To mark the 200th anniversary of the Congress of the Holy Alliance in Ljubljana the Forum of Slavic Cultures published the book Congress in Ljubljana: At the crossroads of European Diplomacy 1821/2021. Shedding light on the goings-on in the European capital of diplomacy 200 years ago, the book was released by the FSK in cooperation with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Slovenia and the Slovenia-Russia Friendship Society.
The book Congress in Ljubljana: At the crossroads of European diplomacy 1821/2021 is a treasure trove of previously unreleased stories that were captured by Slovenian and Russian historians, ethnographers and journalists, namely Dr. Lyubov’ Kirilina, Dr. Aleš Musar, Dr. Miloš Kosec and Mag. Aleš Polajnar. Original papers come alive with images of notable figures from the riches of Russian museums, archives and private collections, including the archives of the Hermitage gallery, Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana, Historical Archives Ljubljana and the Archive of Foreign Policy of Imperial Russia. The book was published in Slovenian, Russian and English, and designed by Radovan Jenko, one of Slovenia’s most notable designers.
“Ljubljana first put on an air of a European city and experienced the first dimension of European cultural diversity in 1821. For the period of four months it was the capital of European diplomacy, politics and social life, offering high-quality art and cultural programme … New ties between Slavic cultures and in the first place communication in different Slavic languages left a mark on the congress and prompted individuals to dedicate their lives to the idea of integration and exploration of Slavic cultures, our differences and similarities,” noted the book’s editor Dr. Andreja Rihter, adding that it was the idea of bringing Slavic cultures together that led to the inception of the International Foundation Forum of Slavic Cultures, and that it was no coincidence that its headquarters found their place in Ljubljana, since 2021 in Villa Zlatica, the home of Ivan Hribar, Ljubljana’s former mayor.
H.E. Timur Rafailovich Eyvazov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Slovenia, noted: “This event holds a special place in the history of Russian-Slovenian relations. Among the leaders of the great powers who participated in the congress was also Russian Tsar Alexander I, whose stay in Ljubljana between January and May 1821 can well be considered the first visit of a Russian leader in the territory of modern-day Slovenia.”
