MOSCOW, (RIA Novosti commentator Anatoly...

When St. Sergi Radonezhsky blessed Prince Dmitry Donsky before the decisive battle with the Tatars, he entrusted the Russian victory to the Virgin Mary.

Holy figures were also depicted on pennants and banners. An image of Christ featured most often. The banner served as a mythical protector or amulet and was called upon to protect the troops with the blessing of the divine power.

Orthodox crosses were sewn on to the banners carried by archers. Mythological creatures, such as griffons, centaurs and unicorns, were depicted on the banners carried by Peter the Great's first foreign regiments. Each regiment had its own mythical beast.

Uncertainty surrounds the origin of the national Russian flag, but the first traditional flag is generally dated to the reign of Peter the Great's father, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The Tsar introduced a tricolor flag, the white, blue and red flag that we know today. The flag was designed for use by the Russian Caspian Fleet. It

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