Interview with H.E. Mr Timur Eyvazov

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Slovenia

Christmas in Russia is normally celebrated calendars and intent of the Russian Orthodox on 7. We would very much like to Church to maintain tradition. learn and to write about how Russians have This year’s celebration is different for all a different tradition in our Christians. The pandemic doesn’t care whether January issue of our newsletter. But how you’re a Catholic or an Orthodox Christian. In will this year’s Christmas be different for accordance with the restrictions imposed by you and your family amid the COVID many Governments, we are going to celebrate pandemic-related restrictions? How will you this year in the family circles. However, this is a celebrate? family Holiday per se, so basically, in this case I would like to use this opportunity and wish all celebration will take place despite the of the SILA IWCL members a Merry Christmas pandemic. Nevertheless, I am trying to stay and a Happy New Year! Your slogan optimistic and hope that the festive mood will TOGETHER! seems like the best motivational not be affected by the COVID-19 situation. word describing the aspiration of the world community these days! According to Do you fnd the Slovene cuisine much community these days! According to an different from the Russian? In particular the ancient tradition, Russian Orthodox Christmas festive dishes? is celebrated on the 7th of January and not Well, let me tell you that Russians as well as only in Russia. Serbia, for example among Slovene people defnitely know how to many others, is celebrating Christmas on the celebrate. The decoration of the festive table in very same day. Approximately 12 percent of Russia varies from family to family, as I am quite the world Christians up to date adhere to this sure it is in Slovenia. As far as the Russian practice. The origin of this tradition lies in the Orthodox Christmas is concerned, the main discrepancy between the Julian and Gregorian rule of the evening, preceding Christmas day – the or Sochel’nik in Russian – is

that you are “not allowed” to taste any food Christmas is full of symbolism. For example, before the frst star arises in the sky. The reason white cloth is used for dinner tables to for that is - Orthodox Christians are fasting for symbolize purity and the cloth that baby over a month before Christmas. The ration is was wrapped in. Candles are lit to represent very limited (dried fruits, nuts, vegetables, no the light of Christ. Straw may be placed on the meat or dairy products). According to the old festive tables to symbolize the simplicity of the tradition, when the star arises and brings an place where Jesus was born. Again, Christmas end to the fasting you can begin celebrating festive dishes represent the end of fasting and by having the frst Christmas dish – sochivo call for celebration of life. (the name derives from the word sochelnik). It is made of wheat grains, honey, shelled We would like to celebrate Russian walnuts, poppy seeds and raisins. Then you Christmas together with you. So which can enjoy other Christmas dishes that pretty traditional Russian delicious treats would much resemble the ones that Catholics put on you recommend to have on our table? their tables – goose or duck with apples, Thank you for upholding the Christmas mood. roasted potatoes and cabbage, I hope that with the improvement of the etc. epidemiological situation we can sit at one table and celebrate together. This might be actually a very interesting idea in terms of promoting your work and our cultural traditions. Though this year we all stay at home, I would recommend another dish that our readers might enjoy during festive season. It is called kolyadki. Not to be bothering you with the thorough description of the recipe I am going to describe the idea behind the dish. Basically kolyadki are stuffed open dough bags. But special ones - as they are baked to please the koledari - Slavik traditional performers of a ceremony called koleduvane, a kind of Christmas caroling. The koledari carolers traditionally start their rounds at midnight on Christmas Eve. They visit the houses of their relatives, neighbors and friends. They sing carols and wish health, wealth and happiness. In order for their wishes to come true, you have to give them kolyadki.

Of course, due to the current restrictions, it is one or two. I must say, our nations are very out of the questions now, but you can save this lucky to have such a diverse landscape in our tradition for the better times. home countries - sea, mountains, valleys, rivers. Probably I would go to Lake Bled as What are your greatest hopes for 2021? soon as the situation permits. The unique Have you got any special New Year wishes? beauty of this location is truly magnifying. My greatest hope for the coming year would be that the people of the world are healthy. You have recently visited a number of There has been a major breakthrough with the faculties in Slovenia. The quality of Russian development of the “Sputnik V” vaccine in the education is known all over the world. How Russian Federation. It has already been d o y o u s e e t h e o p p o rt u n i t i e s f o r registered in Russia and is on the list of the international cooperation in research and World Health Organization as one of the best study between Slovenia and Russia? vaccine candidates. Other countries have This is a very acute topic. As you may well introduced their own vaccines. We keep our know, in November 2017, the branch of the fngers crossed and hope that these will be the Moscow State University (MSU) was opened in ultimate remedy against the COVID-19 virus. Koper. The formal basis for establishing this unique entity is the cooperation agreement What has been your most memorable between the University of Primorska and the moment in Slovenia so far? Have you any MSU. The uniqueness of the interaction is the favorite places you look forward to possibility for the students to obtain a double revisiting once travelling is permitted master’s degree - namely of both the again? University of Primorska and the Moscow State It has been a year since I assumed my dyties as University in various felds, for example the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to economics and fnance. Slovenia. Before restrictions were introduced I Cooperation between our Universities is have visited many beautiful places in your developing very well. To answer your question picturesque country. It is quite diffcult to pick - the opportunities are vast. We defnitely welcome the interest of the students of Slovenia and Russia to further strengthen ties between our two friendly nations.

As somebody who is passionate about education, how do you see the role of education in overcoming

the current crisis caused by the pandemic? worldwide. What are the ways we can Well, in my opinion, if it wasn’t for the collaborate together in the new year? Universities and their research, the vaccine would not have been developed. As they used Thank you for such a nice compliment to to say during Soviet times: “Knowledge is Russia. I couldn't agree more! In terms of our Strength!” I assume it is some kind of a cooperation, the Embassy of the Russian “universal wisdom”. The more educated the Federation in Ljubljana traditionally supports world becomes, the less tragedies we are the yearly Charity Bazaar successfully going to experience, be it in the fght against organized by the SILA IWCL. Sadly, this year the pandemic, or any other ill that is trying to because of the pandemic the event did not cause instability – terrorism, neo-Nazism, you take place. I think the annual Bazaar is a name it. remarkable tradition. We would certainly like to continue the Embassy’s participation in your Russia is a country with a very strong outstanding work in the future. cultural heritage and cultural customs that have existed for centuries. Russian Interview from December 2020, frst achievements in music, theater, visual arts published in the SILA IWCL “Together” and in the feld of literature are recognized Newsletter on 5.01.2021