the ill winds of fate had scattered the Cossacks across the globe, the
celebration of this glorious occasion provided a wonderful opportunity to bring together
members of the Cossack Host from Russia and the whole world.
Several important events in the life of modern-day Cossacks took place during this
celebration. These included the Big Krug of the Great Don Cossack Host, the First
Congress of the International Board of Russian Orthodox Cossack Youth, the Council of
Atamans of the Unit of Russian and Foreign Cossack Hosts, and a meeting of the Permanent
International Coordination Board of the Cossacks of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.
Beside these events, Cossack bands played at grand concerts; Cossack horsemen raced
against each other, put on fabulous horse-riding demonstrations and staged a historical
reconstruction of a cavalry attack on a model fortress; and, of course, the Cossack units
paraded in front of cheering crowds. For the first time, a group of standard bearers from
the Presidential Regiment led the parade. These Cossacks, who are in active service in
the most prestigious unit of the Russian Army, carried the Russian banner. Marching side
by side with these sons of the Don were the Zaporozhian Cossacks – descendants of
those who defended Azov 365 years ago. Cossacks were especially proud to see the
orderly rows of Cossack cadet-school students, who marched as professionally as the
adult Cossacks. A composite hundred of the municipal Cossacks cavalry units brought up
the rear of the parade. And for the first time in the history of the Russian fleet, a battleship
entered the Don estuary and sailed 18 kilometers inland. This was the Large Landing Ship
“Azov”, the namesake of the town, and the place of service for many young Cossacks
from Azov and the Azov District.
Also, the first public prayer service was conducted near the newly-built Regimental Church
of the Azov Icon of the Mother of God. In his sermon, Archimandrite Panteleymon
Krug (lit., “Circle”) – a meeting, or congress, of all Cossacks to discuss important issues.
Ataman – the highest rank in the Cossack organization, a commander.
A Hundred (in Russian - “Sotnya”) – a cavalry unit originally consisting of 100 men, equivalent
to a squadron.
said that in Azov an old tradition has been revived –one that “unites all efforts” when all
people invest as much as they can in the godly deed of building the church. So many events
that had never happened before took place during the celebration. Perhaps for the first
time the Cossacks who paraded down the streets of the town – from the ancient rampart
to the new church – and the city-dwellers who stood watching felt the unbreakable continuity,
the indestructible connection between past and future. Old Azov remembers many
events. It remembers those key moments that became turning points in our history. So
now we have celebrated the 365th anniversary of the “Azov Sitting” of the Don Cossacks.
But it is not the only date for us to celebrate and to remember! For example, 310 years
ago Peter the Great first seized Azov. Our sailors also celebrate this date as the day the
Russian fleet was created. Those first ships sailing under the Russian flag fought in battles
for the sea fortress, which was Azov. In 2006, we also celebrated the 270th anniversary
of the final time the Russian army and the Don Cossacks stormed Azov. From then on, the
town became part of Russia. As a citizen of Azov and a Cossack, I am proud of the history
of my town and my people.
Not only does the Russian fleet take its beginnings from Azov, I believe it is absolutely
correct to say that the Corps of Engineers also traces its history back to the battles fought at
Azov’s walls. Never before in human history had people used such underground structures
and passages as the ones the Cossacks created during the “Azov Sitting.” These battles are
also important to modern-day sappers, because during the fighting in Azov, mines were
used on a massive scale, unprecedented in the history of military combat. And, moreover,
it would be quite right to say that the history of the Russian submarine dates back to
the “Azov Sitting.” During the siege of Azov, the Cossacks utilized a secret way of moving
underwater, using tarred boats turned upside down. And of course, this date can also be
considered the birthday of numerous special troops. In the art of diversions, sorties, stealth
movements on the ground and under it, fighting on the water and beneath it, and the use
of various battle techniques, tricks and special means of combat, the experience of the
Cossacks is unrivalled. I would like to encourage readers, especially young Cossacks, to
study the history of their country, their land and their people very closely. History can teach
us many valuable lessons.
With very best wishes,
Supreme Ataman of the Union
Of Russian and Foreign Cossack Hosts,
Ataman of the Great Don Cossack Host,
Cossack General V.P. Vodolatskiy