January 9, 2002 Newsletter

Author: Linda DeLaine
Website: RL Online
Department:
Page: 0   ( 0) pages

Summary: 'Suppressed Testament of Lenin,' Christ the Savior Cathedral, Blini, Russian Ladies in Space . . .

RUSSIAN LIFE'S
RUSSIAN CULTURE GUIDE NEWSLETTER

By Linda DeLaine, Editor
January 9, 2002

WHAT'S NEW

Suppressed Testament of Lenin
Complete English text of Trotsky's historic work regarding Lenin's doubts where Stalin was concerned.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Christ the Savior Cathedral & Romanov Canonization
The Russian Orthodox Church Council of Bishops voted in favor of canonization of Tsar Nicholas II and family on August 14, 2000. The ceremony was held in the newly consecrated Christ the Savior Cathedral on Aug. 20. The cornerstone of the cathedral was placed on Christmas, January 7, 1995.

Leading Russia
Our fifth article in the series 100 Young Russians to Watch introduces 10 more young Russian leaders whose ideas and actions are shaping Russia in the new century. Meet mega-popstar Also, a bell maker from Tutaev, an alpinist, an activist, a hockey player, an editor, a jazz musician and more!

Russian Ladies in Space
Soviet cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova and Svetlana Svitskaya made history when they were the first woman in space and first woman to walk in space, respectfully. Elena V. Kondakova represents the new age of Russian Federation cosmonauts as a member of the US/Russian STS-84 crew.

Blini
Traditions of this, so called, Russian pancake and several authentic recipes.

When the Foam Goes Down
Russia's beer-related lingo, idioms and slang.

Favorite 'Russian Life' Back Issue: August 1997
Moscow's 850th Anniversary, In Search of St. George, Altai, Hidden Moscow, Stalin's Moscow

REGULAR FEATURES

Russian Culture Update
Your Update page includes special on-line features such Time Photo Essays, Russia Journal Lifestyle reports, current ruble rate and more. As always, this page is your source for daily headlines, OP/ED, sports and business news.

Today in Russia's History - January
Key events in Russian history for the month of January.

Russian Trivia Quizzes
Introduction to a series of interactive quizzes about Russia's history, events and people.

Leon Trotsky
Complete English text of Trotsky's "The Lessons of October."

PARTING THOUGHTS

From the Mailbag . . . In a recent article, "Alexandra and the Romanovs," I stated that, after Nicholas' 1905 Manifesto, he 'dismantled' the Duma in 1907. A reader, who is a Professor of History, pointed out that this was not the best or most accurate term to use as it infers that the Duma ceased to exist. The Professor's comments offer further clarification and insight as to the events following the Manifesto. I've replaced 'dismantled' with 'restructured' and thank this reader for his input . . .

"What happened then was not a 'dismantling' but a change in the electoral laws (sometimes called "Stolypin's coup") that resulted in the election, in 1907, of a Duma more conservative than its two short-lived predecessors, thus one more acceptable to Nicholas. That Duma, the Third, sat for the full five years to which it was elected, and encouraged the government to make reforms in, among other things, elementary education and the military. It should be pointed out, however, that from the outset the powers of the Duma(s) were sharply limited.

The Fourth Duma was elected in 1912, and continued to function, off and on, for four years; it was still technically in existence early in 1917, when some members of the Duma agreed on the creation of the Provisional Government. On the bases of these developments, especially before the outbreak of World War I in 1914, some people wanted to think that Russia might eventually evolve into a 'real' constitutional monarchy, one in which the cabinet would be responsible to parliament, and in which parliament could initiate legislation."

Alexandra and the Romanovs