Program of Novgorod the Great 1150th Anniversary “Birthplace of Russia”

What we, Russians, are is the merit of the Novgorodians living in the earliest days of the Russian history.
D.C. Likhachev

Calendar of events

1. The main events commemorating the 1150th anniversary of Novgorod the Great foundation, scheduled for September 19-20th, 2009

2. Other events held as part of the preparation for and celebration of the 1150th anniversary of Novgorod the Great in 2007 to 2009

3. Events of international Hanseatic days XXIX of the New times hosted by Novgorod the Great and scheduled for June 18-21, 2009

The main events
commemorating the 1150th anniversary of Novgorod the Great foundation
September 19-22, 2009

Day 1: “Birthplace of Russia”. The central theme is the birth and evolution of the Russian state whose centuries-long history is depicted in the Monument to the Millennium of Russia.

Day 2: “Treasury of Russia”. The central theme is economic relations and cultural ties of the Novgorodians from the ancient times to the present days.

Day 3: “Praise of wisdom”. The central theme is the role of Novgorod the Great as the most ancient center of the Russian Orthodox, the repository of spirituality, wisdom and knowledge.

The following images of Novgorod the Great shall underlie all celebration events:

1. The birthplace of the Russian state and democracy;
2. The repository of the millennial Russian culture and the most ancient center of the Russian Orthodox;
3. The center of international collaboration and trade;
4. An open, clean and safe modern Russian city.

Along with the officially programmed events, it is planned to make the most of the city’s concert and performance venues. They are to host modern-art and classical performances of creative and artistic companies from Novgorod the Great, Novgorod Oblast, other Russian and European cities. The festivities will also include a variety of exhibitions, festivals and competitions designed for people of different age.

The main events will be organized in such a manner as to live up to the highest standards and be in compliance with the principles of democracy and accessibility for all citizens and guests of Novgorod the Great.

The national status and significance of the event will be accentuated by the presence and participation therein of the top leaders of the country, including the President of the Russian Federation and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Day 1. “Birthplace of Russia”

September 19 (Saturday)

In the mid-9th century, Novgorod became an arena of the political events which laid the foundation for the Old Russian state. Before 1917, these events, the so-called “invitation of the Varangians” and the formation of Russian domain, had been referred to as the date of the Russian state foundation in the official historiography. No wonder that in 1862, in memory of Rurik’s invitation Emperor Alexander II ordered to erect the grand monument “Millennium of Russia” in the center of the Novgorod Kremlin. Shaped as Monomach’s Cap and the Veche bell, the monument was designed to symbolize the Russian state and democracy. Moreover, it is in Novgorod that the word “Russia” was first used with reference to the country in January, 1478.

The central events of the first day of the anniversary will be connected with the theme of the foundation and development of the Russian state.

Plot lines of the day

Opening of the Ancient Marketplace (Torg) in the Yaroslavovo Dvorische with the program “Guests’ gatherings”. Procession of the invited cities’ delegations across the pedestrian bridge from Market side to Sophia side, the Kremlin and the Monument “the Millennium of Russia”.

The formal opening ceremony will take place at the Monument to the Millennium of Russia, followed by the address of the President of the Russian Federation to the guests and all the citizens of Russia (direct TV broadcasting).

The President of the Russian Federation, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, other top leaders of the country, honorary citizens of Novgorod the Great, clubs of historic restoration, brass bands, symphony orchestras and delegations of the invited cities are expected to participate in the festivities of the day

The exhibition “Origins of the Russian state” will be opened in the building of the former government agencies (existent in Russia before the Revolution) in the Novgorod Kremlin. Among other things, the exhibition will present objects of the State Historic Museum related to the foundation and development of the Russian state.

The session of the State Council of the Russian Federation is to be held.

In the afternoon, creative and artistic companies from the invited cities will present an entertainment show in Sophia Square.

In the evening the President of the Russian Federation and the Governor of Novgorod Oblast will give a solemn reception during which titles and prizes will be awarded. The reception will be held in the Dostoevsky regional academic theater of drama. Besides, V.I. Fedoseev’s symphony orchestra will give a concert in the Kremlin.

The festivities of the day will culminate in theatrical performances and fireworks combined with a laser show near the Kremlin wall and the pedestrian bridge across the Volkhov.

Day 2. “Treasury of Russia”

September 20 (Sunday)

Since the very youth, Novgorod the Great has been famous for its craftsmen and extensive trade. Laid at the crossroads of trade routes, it has always been the center of economic and cultural relations.

In the ancient times Novgorod stood as a trading post on the famous route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”. In the 14th to the 15th centuries, it cooperated with the Hansa — the largest trade union in Europe composed of trading guilds from North European countries.

The second day of the anniversary will highlight the Novgorodians’ centuries-long relations with the neighbors.

The program “Guests’ gatherings” will bring spotlight to Novgorod’s traditions, handicrafts, trade, economy and culture from the ancient times to the present days. The display will be arranged in the ancient Marketplace or Torg of Novgorod. The variety and significance of the present-day Novgorod’s relations will be presented in the Marketplace too in the form of the exhibition market arranged by the invited cities, partner cities and sister cities.

Plot lines of the day

The day will begin will a Festival morning liturgy in the St. Sophia Cathedral, the Novgorod Kremlin.

The program “Guests’ gatherings” in the Yaroslavovo Dvorische will be continued. The trade and open-air celebrations in the ancient Marketplace will be accompanied by the arrival of merchants and fishermen from the Lake Ilmen, skomorokhs’ funs and frolics, folk theater performances and horseplays, the sale of food and handicraft within the scope of the National cuisine festival and the Fair of folk handicraft.

The opening of the festival of the national traditional game “Funny town” in the Yaroslavovo Dvorische. Visitors will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with medieval Russian and European folk games.

The opening of the archaeological exhibition “Town under the town” in the Desyatinny monastery.

The Festival of sand sculptures “Bylinny town” in the beach in front of the Kremlin will represent modern art to the public.

The ceremony of the establishment of Novgorod the Great 1150th Anniversary park will take place in the west of the city. The invited cities’ delegations will participate in the ceremony by bringing soil and planting a tree of life in it – a century-age oak symbolizing the unity of the past, the present and the future of Novgorod the Great and Russia.

Meanwhile a modern sports complex will be opened in the city. The event is intended to show a visible result of the federal and regional government targeted policy on support and development of popular sports, health and life quality improvement in the city.

The citizens will become witnesses of a theatrical procession and a showy display of achievements of enterprises and organizations based in Novgorod the Great and Novgorod Oblast.

A choir concert will be held in the auditorium of the Kremlin and near the St. Sophia Cathedral.

The historic restoration clubs plan to stage a Festival with two pageantry programs “Assembly of military druzhins” and “Old Russian firing range”. The festival will be held in the southern part of the Kremlin.

The summer outdoor stage of Kremlin Park will become a venue of the Interregional youth festival of the patriotic song “Russia” – a traditional event for Novgorod the Great.

The aviation show will be staged in the sky over the Volkhov.

The Putevoy palace of Empress Catherine II will become a venue of the Festival of ballroom dancing “Ekaterininskiye balls”.

The cultural and entertainment program “Melodies and rhythms of the 20th century” in Sophia square will begin with the festival of brass bands and will end in a brilliant concert of Russian popular performing artists.

The historic center of the city will have a cluster of celebration venues. The Novgorodians and the guests of the city will have the opportunity to enjoy pageants representing the everyday life and customs of the ancient citizens as well as to take part in folk games, funs and frolics of the brave and in creating handicrafts.

Day 3. “Praise of wisdom”

September 21 (Monday)

Novgorod the Great is the most ancient center of the Russian Orthodox, the largest Old Russian center of education, book writing and reading and the repository of the centuries-long Russian culture. A noteworthy fact: in the 11th to 12th centuries, after several decades of Christianization the population of Novgorod was nearly 100 % literate. Russia’s most ancient stone church, the Cathedral of St. Sophia has always been the symbol of the Orthodox in Russia and Novgorod has always been a site of pilgrimage of Orthodox Christians from all over the world. If there is Sophia, there is Novgorod there, the ancient folk said.

The St. Sophia Cathedral in the Kremlin will serve as the central venue of the events.

Plot lines of the day

Hierarchs from cities with St. Sophia Cathedrals are invited to visit Novgorod the Great and participate in the celebration. They will hold a conference and a joint service in Novgorod’s Sophia and go in a Crucession around the Kremlin.

A special exhibition focused on the history of the book and enlightenment in Russia will be opened in the regional universal scientific library of Novgorod. The Kremlin will also host a book fair “History of Russia” which will be open for several days after the end of the celebration.

At the same time, the 7th interregional festival of bell music “Zlatozarny zvony” (gold shiny ringing) will begin in the bell tower. Choirs and leading choruses from all over Russia will take part in the festival.

Another important cultural event will be the inauguration of the monument to S.V. Rachmaninoff, a great Russian composer, who was born in the Novgorod land and whose name was given to the school of music and the regional arts college of Novgorod the Great. The monument will be set up in Kremlin Park, and a piano concert will be held in the regional philharmonic hall on this occasion.

Other events

On the eve of the main anniversary events, the Week of the historical film will be held.

On arrival of official delegations and cultural groups (September 18, Friday) the Governor of Novgorod Oblast and the Mayor of Novgorod the Great will give a formal reception.

Closing awards ceremonies of literature, artistic, musical and other contests and competitions related to the anniversary will take place in concert halls and arts centers of the city.

The Union of the cities of Central and North-Western Russia will hold an interregional exhibition of children’s creative works.

The stadiums (Volna and Tsentralny) and other sports venues of the city will host competitions, games, exhibitions by distinguished athletes and the festival of street sports.

The traditional rowing regatta “Youth” and the open regional sailing championship organized by the Club of young sailors will take place in the Volkhov water area and the Lake Ilmen.

The park to the 30th anniversary of the October revolution will become a stage for events organized by the city’s youth subcultures within the scope of the program “Park of the Young Period”. The festivities will include a rock concert, a break-dance festival, a club music festival and extreme sports shows.

Reviving the traditions of the Veche and developing the ideas of the anniversary, the youth social forum “New Veche” will be held in the city. The participants of the Forum will include representatives of the youth human rights, environmental, political, religious public organizations and movements, representatives of the Public chamber of the Russian Federation.

The International press center will be responsible for gathering news, photo materials and video records coming from all the city’s celebrations venues. Reports about the most important anniversary events will be broadcasted on large screens installed in different areas of the city.