3 October 2011

A parade on Vasilevsky Spusk in Moscow marked the closing of the “Lomonosov wagon-train” cultural and educational project dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Mikhail Lomonosov. This event was the culmination of a ten day journey of 300 students from Arkhangelsk, Moscow, Vologda, Yaroslavl regions - and Moscow itself.

"Lomonosov wagon-train: a journey from Kholmogor to Moscow” is an interregional project that has brought these five regions together. The project was proposed by the students and teachers of the Lomonosov School in Moscow. The Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region Ilya Mikhalchuk decided to support their initiative, and the event was included in the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of M.V. Lomonosov. At the ceremony, Deputy Governor Alexander Mirella proposed that the event be made annual, expanding its geography and scope.

The march began on September 21 in the homeland of the great scientist - the Kholmogor District of the Arkhangelsk Region. For ten days the participants of the march, succeeding one another, traced the 1261 kilometer route that the young Lomonosov had once taken himself. They visited the scientist’s homeland - Lomonosov village - and witnessed firsthand that which represents the roots of Pomeranian history and folk culture, and visited the ancient cities and villages Lomonosov had passed on his journey.

Upon arrival in Moscow the wagon-train congregated into a grand procession on the Moscow River embankment along the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral. There they were met by three thousand Moscow schoolchildren, university students and members of the public. The ceremony was attended by representatives of all five regions, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Federal Agency for Tourism, the State Duma, as well as the Social Project Fund of Oleg Deripaska’s Volnoe Delo Foundation, one of the largest charitable organizations in Russia.

Afterwards the participants marched through Red Square to the Department of Journalism (Moscow State University), where an award ceremony honoring the young Lomonosovs was held. Alexander Mirelli presented the students with certificates and commemorative medals. Rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy presented each of the project participants with a unique catalog filled with reproductions of portraits of M. Lomonosov from the State University’s collection, and the CEO of Volnoe Delo Foundation presented them with laptops.

"The boys and girls who have come to Moscow with the “Lomonosov wagon-train” are doing this for the same reasons the great scientist had once made the journey himself: to study, to learn science and to overcome advesity. This is why the doors of Moscow University will always be open for them!” - said Victor Sadovnichy.

Sources: press service of the Governor and Administration of the Arkhangelsk region