Students' Day (Tatian Day)

And on their holiday, some students do not cease to study conscientiouslyTraditionally, it is considered a celebration of students. The history of this holiday as a student began in the 18th century, when on January 25, 1755, on the day of the Great Martyr Tatiana, the Russian Empress Elizabeth signed the “Decree on the establishment of a university and two gymnasiums in Moscow”. And the text of the Decree was written by Ivan Shuvalov, the favorite of the Empress and a friend of Lomonosov. Under the Moscow University identified a three-storey building on Red Square at the Resurrection Gate. In the late 1790s, the construction of a special building for the university on Mokhovaya Street was completed, in which its own church was equipped in the name of the holy martyr Tatiana.

The Day of the Angel of All Orthodox Tatiana acquired a new content, and now this holiday was celebrated not only by believers, but also by students. January 25 became the day of all students, and St. Tatiana began to be considered the patroness of students, and from Tatiana-martyr became for students Tatiana University.

In the 18th and early 19th centuries, this day was celebrated in the prayer service of the university church as the “Day of the Foundation of Moscow University”. In the 18th century, Tatiana Day was celebrated with pomp, as it was an official and new-fangled holiday, year after year accompanied by solemn speeches, congratulations and feasts.

The celebration conditionally consisted of two parts: an official ceremony with the indispensable presence of venerable professors and honorary members of the university administration, students and graduates of the university who came from all over Russia. After the prayer service, the academic report and the speech of the rector, everyone got up, sang the national anthem, and then went to the golden capital places, where the real carnival began.

Initially, the holiday was an official university holiday, but gradually it began to enjoy success among all students, and about the second half of the XIX century there was a tradition of revelry on this day of the entire student brotherhood. Including Belarus.

In the historical context, January 25 is primarily the Day of the Holy Martyr Tatiana. As the daughter of a rich Roman, she chose the path of spiritual development and became a deaconess of the Roman Church. She cared for the sick, helped the poor, but for her faith in Jesus Christ she was sentenced to martyrdom.

Times have changed, traditions of celebration have changed, but the essence of the holiday has not changed, it remains one of the favorite days of students. And Tatiana Day is not only a holiday for students. It is a celebration of all those who, regardless of nationality and age, still feel the spirit of students! And let’s under the motto: “Let’s be cheerful and drunk on the day of the beautiful Tatiana” cheerfully and noisily celebrate this holiday.