Days of Slavic Written Language and Culture celebrated in Russia

May 18, Days of Slavic Written Language and Culture were opened in Moscow, which will last till June 1. According to the president of Slavic Fund of Russia, Galina Bogolyubova, the festival of Slavic written language is “the first state and church festival in Russia, initiated already 12 years ago.” Within these two weeks, festivals of folks’ arts will be carried out in parks and libraries of Moscow. Book and art exhibitions, music festivals, scientific conferences are planned, Blagovest-info reports. In particular, today, in the capital, International assembly of Slavic universities’ rectors will be opened: “Traditions of Slavia Orthodoxia in the Contemporary World: Culture and Education.” While May 24, the day of memory of Sts Cyril and Methodius, in Slavyanskaya Square, flowers will be laid on the Cyril and Methodius Memorial and a public prayer will take place. May 30, in the hotel complex of St Daniel’s Monastery, Slavic World in the 3rd Millenium international symposium will launch its work. The Days of Slavic Written Language and Culture in Moscow were organized by the President Administration, the capital administration, representatives of Russian Orthodox Church and Russian Slavic Fund. The days of Slavic Written Language and Culture were recommenced in Russia in 1985, after many years of oblivion. At that time, several Russian writers, while overpassing opposition of the party leadership, organized this festival in the city of Murmansk. Though, from some reasons, under another title: Days of Northern Culture. Next time, the festival took place in the city of Volgograd. At last, in 1988, the year of the thousandth anniversary of Russia’s christening, the festival was really great. The Days of Slavic Written Language and Culture in the city of Veliky Novgorod were celebrated openly, with presence of many people. Conferences, concerts, processions were organized… In 1991, the festival got national status. The Day of Slavic Written Language and Culture is celebrated everywhere, though every year a new capital of the festival is chosen. Celebration of the Days of Slavic Written Language and Culture is deeply connected with memory of the two great enlighteners, “teachers of Slavs,” Sts Cyril and Methodius. In Russia, the day of memory of the two brothers was celebrated already in 17th century.

Sergei Yugov PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Vera Solovieva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/05/20/41345.html