A Russian blessing

Sun Apr 27 17:41:37 UTC 2003

>"Mnogaia leta" is indeed a blessing but not something to be used in a
>casual situation. It can be part of a public prayer  (moleben vo zdravie).
>It is also a toast (zdravitsa). It was in use before the revolution. I
>believe that in the Soviet period it went out of use, becoming an archaic
>expression. Kuprin's short story "Anafema" (see www.lib.ru) is a beautiful
>illustration of its usage. Can anyone think of its mention in a more
>contemporary text?

Not a text, but a title of a book "Mnogaja leta. Mixailu Gorbachevu - 70 let."

_____________
Alina Israeli
LFS, American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016

phone:  (202) 885-2387
fax:    (202) 885-1076

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                  http://home.attbi.com/~lists/seelangs/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------