The 8th International Conference "Russia and Greece: Dialogues of Cultures" Was Successfully Held at PetrSU
The conference was organized by the Institute of Philology at PetrSU and the Department of Russian Philology and Slavic Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Joint preparations for the conference strengthened the long-standing and fruitful academic collaboration between the two countries and universities.
Welcoming remarks were addressed by Andrei Mikhailovich Maslov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Hellenic Republic; Vladimir Sergeyevich Sunev, Vice-Rector for Research at PetrSU; Oksana Gennadyevna Abramova, Director of the Institute of Philology; Tatyana Stanislavovna Borisova, Chair of the Department of Russian Philology and Slavic Studies at the University of Athens; Maya Mikhailovna Kislova, Co-Founder of the Department of Classical Philology at PetrSU; and Priest Viktor Zarovnyaev, Head of the Missionary Department of the Petrozavodsk and Karelia Diocese.
The conference was attended by 88 researchers in philology, history, and cultural studies from Russia, Greece, and China. The scientific program was extremely rich and diverse, including a plenary session and five thematic sections in in-person, blended, and online formats. Particular attention in the presentations and discussions was given to the scholarly legacy of Professor T.G. Malchukova, whose work and scholarship laid the foundation for the development of classical philology at PetrSU.
The plenary session and panels discussed a wide range of topics, including the reception of classical heritage in Russian and European culture, the influence of Byzantine spirituality and writing on the Russian intellectual tradition, translation issues, language contacts and diachronic studies in Greek and Russian, the history of Russian-Greek relations, images of Ancient Greece in the works of Russian writers, artists, and composers, and current issues in contemporary Neo-Hellenistic studies.
A key part of the program was the youth section, where undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from various cities in the two countries presented their first academic research, demonstrating the continuity of generations and the keen interest of young people in the centuries-old dialogue between Russia and Greece.
The conference contributes to the strengthening of scientific ties between Russia and Greece and clearly demonstrates how the rich heritage of Hellenism continues to inspire and unite researchers around the world.
A trip to Russia's first resort, "Martial Waters," was organized for out-of-town conference participants.
Ekaterina Vladimirovna Antonets, Doctor of Philology, Lomonosov Moscow State University:
“On behalf of the Department of Classical Philology at Lomonosov Moscow State University, we sincerely thank our colleagues from Petrozavodsk State University for organizing and hosting the 8th International Conference "Russia and Greece: Dialogues of Cultures." The conference brought together philologists of various disciplines, historians, and art historians from many cities across Russia and abroad, and was held in a warm atmosphere of lively scholarly exchange. A huge thank you to the organizers—the faculty and students—for the warm welcome, the opportunity to learn about the results of new, diverse research on the history of Russian-Greek cultural relations, and the fascinating excursion! We wish our friendly department creative success and every prosperity!
Theodora Giannitsi, PhD in History, Director of the Greek Cultural Center in Moscow:
“We express our gratitude to the organizers for the invitation, for the opportunity to speak and interact with the audience. We sincerely congratulate you on such a successful event and wish you continued success in this lofty mission, so important, significant, relevant, and meaningful in our time!
Tatyana Georgievna Popova, Leading Researcher, Doctor of Philosophy, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University:
“Thank you so much for your work! I'm glad I came to you, and God willing, I'll be back again. My soul will beckon me here. I loved everything. I was deeply impressed. It's difficult to express the storm of emotions. It was an encounter with Beauty in the highest sense (you have very beautiful people, both externally and internally). Thank God, everything worked out well!
Vladimir Aleksandrovich Goncharov, PhD in History, Voronezh State University:
“The conference was distinguished by its interdisciplinary and multifaceted nature: there were researchers from Greece and from various Russian cities, and most importantly, representatives of various academic fields. As a historian, I was very interested to hear the philologists present their papers on the reception of ancient Greek images and motifs in modern literature. Although the subject matter may seem different, they discussed topics that I understand well and find interesting. Unfortunately, I participated online, but there were no technical difficulties. Thank you very much again!
Anton Andreevich Nikitin, graduate student at the Institute of International Relations, History, and Oriental Studies at Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University:
“This was a highly engaging and informative event, bringing together talented Hellenists and Byzantinists from across the country. Many thanks to the dedicated scholars of Hellas who formed a "scholarly republic" for a few hours!
Tatyana Stanislavovna Borisova, Doctor of Philology, PhD, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens:
“Thank you so much for your tremendous, dedicated work! The conference was a success... I'm receiving enthusiastic letters from my colleagues.
Yulia Gennadyevna Dorofeeva, PhD in Philology, Saratov National Research State University named after N.G. Chernyshevsky:
“The conference was, as always, held at a high level. It brought together classical philologists from across the country—from St. Petersburg to Novosibirsk—and allowed them to exchange experiences and opinions. It's especially gratifying that the discussions are held on an equal footing: the narrow focus attracts specialists in their field, and everyone listens with interest and asks questions. The meticulous research (many of the materials studied are poorly preserved, scattered, and collected piecemeal) and the commitment to the scientific community of the conference participants are admirable. The warmth of the organizers and participants is certainly heartwarming: many are participating in the conference again, and the meetings, both online and offline, develop into friendly conversations.
The organizers thank all the participants and moderators for their productive work and significant contribution to the success of the event.
Special thanks to fourth-year classical students Katarina Solomennikova, Arina Abramova, Maria Zhukova, Ksenia Borisova, and Galina Ustinova, and third-year students Mila Petrova, Dana Rumyantseva, and Sofia Simonova for their assistance in organizing the conference.
The organizers would like to thank the administration of the "Boiling Point - Petrozavodsk" Center for the welcoming space that hosted the plenary session and several sections.
