In the cemetery near Kirjamo, Leningrad Oblast, there is a memorial to local residents who suffered Stalinist repressions in 1939-1940. Established through the efforts of Mrs. Lidia Yllö (1919-2015), it was inaugurated in 1989. Every year, people gather at this memorial for a remembrance of their relatives who had gone though the harsh trials. This annual spiritual meeting is attended by many people coming from the nearby villages as well as from Estonia and Finland.
This year’s meeting took place on July 25. Unfortunately, due the closed borders many participants were unable to attend. This year, the remembrance meeting gathered people from Tiskolovo, Konnovo, Gakkovo, Kirjamo, Bolshoye Kuzyomkino, and Kingisepp.
Greetings were extended by Rev. Anatoli Leshchik, Rev. Väinö Kuosti, Inkerin Liitto member Arvi Korka, Aina Semyonova, and Izolda Karpachyova who recited her own poems. The participants sang several spiritual songs together. The meeting concluded with a heartfelt singing of Omal maal (“In Our Own Land”), a song of Ingrian Finns, and was followed by informal fellowship during a meal together.
Source & photos: VK