Monument to Yuri Gagarin set at Nativity Square in Bethlehem

The bust of Y. Gagarin adorns the square of Nativity at Bethlehem, according to RIA Novosti. Monument to the first cosmonaut of the planet made of bronze is erected near the basilica with the same name in the Palestinian city, which is considered a birthplace of Jesus Christ. The ceremony of unveiling the monument took place on January 19. Politicians, social figures and religious leaders participated at the ceremony.

In opinion of Aidar Aganin representing our country in the Palestinian national administration, the stature has turned out to be an important symbol as it represents ties between the place where humanity began to seek a better future and the birth place of Jesus Christ with advancement of humanity for the new world beyond our planet.

Mayor of Bethlehem Anton Salman, in his turn, has remarked that Gagarin reminds of the heights of knowledge to strive for and a prefect personality to take example of.

Note that the representative of Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society Daud Matar called setting of the monument a great honor for the Palestinians.

The Dialogue of Cultures Foundation, which has been setting busts of Y. Gagarin for seven years, gifted more than forty monuments of the first cosmonaut to the countries of Europe, America and Asia. Representatives of the foundation have commented that the aim of the project is joining representatives of different cultures.

Russkiy Mir