The scientific and practical conference was dedicated to the memory of Nikolai I. Putilov, an outstanding Russian industrialist, metallurgist, engineer, and builder, as well as to the development of socially responsible entrepreneurship. It was attended by representatives of the City Government, enterprises, museums, clergy of St. Petersburg and Novgorod dioceses, historians, philanthropists, and public figures.
Before the start of the readings, rector of Knyaz-Vladimirsky Cathedral, archpriest Vladimir Sorokin made a novena for Nikolai Putilov in the church of St. Macarius of Egypt at Mining University. Afterwards, the delegates went to the conference hall of the university, where the main part of the event was held.
Igor Ivanovsky, director of the museum of Severnaya Verf Shipyard history, reminded the audience about the importance of popularizing the name of the greatest devotee of the national industry and science. He emphasized that the courage, energy, and organizational talent of the outstanding Russian engineer fascinated his contemporaries and continue to amaze his followers.
“We must not forget the successes of true Russian creators, we must tell about the legacy left by Nikolai Putilov. Talented, incomparable to no one, Putilov was the first to develop the entire process for the production of steam engines, equipment, and materials for propeller ships. He loaded heavy boilers, harnessed horses, took on everything himself, and was not afraid of obstacles. He was able to make the impossible possible. When students come to our enterprises and hear about the achievements, which became reality due to Putilov, we can see their eyes light up,” said Igor Ivanovsky.
During the forum, there was a presentation of the book about the owner of one of the most advanced plants of his time. Oleg Putin, vice-president of Nevsky Prospect Association, spoke in detail about the main stages of the creation of the book and noted the importance of making public historical documents about Nikolai Putilov.
"A huge number of people were involved in order to study as thoroughly as possible the documents about the most important stages of Putilov's life. After all, before it was impossible even to find information about his date and place of birth. We only knew his age, we compared various documents and sources. An interesting fact: his family was very religious, and he was named after St. Nicholas. That is, he was born either in May or in December. According to the sources we studied, we determined that Putilov was born in May. However, it is still questionable when exactly it happened: on the 2nd or 9th because earlier Orthodox families named the child in honor of the memory of St. or the day of his birth, or the day of naming him," said Oleg Putin.
According to the author, work on the book took exactly five years. Assistance in its writing, as well as the collection of data provided by the shipyard “Northern shipyard”, the Sea Commercial Port, Kirov, and Obukhov shipyards, as well as employees of archives.
In addition to historical reports, the readings discussed such topics as the creation of the Putilov Foundation; the formation of a working group to coordinate work on recreating the destroyed Putilov family burial site; the establishment of the Putilov Memorial Badge of Honor to award socially responsible businessmen and several others.
Let us note that the organizers of the event were the St. Petersburg Mining University, Nevsky Prospekt Association, the Union of Orthodox Entrepreneurs of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg branch of the All-Russian public organization Opora Rossii, and the parish of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Martyr Tsarina Alexandra (the Putilovsky Church).
