Press releases

MINSK, 16 November (BelTA) - The Belarusian Embassy in Russia hosted an event to celebrate the 135th anniversary of the birth of prominent Belarusian poet Yakub Kolas, BelTA learned from the mission.

“Every nation has poets, or prophets who, thanks to their poetic talent, define not only the ways of development of the language, literature and culture but also shape the national identity. They become symbols of their people. Yakub Kolas is one of such symbols for the Belarusians,” Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Belarus in Russia Yuri Yaroshevich said at the ceremony.

The famous Belarusian poet has made a significant contribution to the national and world literature. His works have been translated into more than 40 languages. The life and art of Yakub Kolas, the poet, playwright and social activist, are closely linked with the Russian historical and literary process, the diplomat stressed.

The exhibition “Yakub Kolas: Life and Art. Kolas’d Russian roads” arranged by the State Yakub Kolas Memorial and Literary Museum in the embassy's business and cultural center features the copies of manuscripts, autographs, folklore notes by the poet, his correspondence with friends and colleagues, books with signatures.

The guests got a chance to hear the record of Yakub Kolas reciting his poems. The guests were also shown a video presentation about the life and art of the poet, and video clips about Belarus.

The program of the event included a literary composition performed by artists of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater, to the accompaniment of the Zhinovich National Academic Folk Orchestra. The poet’s famous poem Moi Rodny Kut (My Native Land) was read out in Russian and Belarusian by theater actors Ekaterina Finevich and Igor Petrov.

Artists and musicians were presented with flowers on behalf of Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia Igor Petrishenko. The event was attended by representatives of Moscow’s largest libraries and museums, the creative intelligentsia and the Belarusian diaspora, the Permanent Committee of the Union State and the Eurasian Economic Commission.