Andrei Stavitsky: why St. Andrew's flag should be the banner of New Russia
Among supporters of the creation of Novorossiya, a discussion arose on the question of what colors on the flag should symbolize it?
Bloggers versed in symbolism and heraldry offered various options.
Some, based on the fact that the most common colors for most regions of Ukraine are in descending order - blue, white, yellow, red, green and black, proposed placing the first three colors on the flag of New Russia.
Others insisted on combining Ukrainian and Russian symbols, resulting in the Russian tricolor with a golden trident in the center.
Still others stated that the flag of Novorossiya must necessarily be “the Russian black-yellow-white tricolor with the ancient coat of arms of the city of Kherson,” which has “the greatest moral right to this, conditioned historically.”
What thoughts do you have in this regard?
1. Whatever symbols are proposed to take root in Novorossiya, any associations with Ukrainian symbols, taking into account military operations, must be excluded. Excluded at least out of respect for those killed in Odessa, Mariupol and other cities of Novorossiya. Therefore, blue and yellow (gold) colors are unlikely to be suitable for this.
2. Combining Ukrainian and Russian symbols may be an original proposal, but it is not very appropriate. Novorossiya must, without distancing itself from the Russian symbolic field, find those symbols that will highlight it and be assigned specifically to it.
3. As for the above-mentioned Kherson, I think that the decision to rely on this city and its ambiguous name within the Russian language is not very thoughtful and, at the very least, premature. After all, this city has not yet shown itself to be anything in the current struggle. And its only advantage is that it is located approximately in the middle of the historical Novorossiysk region.
Of course, supporters of Novorossiya should focus on the territory not only of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions and take into account that Novorossiya will grow and in the future may include all regions of present-day Ukraine, except Galicia.
As if knowing this, the congress of delegates from various regions of Novorossiya in Donetsk approved the flag of Novorossiya to be a blue St. Andrew's cross with a white background on a red background.
Let us remind you that the blue St. Andrew's cross is a symbol of the Russian fleet. But what is much more important is that, according to Christian legend, the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, who preached Christ in the lands of future Rus', was crucified on a similar cross. Thus, Andrew the First-Called is associated with Russia and Russia. According to the Orthodox tradition, it is generally accepted that he “supervises” Rus' on behalf of Christ. And this argument is worth a lot.
In turn, the white color symbolizes purity and hope, and the red background, the color of blood, symbolizes life, struggle and sacrifice, reminding people of the cost of freedom and independence of the Motherland.
Thus, the “roll call” between the Novorossiysk flag and the Russian one is obvious, but not intrusive. From this point of view, the adopted flag of Novorossiya should be considered quite successful. Although, of course, at first it will not satisfy everyone. But, as the status and position of Novorossiya strengthens, the positions of the adopted symbols will also strengthen, acquiring their own symbolically rich history. He will be associated with the Russian movement for freedom from Nazism, with the victims of Bandera and with the optimism that the patriotism and courage of its modern defenders instill in the new citizens of Novorossiya.
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