CONFERENCE: The Medieval Slavic World - final call!

[Zenon M. Feszczak]

Pryvit!

Just a final announcement for those who missed the earlier notices.
Quite a fascinating selection of speakers and topics.
The conference begins tomorrow, so no time to lose!

Na vse dobre,

Zenon M. Feszczak
Asceticist

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>>From Moravia to Muscovy:
The Medieval Slavic World

A Conference at The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
March 29   30, 1996



DESCRIPTION

The conference will focus on the cultural, historical, social, folk,
religious, and political developments of the medieval Slavic world and how
elements and ideas from that time period have impacted the character and
map of present day Europe. It will cover the establishment of a written
Slavic tongue in Moravia in western Slavdom to the founding and rooting of
the powerful state of Muscovy to the east.

Speakers include Professor Paul Bushkovitch, who will give an overview of
Russia's development from the city state of Muscovy under the so called
"Mongol Yoke" to a strong political and military power. His discussion of
the gathering of the Russian lands from the medieval period into the
Russian Empire will shed considerable light on the current ethnic problems
in Chechnya and other areas on the periphery of Russia. Professor John V.A.
Fine will speak on "Did Ethnicity Exist Among the Medieval Balkan Slavs?"
which will in part elucidate some of the current ethnic and political
problems in the Balkans. Professor Ihor Sevcenko will analyze a
recently found manuscript that elucidates the Nikon Affair, which concerned
a clash between secular and sacred powers in late medieval Russia.
Professor Eve Levin, a historian whose work deals extensively with religion
and philosophy of the Slavic medieval period, will be speaking on
"Religious Cultures Among the Orthodox Slavs: The Case of Faith Healing."
Professor Natalie Kononenko, will speak on the genesis and tradition of the
blind Ukrainian kozbar (minstrel) tradition. Professor William Ryan will
discuss magic and demonology in medieval Russian texts in his paper
"Ancient Demons and Slavic Magic." Professor William Brumfield will discuss
"The Iconography of Medieval Russian Architecture," and Associate Dean
Edward V. Williams of Penn State will speak on the musical aspects of
Russian church bells in his lecture "Bronze Choirs in Medieval Russia:
Bells and Bell Ringing in Kievan Rus' and Muscovy."




SPEAKERS

William C. Brumfield
Germanic and Slavic Languages, Tulane University, "The Iconography of
Medieval Russian Architecture"

Paul Bushkovitch
History, Yale University, "The Mysteries of National Consciousness in Late
Medieval Russia"

John VA Fine
History, The University of Michigan, "Did Ethnicity Exist Among the
Medieval Balkan Slavs?"

Natalie Kononenko
Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Virginia, "Why the Blind
Should Sing"

Eve Levin
History, The Ohio State University, "Religious Cultures Among the Orthodox
Slavs:
The Case of Faith Healing"

William F. Ryan
Warburg Institute, University of London, "Ancient Demons and Slavic Magic"

Ihor Sevcenko
Classics, Harvard University, "A New Greek Source Concerning the Nikon
Affair"

Edward V. Williams
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, College of Arts and
Architecture, Penn State
"Bronze Choirs in Medieval Russia: Bells and Bell Ringing in Kievan Rus'
and Muscovy"



BANQUET AND PERFORMANCE

A medieval banquet at The Nittany Lion Inn on Friday evening will feature
period Slavic cuisine. During the feast, the Penn State International
Dancers, under the direction of Assistant Professor Elizabeth Hanley, will
perform traditional Slavic dances. The blind Ukrainian bard Pavlo Suprun
will play selections on the bandura (a 66 stringed instrument). Mr. Suprun
represents a centuries old tradition in his native country that has allowed
people with his physical handicap to lead productive and artistic lives.
Olena Shevchuk, the soloist of the Drevo Ensemble from the Kiev
Conservatory of Music, will also perform a selection from her repertoire.


PUBLIC PERFORMANCE

On Saturday afternoon, March 30, Pavlo Suprun will give a performance of
heroic epic songs and play the bandeau a traditional, lute like instrument,
and Olena Shevchuk will perform a selection of traditional Slavic music.


EXHIBIT

A selection of William C. Brumfield's photographs of medieval Russian
architecture will be on display in the Kern Graduate Commons.


LOCATION

The University Park Campus is located in State College, Pennsylvania, near
the geographic canter of the state, on Routes 26 and 322, and near
Interstate 80. The community is on the east west route of Greyhound and
Trailways bus lines. USAir/US Air Express, United Express, and Northwest
Airlines serve the University Park Airport, located five miles from campus.
Taxi and limousine service are available to the campus and State College.


ACCOMMODATIONS

Participants are responsible for making their own reservations. A list of
area hotels and motels will be sent with your acknowledgment letter.


MEALS

A medieval luncheon will be held Friday, March 29, in The Nittany Lion Inn.
The cost for the luncheon is $12.00 (gratuity included). The Medieval
Banquet will be held Friday evening. Banquet tickets may be purchased for
$21.50 (gratuity included). Reservations and payments for these meals must
be made by March 21, 1996.FOR MORE INFORMATION


About program content:
Vickie L. Ziegler
Director, Center for Medieval Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802 5500
Telephone: (814) 863 7484
E mail: VLZI at PSUVM.PSU.EDU
FAX: (814) 863 7840
About registration:
Margo Stavros
Research Assistant, Center for Medieval Studies
The Pennsylvania State Universiy
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802 5500
Telephone: (814) 863 7484
E mail: MES14 at PSU.EDU
FAX: (814) 863 7840

Conference proceedings are published by Boydell & Brewer, Cambridge England.


REGISTRATION

Advance registration is requested. The conference fee of $25 covers the
cost of facilities and beverage breaks. This fee is waived for all
full time students, Penn State faculty, school teachers, and senior
citizens. Participants who have registered in advance can pick up their
conference packets in the lobby of The Nittany Lion Inn beginning 8:00 a.m.
on Friday, March 29, 1996. Final registration will take place in The
Nittany Lion Inn lobby from 8:00 a.m. to noon Friday, March 29, 1996.


UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Cancellation: The University may cancel or postpone any course or activity
because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a
program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund registration
fees but cannot be held responsible for other costs, charges, or expenses,
including cancellation/ change charges assessed by airlines or travel
agencies. Smoking: Penn State has adopted a policy of no smoking in its
buildings, offices, classrooms, and conference facilities on or off campus.


PARKING

Free parking for conference participants is available at The Nittany Lion
Inn. Validation of parking tickets may be obtained at the registration desk
of the Inn.






>>From Moravia to Muscovy The Medieval Slavic World
A Conference at The Pennsylvania State
University
University Park, PA
March 29   30, 1996

 Organized by the Center for Medieval Studies and the Department of Slavic
and East European Languages with the generous support from AT&T and the
Woskob Fund for Ukrainian Studies at Penn Sate.

Sponsored by the College of the Liberal Arts, the Institute for the Arts
and Humanistic Studies, the College of Arts and Architecture, and the
Departments of Art History, Comparative Literature, and Slavic and East
European Languages.