The International Day of the Russian Language, established by the UN in 2010, is celebrated on June 6—the birth date of the great poet Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin. A year later, in 2011, this holiday received official state status in the Russian Federation.

In Brussels, on September 30, 1999, a monument to the great poet was opened on the square of the same name, following an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and with the support of the International A.S. Pushkin Foundation. The event was timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the poet’s birth.

The monument, created by Georgy Frangulyan, depicts the poet clutching a fatal wound with his hand. Milestones of Pushkin’s life, stylized to look like his manuscripts, are carved onto the bronze pedestal in three languages (Russian, French, and Flemish). The drapery of the sculpture’s clothing resembles the strokes of a quill pen, symbolizing the creative process and the atmosphere in which great works were created.

For many years now, literary readings named after A.S. Pushkin have been held on his birthday. This year, members of the Parents’ Committee at the Russian House took part in the event. Here is what one of the participants wrote:

“On June 6, on Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin’s birthday and the Day of the Russian Language, lines from his works, familiar since childhood, echoed by the monument to the great poet.

The youngest participant of the readings—four-year-old Ulyana Sokolovskaya—recited the famous excerpt from the poem ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’: ‘An oak tree greening by the ocean…’ with great emotion and inspiration.

It was especially pleasant that the wife of the only direct descendant of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was among the guests.

His direct descendants—the poet’s great-grandson and the last bearer of the Pushkin surname, Alexander Alexandrovich Pushkin, alongside his wife Maria Alexandrovna Pushkina-Durnovo, who is also a direct descendant of Nikolai Gogol—currently live in the quiet capital commune of Uccle.

Such gatherings remind us once again that the memory of the great poet continues to live on not only in books, but also in the people who carefully preserve his legacy.

After the readings, the guests headed to the Pushkins’ residence for a traditional tea party, while our youngest participant, having fulfilled her important mission, went home to rest and gather strength for new performances.

We would like to thank the organizers of the Pushkin Readings for the opportunity to connect with the creative heritage of the great poet, and all the participants for their sincere love for poetry and the Russian word.” — Anastasia Sokolovskaya