From visual arts to Orthodox spirituality, explore the pillars of Russian culture
Visual Arts
Russian Visual Arts: A Thousand Years of Creation
A comprehensive panorama of Russian visual art from medieval icons to diaspora artists in Western Europe, including the Perestroïk'art collection and Germano-Russian painters.
Music
Russian Music: Orthodox Choirs, Classical Composers and Folk Traditions
A deep dive into the richness of Russian music: from the Znamenny chant of Orthodox liturgy to Glinka, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, including Russian choirs in Western Europe.
Literature
Russian Literature: The Great Tradition from Pushkin to the Present
A panorama of Russian literary greatness: from Pushkin and the Golden Age to the dissident poets, Nobel Prize winners in exile, and the challenges of translating Russian into European languages.
Diaspora
The Russian Diaspora in Europe: From White Russian Exile to Modern Communities
A historical and contemporary portrait of Russian emigration in Europe: the four waves of exile, Cardinal Mercier's role in Belgium, Orthodox communities, and cultural associations active today.
Traditions
Russian Traditions: From Cossack Culture to Orthodox Celebrations
A guide to the essential traditions of Russian culture: the Cossacks, the samovar, Orthodox celebrations from Christmas to Maslenitsa, the bania ritual, and Russian folk crafts.
Spirituality
Orthodox Spirituality in Russia: Liturgy, Icons and the Living Faith
A guide to Russian Orthodox spirituality: the historical journey from the Baptism of Rus to the post-Soviet revival, the theology of the icon, monastic life, and the diaspora church in the West.
Language
The Russian Language: History, Cyrillic Alphabet and Learning Guide
A complete guide to the Russian language: from the creation of the Cyrillic script by Saints Cyril and Methodius to modern learning methods, and the role of Russian as a cultural key.
Cinema
Russian Cinema and Theatre: A Century of Artistic Excellence
A panorama of Russian excellence in cinema and theatre: Eisenstein's revolutionary montage, Stanislavski's Method, Soviet classics, Tarkovsky's spiritual cinema, and the Ballets Russes.
History
Russian History: Key Events from the Founding of Rus to the Present
A comprehensive history of Russia from the founding of Kievan Rus to the present: the Mongol invasion, Peter the Great's reforms, the 1917 Revolution, the Soviet era, and post-Soviet Russia.
Culture
Understanding Russia: Key Cultural Concepts Every Visitor Should Know
An exploration of the five untranslatable Russian concepts essential for understanding Russian culture: toska (spiritual longing), doucha (soul), mir (world/commune/peace), avos' (fatalistic hope) and intelligentsia.
Ballets Russes and Diaghilev: When Russian Dance Revolutionized Western Art
From Sergei Diaghilev to Nijinsky, the Ballets Russes upended Western dance, music, and stage design in the early 20th century — a total artistic revolution.
Festive Russian Cuisine: Interview with a Zakuski and Blini Specialist Chef
A chef specializing in festive Russian cuisine details the secrets of zakuski, blini-making, and the art of setting a traditional Russian table.
Restoring the Orthodox Icon: Interview with a Specialist Conservator-Restorer
A conservator-restorer specializing in Russian icons shares her daily work: technical gestures, ethical restoration dilemmas, and passing on a fragile sacred heritage.
Matryoshka: Symbol and Craftsmanship of Russian Folk Art
An icon of Russian craftsmanship, the matryoshka tells far more than a painted wooden doll's story: skilled craft, family symbolism, and a slice of Russian folk history.
The Dacha: Lifestyle, History, and Garden in Russian Culture
Far more than a second home, the dacha is a full Russian way of life: subsistence gardening, summer sociability, and an escape from the city dating back to Tsarist times.
Samovar: History, Function, and the Russian Tea Ritual
The samovar, Russia's traditional tea kettle, has shaped the social tea ritual for centuries. History, function, and etiquette of this living tradition.