January 25 is Tatiana’s Day or Students’ Day in Russia. It is a Russian religious holiday in commemoration of the 3rd century Christian martyr. It is also the name day of Ivan Shuvalov’s mother (Tatiana Rodionovna) Russian Minister of Education and the lucky man whose mistress was Empress Elizabeth of Russia.
He petitioned the Empress to establish a university in Moscow in 1755. The Russian Orthodox declared Saint Tatiana the patron saint of students. 25 January is also the end of the first term of the traditional academic year for Russian students– the end of winter exams session, followed by a two-week winter holiday.
