On April 25, 2024, a thematic holiday dedicated to the culture, traditions and customs of Russia and Armenia was held at the FinU as part of the large-scale Bridges of Friendship project. The meeting, dedicated to the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia, was organized by the International Students and Faculty Department.
The event was attended by representatives of the Embassy and prominent personalities of the Republic of Armenia, heads of public organizations, as well as employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Rossotrudnichestvo.
Vladimir Gabbe, Head of the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, founder and artistic director of the Moscow Sergei Parajanov Theater, greeted the participants and guests of the holiday. He thanked the FinU administration for the opportunity to hold a thematic meeting and conveyed greetings from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Russian Federation Vagharshak Harutyunyan. Vladimir Gabbe also emphasized,
"We live in an era of change, and now it is very important to define and preserve our cultural code. Culture is the strongest institution that shapes society, nation, and state. And today's festive event is a symbol of the inviolability of friendly relations and long-standing cultural and historical ties between Russia and Armenia, marked by the spiritual kinship of the two peoples."
The concert part of the event was presented by performances by students of the FinU, who recited poems and performed songs in both Russian and Armenian. The special flavor of the holiday was given by the performance of the "Berd" dance under the direction of choreographer Monica Harutyunyan, as well as the performance of the participants of the Cirani Hamuyt duduk club under the direction of Armen Hovhannisyan, who performed a musical composition on one of the most ancient Armenian folk instruments. Russian and Armenian music fused together in a unique duet of duduk and balalaika, as well as the choreographic studio "FRAPPE", which presented Russian folk dance, supported the dialogue between the two cultures. The festive evening ended with a joint performance of the national dance "Kochari".
The guests of the themed holiday also took part in master classes, got acquainted with the peculiarities of the national cuisine and tasted traditional Armenian and Russian dishes.
