Faith · Books · Mores · Ethnography
Traditional Kulich Recipes from Elena Molokhovets's 1866 Cookbook. The book "A Gift to Young Housewives, or A Means of Reducing Household Expenses" by Elena Ivanovna Molokhovets was the most famous and influential cookery book in nineteenth-century Russia. After its first edition in 1861 it went
Architecture · Faith · Heritage · Rome
One of the Most Extraordinary Churches in Rome: the Basilica of San Saba on the Lesser Crest of the Aventine Hill. Mere walls of old plaster and a mere floor, one would think; yet in the Roman church of San Saba they form a veritable chronicle of styles. The church
In the Press · The East · Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture
Yesterday my podcast appeared on new platforms, and today the second episode has arrived. We conclude our discussion of the plot of Season Three of "The White Lotus". We talk about poisonings, monkeys, women in search of spiritual growth, family squabbles, and all of it, of course, in
NB! · Faith · Monarchies · Observations · People
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, in retirement, has celebrated her 85th birthday. It is touching that the festive table was decorated in the manner of Easter. And it is very sad to think that we are witnesses to the last Christian rulers of Europe; one wants to go on believing
NB! · Faith · Art
Faith · Art
The Lord scatters the darkness of demons. "Paradise", the left panel of Hieronymus Bosch's triptych The Last Judgement, 1504. From the bottom upwards we see the creation of Eve, the Fall, the expulsion of the first humans from Eden. And at the top: a battle between
Coming Up · Books · Paris · Pop Culture
The devoted admirer of Russian culture and of the work of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, British actor Ralph Fiennes, who reads the Russian classics in the original, will stage "Eugene Onegin" at the Paris Opera. The production will be conducted by Semyon Bychkov, with singers including Bogdan Volkov, Boris
In the Press · Cinema · Observations
Some news: the podcast dissecting Season Three of "The White Lotus" is now available on new distribution platforms. It has appeared on Yandex Music, Litres and Apple. Listen, share your impressions, and do so while we prepare the second episode! Thank you all for your feedback, it is
Archaeology · The East · Geography · Maps
Asian cities founded by Alexander the Great and the successive Greek dynasties. According to the principle they observed, these cities and their inhabitants became Greek citizens. Such cities are marked with yellow and green stars. As for Maracanda, or Samarkand, it is believed to have existed long before Alexander the
NB! · Observations · Paris
NB! · Art · Books · Observations
Cinema · Observations · Society Pages
Attended the premiere of "On This Earth", produced by Alexey Uchitel. The film is about a certain Russian village in the eighteenth century, where the local simpleton tries to build himself a pair of wings. We shall not discuss the plot; I suspect the authors themselves never got