Russian Students Day

Moscow University alumni tell VK correspondent what St. Tatyana’s day means for them: the Russian Orthodox Church declared Saint Tatiana the patron saint of students after Russian Empress Elizabeth  endorsed his petition to establish a university in Moscow in 1775. Since than Tatiana Day has become celebrated as Russian Students Day.

Nikolay Zlobin, political analyst

In fact, it means a lot. When we were students it was an occasion to drink and only later I realized that there is much more behind it. The more I live away from the university and the further away I live from it - as they say, great things are better seen from the distance -  the more important the role of Moscow University, of the History Department, becomes in my life. When I was a student I did not realize the scale of education, its quality and depth. It seemed normal. After 20 years in the US and in Europe, when I had a chance to compare and I was teaching in the best universities of the world. I understood that thanks to Moscow University, to the History department. I got a very deep, fundamental, systematic education in the Soviet Union. And we value it less than our partners. In the US a diploma of the Moscow University History Department is valued, it means that you have a very good academic schooling, you do not have to prove that you are not a camel if you say that you graduated from here. When we were students we took it for granted. It  turns out that in this world the quality of education has an enormous value. People with a good education live better and earn more. This is very important. I am glad that St.Tatyana’s day, Moscow University and the History Department played such a role in my life and allowed me to become myself.

Vasily Istratov, Vice-Director of the “Russian World” foundation

St. Tatyana’s day, first of all, is a day of Moscow University. Then for me it is also the nameday of my wife. The most important thing, of course, is my connection to Moscow University. Moscow University for me – it is not only about myself. My father graduated from it, my grandfather, greatgrandfather  … My grandfather graduated from it in 1906. So I somehow got very connected to it. And not only me, every Moscow University alumni everywhere will recognize fellow alumni as “his”. Some time ago I met one person whom I knew well through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and who is now an ambassador in Austria. And he says to me: “Listen, it turns out that you are one of us! I graduated from the Department of Philology”. Of course, there weren't that many of us in the Ministry, especially ambassadors, and we should have known each other. In any case, Moscow State University is a place that is not only very important for us, but it is our home. When we simply see the silouette of Moscow University in some picture it is a great joy for us. Maybe we got this building by accident, but still the recognizable profile of this university is a landmark of our life.

Evgeny Kozhokin, Rector of the Labor and Social Relations Academy

For me from year to year this means a meeting with my classmates and professors of the History Department. The History Department for me is an epoch, a fundament. And it is not only for me, a person who worked in the state structures and education, I think it is a basis for our political science. Where political science is strong it has a basis in history and the History department. In some other places they do not understand that there is this basis.

Stepan Orlov, Deputy of the Moscow City council

It is our most important event and I am happy that St. Tatyana’s day is recognized as an official holiday in Moscow to recognize the achievements of Moscow State University and the role that it plays in the life of the city.

Mikhail Kozhokin, Vice-President of VTB-24 Bank

It is a memory of student years, these were the best years, it is a memory of the education that Moscow University was giving. It is youth, energy and moving forward.