Chair of Russian Literature

Since 1933, a systematic course on the history of Russian literature has been taught at Yerevan State University thanks to Z.h. Yasinskaya's efforts, who was the daughter of the famous Russian writer Hieronim Yasinsky. In 1941, the Chair of Russian Literature was established at the University, which was headed by Ph.D., professor R. H. Hovhannisyan until 1971. During the years of Professor Hovhannisyan's leadership, a whole complex of subjects was developed in the Chair: Russian literature, theory and practice of translation, and Armenian-Russian literary relations. In those years, famous professors worked in the Chair and had a great role in the development of literary studies in Armenia.

From 1971 to 1978, the outstanding scientist-pedagogue, Ph.D., Associate Professor Gh. V. Ayvazyan, headed the Chair of Russian literature. His scientific interests included the problems of literary theory and the Armenian-Russian literary, historical, and cultural relations in the Middle Ages. At Ayvazyan's invitation, famous scientists such as D. S. Likhachev, Yu. M. Lotman, Z. G. Mintz, E.G. Etkind, and many others visited the university to give lectures. With his initiative and active participation, the all-union "Brucov readings" were launched in 1962, thanks to which Yerevan later became a recognized center of Brusov studies.

For eighteen years, the Chair of Russian literature and the faculty of Russian philology had been led by scientist, writer, Dr., Professor, RA NAS Academician, and honored figure of science of the USSR L. M. Mkrtchyan. The range of his scientific interests was very wide. He was engaged in issues of Armenian and Russian literature, artistic translation, and literary relations.

L. Mkrtchyan made a great contribution to the study, interpretation, publication, and propagation of medieval Armenian literature. He published the works of medieval Armenian poets Nahapet Kuchak, Grigor Narekatsi, and Kostandin Yerznakatsi in Russian translation. Thanks to the Professor's efforts, many samples of Armenian literature were translated into English, German, and Polish, becoming accessible to foreign language readers. L. Mkrtchyan has authored many studies dedicated to F. Dostoevsky, L. Tolstoy, A. Chekhov, and M. Saltykov-Shchedrin's work.

Since 2007, the head of the Chair of Russian Literature has been Ph.D., Associate Professor Levon Hakobyan.

The educational activities of the Chair include teaching the history of Russian literature according to the stages of literary-historical development, from folklore to modern Russian literature, including the history of foreign and Russian literature.

The teaching-methodical work of the Chair is mainly aimed at improving the teaching of Russian literature. The curriculum of the Chair also includes subjects related to the analysis of literary works and the methodology of teaching literature.

The scientific works of the professors of the Chair are mainly related to the history of Russian literature, poetics, comparative literary studies, and Russian-Armenian literary relations. The scientific works of lecturers are published in Armenian, Russian, and foreign scientific periodicals. Chair members actively participate in international conferences.

The Chair implements the Undergraduate educational programs "Russian Language and Literature", "Cross-cultural Communication and Translation (Russian)" and the Master's degree educational program "Russian Language and Literature".