Russian culture abroad: Cyril and Methodius readings, dedicated to the 1150th anniversary of Slavic written language, in Italy

The Russian Center for Science and Culture in Rome in February 4, 2013 hosted the Cyril and Methodius readings – the first international event of an extensive program, timed to the 1150th anniversary of the Slavic written language, celebrated this year.

Scientific and educational seminar brought together representatives of the Institute of Slavic Studies, humanities department of leading Russian universities as well as prominent Italian Slavic researchers. It is organized on the initiative of the University of Florence with the support of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Italian representative office of Rossotrudnichestvo.

According to organizers, readings are held in February in Florence, in one of the most prestigious Italian universities. As told professor of the University of Florence, president of the Association of Italian Slavic researchers Marcello Garzaniti, the department of Russian studies has more than 60-year history and it is one of the leading in Italy.

There will be held reports and master classes for thematic blocks “Old Russian singing tradition”, “Typology and history of liturgical texts”, “The word in the text: semantics, pragmatics”. “This year, we have taken a record number of students - more than 140”, - said Garzaniti, emphasizing that in the Apennines the interest in the Russian language and culture is growing.

The celebration of the 1150th anniversary of the formation of the Slavic written language began in Rome, because in one of the most central churches of Rome – St. Mary the great – for the first time took place a liturgy in the Church Slavonic language in 867, when in Rome arrived Saint Brothers Cyril and Methodius with the request to permit the worship in Slavic language.