To the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture

In the language of peace and enlightenment

The Cultural Centre "Mir" hosts an exhibition "Bulgaria's contribution to the cultural heritage of the Slavs" that presents the most significant artifacts of the Balkans from the times of Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

This joint project of the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Moscow and JINR has been prepared by leading Bulgarian scientists - Professors Ivan Marazov and Aksiniya Dzhurova and artist-photographer Ivo Khadzhimishev. The exposition is timed to coincide with the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture, a holiday celebrated in several countries under different names.

On 11 May, the grand opening of the exhibition was held. JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov recalled that two years ago, at the presentation of the renovated hotel building at Moskovskaya 2 that was attended by a delegation from Bulgaria, an initiative was made to resume the long tradition of cultural events, concerts, art and photography exhibitions. And despite the difficult geopolitical situation, under the conditions of severe restrictions, Bulgaria, a JINR Member State since the founding of the Institute, has shown an example of how to develop and expand cooperation, primarily, scientific and cultural ties. "Looking at these historical relics, you understand that in no case should you lose your originality, identity. The alphabet and language are the foundations of the state and Bulgaria demonstrates how it protects its language and religion," Grigory Trubnikov emphasized.

As JINR Vice-Director Latchesar Kostov noted, the Day of Bulgarian Enlightenment, Culture and Slavic Literature symbolizes the natural desire for peace, for enlightenment. At the end of May, the academic year ends, diplomas and certificates are awarded. For many generations of Bulgarians, this is the brightest and most beautiful holiday. And the current exhibition is another example that the activities of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in the name of developing the scientific, technological and intellectual potential of the Member States contributed to the creation of an international scientific, educational and cultural environment in Dubna that confirms the motto: "Science brings nations together."

After these words, the "Bulgarian school-wide hymn to Saints Cyril and Methodius" sounded. It was created by two Bulgarian teachers: Stoyan Mihailovski wrote a poem in 1882 and nine years later, Panayot Pipkov composed the music. Bulgarians know it by the first line "Forward, reborn people."

"I would like to congratulate all of us and above all, our Bulgarian colleagues, friends, comrades on this great Bulgarian holiday that has become a holiday for all Slavs," the JINR Scientific Leader Victor Matveev continued the official part of the event and recalled that it was on 11 May (according to the old style) the Orthodox Church celebrated the Day of Remembrance of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius.

Director of the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Moscow Viktor Boychev noted that Cyril and Methodius were canonized not only by the Orthodox, but also by the Catholic Church. He told that in 864, after an unsuccessful war with Byzantium, the Bulgarian Tsar Boris I undertook to accept Christianity. At the same time, the alphabets Cyrillic and Glagolitic were created that subsequently spread to many neighboring countries. As an example, V.Boychev told an entertaining story about the Reims Gospel. According to legend, it was on it that the French kings swore allegiance, but no one knew what languages this gospel was written in. And only the Russian Tsar Peter I, while in France, was able to read the first part of the manuscript, written in Church Slavonic in Cyrillic.

The exhibition tells about cultural and religious monuments located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Romania. A group of specialists from Bulgaria and other Balkan countries has been working on the selection of exhibits for about 10 years. They have traveled all over the Balkan countries, have taken thousands of photographs from archaeological sites, monasteries, churches. Much of what was included in this collection has not yet been known to the general Russian public. Viktor Boychev answered the questions of the participants of the opening ceremony of the exhibition, spoke a lot about the history of the Balkan Peninsula that is called the geographical, political and cultural crossroads of the world. For several centuries, a huge cultural layer has developed here, in which the traditions of the ancient Greek and ancient Roman civilizations, the Byzantine and Ottoman empires are intertwined.

At the request of the correspondent of the weekly, V.Boichev spoke about one of the exhibits. This is the London Four Gospels, an illuminated manuscript created for Tsar John Alexander, one of the most important manuscripts of medieval Bulgarian culture. The reign of John Alexander is considered a transitional period in Bulgarian history: starting with the resolution of internal conflicts and external threats, he managed to restore the country's economy and led it to a cultural and religious revival; Historians call this period "the second Golden Age of Bulgarian culture".

"After the transfer of the capital from Rome, Emperor Constantine the Great literally created a new civilization based on Christianity," Viktor Boychev said. "In Rome, the Catholic religion would appear very soon, they would fight among themselves. And just the place that both of them wanted to conquer was the Balkan Peninsula. For almost 170 years Bulgaria was under the rule of the Byzantine Empire. Later, the brothers Asen and Fedor revolted and Tsar John Alexander came to throne that raised Bulgaria to a new level. And in 1396, when Bulgaria became part of the Ottoman Empire, cultural achievements began to spread to the north, west, east. Therefore, Balkan written monuments or their censuses can be found both in Russia and in other countries."

The photocopies of ancient handwritten documents in Glagolitic and Cyrillic, photographs of frescoes, churches, monasteries are presented in the exhibition. This is only a part of the large photo collection "The Balkans - a common heritage" that has traveled to many countries, as well as has repeatedly been exhibited in Russian museums and educational centres.

Galina MYALKOVSKAYA,
photo by Igor LAPENKO