First results of the conference "From Ancient Russia to the Russian Federation: the history of the Russian state"

Today a two-day international conference "From Ancient Russia to the
Russian Federation: the history of the Russian state" began in Moscow.
The conference is dedicated to the Year of History in Russia and the
1150 anniversary of the Russian state and is organized by the Moscow
State University together with the Department of History and Philology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The conference was attended by well-known experts in the field of
humanities from Russia, CIS and other foreign countries,
representatives of federal government and public organizations.

The plenary session of the conference was opened by the head of the
MSU, Viktor Sadovnichy.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill also took part in the
conference. He said that there is no future without a past, because
"the true value is not transmitted except by tradition." In this
regard, the Patriarch urged to keep away from the westernization of
Russia.

The head of Moscow State University, Viktor Sadovnichy, awarded
Patriarch Kirill with an Honorary Doctorate for his outstanding
contribution to the spiritual education of young people and working
closely with the university.

Speaking at the conference, the speaker of the State Duma Sergei
Naryshkin talked about achievements of the year associated with the
Year of History.

Viktor Sadovnichy and the rector of the Baku branch of the Moscow
State University Nargiz Pashayeva presented reports at the plenary
session of the conference.

A number of renowned academics and scholars took part in the conference.
2012 has been declared the Year of History in Russia. The year of 2012
marks the 1150 years of Russian statehood as well as the 200th
anniversary of the Battle of Borodino and of the War of 1812 in
general.