“There is only a moment between the past and the future. It is it what is called life,» says a song from a popular Soviet film. The author of the words of this hit suggests that we all «hold on» to the moment – that is, cherish the present. He’s probably right. For the present is a continuation of yesterday, so it comes that there can be no future without the past.
This summer issue of our magazine chronologically falls between two important dates for Russia: the eightieth anniversary of the Victory over Nazism in the Great Patriotic War and the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War II. Therefore, the first part of the Russian Mind is dedicated to the results of the most terrible of the wars. And above all – the decisive contribution of the Red Army to the Allied victory over militaristic Japan.
We will tell readers about the Potsdam Conference, the defeat of the Kwantung Army (it had about forty divisions – significantly more than in the entire Pacific zone), and the intrigues of the Tokyo authorities around the signing of the unconditional surrender aboard the US Navy battleship Missouri …
All this is complemented by extracts from a book by our author, the famous writer Valery Povolyaev, on the work in the Japanese Empire of An international intelligence network headed by the journalist and diplomat Richard Sorge.
The historical part of our issue surprisingly resonates with the date that it is our duty to mark: the 180th anniversary of the birth of the Russian Emperor Alexander III. It was to him (who earned the moniker of the “Tsar Peacemaker” by his contemporaries) that the words that could be an epigraph to our magazine’s historical part belonged: «Russia has only two allies – its Army and Navy.»
However, enough with war reminiscences! This summer is also rich in significant anniversaries from the cultural life of Russia. Isaac Levitan, Dmitry Merezhkovsky, Yuri Trifonov, Vladimir Vysotsky…
There is also a review of a new book by Alice Danchokh in this issue. We are very sorry to announce that Maria Kopieva, who wrote under this pen name, is no longer with us. Just before the new issue of the Russian Mind magazine was sent to print, this talented and beautiful woman passed away.
Of course, we will pay tribute to Yuri Grigorovich. After the recent death of this great Russian choreographer the world ballet seems to be orphaned. His long and glorious life – he started performing with Sergei Diaghilev himself! – illuminated the entire twentieth century theatre with special colours…
The holy feasts of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Dormition of the Mother of God fall in the summer too. Not to mention that 28 July is the Day of the Baptism of Rus’, our national celebration for all ages. And, of course, the crown of summer, its apogee, is 7 July – Ivan Kupala Day (a Slavic folk festival coinciding with the Nativity of St John the Baptist). It is believed that days get progressively shorter after it.
Enjoy reading the new issue of the Russian Mind magazine, dear readers!
By Kirill Privalov
