By Vestnik Kavkaza
The Moscow State University marked its 260th anniversary on January 25. Empress Elizabeth of Russia signed an edict to found the first Russian university on January 25, 1755. Two and a half century later, the MSU became one of the most authoritative universities in Russia and abroad. The Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia served a liturgy at the Christ the Saviour Church on Sunday, dedicated to the Tatiana Day, the Moscow Studenthood Day and the Moscow University; students of the Moscow University and professionals of the Top League had a basketball match. They were followed by traditional mead and an evening gala concert for students at the Fundamental Library, the intellectual center of the MSU. Students presented the star of hero of the Moscow University to Professor Nikolai Yegorov, a WWII veteran, a USSR deputy-minister of education, a biologist. Rectors of Russian universities, members of the RAS, students and post-graduates gathered at a solemn session dedicated to the anniversary of the MSU yesterday to hear the rector and express joy over achievements.
Victor Sadovnichy called his speech “The Moscow University and four centuries of Russian science.”
He said that back in 1600, in the early 17th century, Boris Godunov had proposed the idea to create a university in Moscow. The idea was disapproved, and the university was not founded.
Early 18th century, the reign of Peter the Great. Peter I visits foreign states, Europe, under his real or false names, becomes familiar with education, science, warfare and thinks over their development in Russia. Peter visits Newton, ideates about ways Russia could gain and enforce its power.
Peter starts exchanging letters with renowned German scientist Leibniz, who called him his best scholar. Leibniz writes a letter to Peter I, recommending foundation of a university in Moscow and encouraging creation of an Academy of Sciences in Saint-Petersburg.
The Academy of Sciences was opened in 1724. A few decades later, Lomonosov, who studied in Marburg and Freiburg (speaking of which, the rector of the Universsity of Freiburg attended the MSU anniversary), returns to Russia and presents a project of the Moscow University. He cannot reach to the empress alone. Lomonosov starts exchanging letters with Ivan Shuvalov, an authoritative noble. On January 25, the birthday of Shuvalov’s mother Tatiana, Empress Elizabeth founds the Moscow University.
The 18th century was the Age of Enlightenment. There were more pupils than students at the university at first. In 1778, the university had over 1,000 pupils and only about 80 students. The university adjoins gymnasiums, engages in enlightenment, gains influence.
The university formed sturdy faculties, skilled professors. A first public library was opened, a public print works that published books. The Moskovskiye Vedomosti paper was first published at the Moscow University.
The university faced its first challenge in 1812. The whole medical faculty was closed down, some people were gone for war, some for treating wounded soldiers. Chief Doctor of the Moscow Militia Ilya Gruzinov waas doing surgeries for soldiers at Borodino without rest for several days. He saved lives of thousands of soldiers. When Napoleon fled from Moscow, Gruzinov caught typhoid and died at the age of 32.
