Construction Of Russia's Armed Forces Main Catherdral Is Finished.

David Hackett Fischer makes an interesting observation about Cathedral at Chartres:

The great cathedral was both a religious and economic institution. At the same time it was vital to its community in another way. Every great work of architecture is a cultural symbol. Chartres was a case in point. The beautiful cathedral perfectly symbolized an era that Charles Homer Haskins called the Renaissance of the twelfth century. 

Renaissance, as in revival, rebirth, and spiritual come hand in hand and there is no event in Russian history over a thousand years which can compare in its impact and formative power than Great Patriotic War. This war is a litmus test, it is a defining characteristic which separates truly Russian person from the rest. Today, on May 9th, 2020 a final attempt to truly immortalize this war and what has been achieved and what and who were lost succeeded and it is beyond the word spectacular, it is breathtaking. Sergei Shoigu, I think knew that he was also leaving a memory of himself when starting this construction. Just take a look--every real Russian knows now where the place of true pilgrimage in Russia is. Even if you are an atheist you heart will beat faster when entering this holy site. I know, mine will. 

Just recall how truly great Russian mind defined the victory--not just in material terms--but primarily spiritual ones.  

Not that sort of victory which is defined by the capture of pieces of material fastened to sticks, called standards, and of the ground on which the troops had stood and were standing, but a moral victory that convinces the enemy of the moral superiority of his opponent and of his own impotence was gained by the Russians at Borodino…The direct consequence of the battle of Borodino was Napoleon’s senseless flight from Moscow… and the downfall of Napoleonic France, on which at Borodino for the first time the hand of an opponent of stronger spirit had been laid"(c)

I think new Cathedral embodies this spirit. Happy Victory Day all.