✍️ Today is the Day of Slavic Literature and Culture - tied to the Feast Day of St. Cyril and Methodius - the creators of the Slavonic script.

According to various estimates, today the Slavic group includes 10 to 18 languages spoken by over 400+ mln people.

🎓 #OTD , in 1879, famous Russian novelist Ivan #Turgenev received an Honorary Doctorate from University of Oxford, becoming the world’s first writer to have such an award bestowed upon him.

This prestigious recognition was a testament to Turgenev's immense contribution to literature.

🔔 #OTD in 1769 – 2️⃣5️⃣5️⃣ years ago – the iconic bell of Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin was cast – 2200 kg heavy!

Muscovites & its guests hear the chimes strike every day & every hour. The #NewYear countdown is of special importance 🥂

☦️ #OTD in 1524 – 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ years ago, to the day – the Novodevichy Convent, most revered monastery in Moscow, was founded.

It is famous for its Moscow Baroque style, key political & cultural-religious role in Russia's history.

Btw, since 2004 it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🏛 #OTD in 1856, the renowned Tretyakov gallery was founded in Moscow.

🖼 Today it is among the best museums in the world — №24 by popularity as of 2023 — with an amazing collection of Russian fine art, comprising 200'000+ exhibits.

Shishkin, Vasnetsov, Serov, Vrubel' and more! 🫶

☕️ Happy International #TeaDay !

Tea is the most popular beverage in the world & in Russia, second only to potable water.

☝️Russian tea-drinking culture is rich and diverse - traditionally it involved the #samovar .

🍒 We still do like to sip tea with #varenye aka fruit jam.

🚢 #OTD in 1903, Russian river tanker Vandal, world's first diesel-powered ship (!), was floated out in Nizhny Novgorod.

Vandal's diesel engines were a significant advancement in naval engineering, offering a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to steam power.

🧊 On May 21, Russia celebrates Polar Explorer Day!

Today we cherish many generations of professionals who dared to overcome the impossible, heading to the remotest regions on Earth to collect valuable scientific data and help preserve the unique nature.

And did so in style!

✍️ #OTD in 1924 Soviet & Russian writer Boris #Vasilyev was born. At the age of 17 he volunteered to fight the Nazis.

📖 He’s the author of bestseller 'The Dawns Here Are Quiet' novel which was made into a 1972 cinema masterpiece, highlighting true female heroism during #WWII .

✈️ #OTD in 1977 the legendary #Su27 performed its maiden flight.

The combination of maneuverability, performance & reliability makes it one of the most successful military aircraft to date.

It spawned an entire family of combat aircraft: Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, Su-35 & even Su-37.

🐝 Happy #BeeDay everyone.

Reminder: Bees crucial to the planet's ecosystems.

#DYK ?

🌼 bees pollinate ~90% of flowering plants,
🥞 if not bees, we wouldn't enjoy blinis with honey & Russian mead.

🗓 #OTD in 1916 the legendary flying ace, Hero of the Soviet Union Alexey #Maresyev was born.

Despite losing his feet following an air battle, he persevered & against all odds returned to active duty.

🎥 Watch 'The Tale of a Real Man' based on his novelized life story.

👨‍🎨 #OTD in 1888, one of the founders of Palekh art, which emerged on the basis of icon painting, Nikolai #Zinoviev was born.

🤝 Being a talented teacher, he mentored and nurtured many generations of Palekh master crafters & artists.

#OTD in 1953, Shavarsh Karapetyan, Soviet 11-time diving world record holder, was born

Known for his prowess & real-life heroism: dove into water ~40 times to rescue 20 people from a sinking bus.

💬 In difficult moments like this, your love for fellow humans grows even stronger

🗓 #OTD in 1712 Peter the Great moved the capital from Moscow to #StPetersburg & declared a new vision for the country – modern & progressive.

🏛 Until 1918 #StPetersburg , then Petrograd was the capital & till nowadays it remains one of the greatest cities in the world.

🎬 #OTD in 1980, Tarkovsky's #Stalker premiered.

💬 He once said: 'I prepared for this film all my life, & shot in 2 years”.

ℹ️ Based on the Strugatsky brothers' 'Roadside Picnic', the plot unfolds in an exclusion zone, where supposedly a wish fulfilling room is located.

🛰 #OTD in 1961 #Soviet space probe #Venera1 became the first man-made object to perform a flyby of Venus.

The spacecraft gathered valuable scientific data, paved way for further exploration of the planet.

🌌 Stay tuned for Russia's next mission to Venus, set to launch in 2031!

🗓 #OTD in 1958 the Soviet film 'The cranes are flying' by Mikhail Kalatazov won the Palme d'Or at #Cannes .

It’s a drama about #WWII with no single frame of battle & with no bloody horrors of the Nazis crimes.

🎥 But it's impossible to watch without bursting into tears…

🛳Meet #Kronstadt !

Founded #OTD in 1704 near St.Petersburg, it's considered one of the main Russia's naval bases⚓️

❤️Its gorgeous centre with a cathedral is on the UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 World Heritage list. And 17 mighty sea forts add flavour, each one different

Happy Birthday, Kronstadt🎉

⚔️ #OTD in 1801, famous bronze monument to the 🇷🇺 Russian undefeated military genius, Field-Marshal Alexander #Suvorov was unveiled in Saint Petersburg.

#DYK ❓ It is an object of cultural heritage and Russia's first monument dedicated to a person outside the royal family.