Days of Slavic Culture

For the 14th time in Moldova, Days of Slavic Culture were celebrated in the largest towns across the Republic.

“Days of Slavic Culture were observed even in Tsarist Russia,” explained Slavic Culture and Writing Fund chairman Igor Vasiliev. “After the Revolution of 1917 it was easy to forget about them because of the difficult times: war, intervention, famine, and collapse. The celebration was revived only 70 years later.” First it returned to Murmansk, then to Novgorod, Kiev, and Minsk. In Moldova the beginning of this renaissance was initiated by the Fund of Slavic Writing in the year 1990. Since then it has been celebrated every year in many towns.

According to Ivan Zabunov, the chairman of the organizing committee for the Days of Slavic Culture in Moldova, the opening took place at the National Opera and Ballet Theater. Popular Moldovan artists and dance companies and guests from Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia performed at the first concert. In Svyatogeorgievskaya church a solemn liturgy was held in the memory of saint apostles brothers Kirill and Mefodi.

An exposition dedicated to the work of architect V. Tsiganko, who built the Moldovan Natural History Museum, opened in St. Nicholas church. A memorial board was put up in his honor as well. In the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Moldova a book presentation of “Old Belief. The Living Word” and “Pushkin Lyrics” books took place. The Pushkin museum itself prepared an exposition entitled “I love you, the creation of Peter” dedicated to the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.

The Department for Interethnic Relations hosted a book presentation with works by war veteran A. Protasov and Belorussian poets I. Rakhuba and N. Shleapo. The opening of a Moldovan, Russian, and Ukrainian art exposition was held in the foyer of the Department building. The Slavic University organized an evening dedicated to the 200th anniversary of F. Tyutchev. Lyceum Dm. Cantemir celebrated the 25th anniversary of its dance company.

Nelli Kameneva, artistic director of the Chekhov Theater, performed her mono-play “Every poet has his tragedy”. In school ¹38, honored artist of Moldova Larisa Khromova interpreted her literary musical composition “Not a step back!” Iuri Kharmelin theater-studio invited everyone to the play “Thunder” written by Russian dramatist A. Ovstrovski.

Usually during the Days of Slavic Culture, various competitions among young poets and musical festivals are organized to give young talents the opportunity to present themselves on stage. This year this part of the program was omitted, but the geography of the celebration expanded. It was held not only in Chisinau, Balti, Drochia, Taraclia, and Comrat, but also in other towns. For some reason, unlike the previous years Transnistria was not among these regions.

The people of Chisinau in the National Philharmonic celebrated the closing of the Days of Slavic Culture. A memorial brass relief board to the memory of Belorussian artist V. Okushko appeared on the facade of A. Plamadeala College, its founder. This event was timed for the official visit of the Belarus government leader to Moldova.

Beautiful bouquets of flowers were laid at the memorials of great Slavic philosophers and cultural figures such as Shalyapin, Pushkin, Kotsyubinski, Tolstoy, and Shevchenko.

Valentina Lipina