Current Moscow Time: 12:13:1919 June 2013
The world’s biggest country, in a magazine. Since 1956.
Russian Life: May/June 2009
Cover: Katya Korobkina
7: Olympian Drama
The mayoral election in Sochi sets the stage for the 2014 Winter Olympics, and for municipal democracy.
Note Book
19: The Deportation of Peoples
This is the 55th anniversary of the peak period of Soviet deportation of national groups.
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Russian Calendar
20: Singing in the Rain
Forecasting the weather in Russia is a national sport. And a fertile ground for linguistic growth.
:: Illustrations/Images by Victor Bogorad
Survival Russian
24: Sergius of Radonezh
What do we really know about Sergius of Radonezh, Russia's patron saint? What is he venerated for, and why?
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Russian Calendar
26: Poltava
Russia's victory over Sweden at the Battle of Poltava was geopolitically very significant, while the feast that took place amid the carnage was obscene...
:: Translation by Nora Favorov
Russian Calendar
29: 100 Things Everyone Should Know About Russia
In honor of this, our 100th issue since July 1995, we went in search of 100 Things Everyone Should Know About Russia. We returned with over 300 and packed them into this colorful, browsable feature. Time to test yourself! The 16-page feature includes contributions from Stanislav Shvabrin, John Freedman, Maria Antonova, Darra Goldstein, Jeanmarie Rouhier-Willoughby, Tamara Eidelman, Marcus Levitt and Laura Williams, with wonderful original illustrations by Katya Korobkina.
:: Illustrations/Images by Katya Korobkina
Features
45: Zaryade: Moscow Quiet Nook
A cobblestone’s throw from the Kremlin walls, there was once a rabbit-warren of crooked streets and tall buildings called Zaryade. For a time, it was the capital's Old Town and considered a prestigious place of residence. Neglected, the area deteriorated in the 20th century and most of it was torn down. But the memories remain.
:: Translation by Peter Morley
Features
52: Cultural Clones
Be it in films, literature, television, music or art, Russia has a long tradition of cloning western (and eastern) cultural icons and making them its own. We survey several of the more interesting and recent instances, from Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh, to The Wheel of Fortune and Big Brother.
:: Translation by Deborah Hoffman
Features
58: Faith in Progress
One fine spring day, a new telephone appeared in the village of Chukhrai. A beautiful thing. But it connected to no one or no thing.
Notes from a Russian Village
60: Meals from the Heart
Sometimes the simplest foods offer the most sublime and satisfying of gustatory experiences.
Cuisine
62: Into the Screening Room
Where we review four recent films from or about Russia and a new television series appearing on PBS.
Under Review
64: Completing the Circle
We check back in with Nikolai Gernet, on how the economic crisis is affecting Arkhangelsk oblast.
:: Translation by Paul E. Richardson
Post Script
65: Uchites 03
The third edition of our Uchites language insert, sponsored by Russkiy Mir Foundation, uses the theme of plagiarism to explore grammar, build vocabulary and facility in reading Russian.
Language