History of Russia: Moscow holds a meeting to mark 150th anniversary of serfdom abolition in Russia

On March 3 2011 the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow is launching a meeting “Great reforms of the Emperor Alexander II – a successful example of modernization” which highlights 150th anniversary of serfdom abolition in Russia. The event has been organized by the Russian Orthodox Church jointly with Russkiy Mir Foundation.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is presiding over the meeting. The event has brought together political and public figures, hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, prominent scholars from Russian and abroad, representatives of foreign organizations of compatriots, heads of archives and museums, and experts.

This forum aims to support the memory of a successful experience of state reforms in the history of peoples of Russia. In 1861 the Russian Emperor Alexander II signed the highest Emancipation Manifesto on abolition of serfdom. Thus Russia saw the end of the centuries-long epoch of serfdom.

The discussion will bring into focus features of the 1860s–1870s reforms, their role in the history of our country, turn the spotlight on international aspect of Russian reforms, evaluate the level of study of the Great reforms phenomenon in Russian and foreign historical science.