Symbols Symbols of the of the Russian Russian

Federation.Federation.

The FlagThe Flag

Origin of White Blue Red Colours. The white-blue-red is based on the coat of arms of the duchy of Moscow, which is red with Saint George, wearing white armor and a blue cape, riding a white horse, holding a blue shield, defeating the dragon.

"The imperial Russia had a red, "The imperial Russia had a red, blue and white flag, created in blue and white flag, created in 1697 by Peter the Great, based on 1697 by Peter the Great, based on Holland's. It was the origin of Holland's. It was the origin of pan- Slavic colors, used by Serbia, pan- Slavic colors, used by Serbia, Slovakia, Croatia and Bosnia . Slovakia, Croatia and Bosnia . The white-blue-red flag was used The white-blue-red flag was used till the fall of Kerensky's till the fall of Kerensky's government, in November 1917. government, in November 1917. The same happened to the two-The same happened to the two-headed eagle, without the headed eagle, without the imperial crown" imperial crown"

Note that the 1856 version of Note that the 1856 version of St.George shows the rider going St.George shows the rider going from right to left, while on from right to left, while on modern shields both rider and modern shields both rider and dragon are turned from left to dragon are turned from left to right, with the spear still in the right, with the spear still in the foreground, making the right-foreground, making the right-handed knight's position more handed knight's position more natural.natural.

The shield of St.George The Victor

serves as the Moscow city shield since 15th century even without interruption and is added to the coat of arms as a symbol of the capital. St. George the Victor was originally a personal Coat of Arms of Yuri (George) Dmitriyevich, second survived son of Dmitry the Don, due to St. George being his patron saint .

The Russian Coat of The Russian Coat of ArmsArms

The Two-headed Eagle serves as the Russian Coat of Arms since 15th century, when it was borrowed by Tsar Ivan the III from Bysanthy. The original color was black, as one can still see it on the Albanian State Flag. With the expansion of the Russian Empire the Eagle was decorated with shields of conquered countries and regions. After the Socialist Revolution in 1917 such a coat was abandoned. Since 1991, when Russia restored its independence, a number of attempts to adopt the official coat of arms were undertaken. In 1994 Russian Duma approved the coat featuring the Two-headed Eagle as the official one.

The Russian Coat of The Russian Coat of ArmsArms

December 30, 2000December 30, 2000

MOSCOW, Russia -- A MOSCOW, Russia -- A decree adding words to decree adding words to Russia's newly restored Russia's newly restored Soviet-era anthem has Soviet-era anthem has been signed by President been signed by President Vladimir Putin.Vladimir Putin.

The The AnthemAnthemMusic by Aleksandr Aleksandrov, 1944

Lyrics by Sergey Mikhalkov, 2000

Russia, our holy country! Russia, our beloved country! A mighty will, a great glory, Are your inheritance for all time!

Refrain: Be glorious, our free Fatherland! Eternal union of fraternal peoples, Common wisdom given by our forebears, Be glorious, our country! We are proud of you!

From the southern seas to the polar region spread our forests and fields. You are unique in the world, inimitable, Native land protected by God!

(Repeat refrain)

Wide spaces for dreams and for living Are opened for us by the coming years Faithfulness to our country gives us strength Thus it was, so it is and always will be!

(Repeat refrain)

The History of a The History of a new version of the Anthem.new version of the Anthem.

The new version is the third by Sergey Mikhalkov. The new version is the third by Sergey Mikhalkov. The new lyrics' reference to God would have been unthinkable The new lyrics' reference to God would have been unthinkable

under the Communists, who enforced a policy of official atheism under the Communists, who enforced a policy of official atheism and persecuted religious believers. and persecuted religious believers.

The last anthem to mention God was "God Save the Czar," used The last anthem to mention God was "God Save the Czar," used by the czarist regime that collapsed in 1917. by the czarist regime that collapsed in 1917.

But, unlike "God Save The Czar," which refers to the But, unlike "God Save The Czar," which refers to the "Orthodox czar," the anthem doesn't specify any particular "Orthodox czar," the anthem doesn't specify any particular faith. Russia's dominant religion is Orthodox Christianity, but faith. Russia's dominant religion is Orthodox Christianity, but religious minorities include Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Catholics, religious minorities include Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Catholics, and Protestants. and Protestants.

President Putin, elected March 26, has been more willing to President Putin, elected March 26, has been more willing to accept symbols of the Soviet past. He agreed on a compromise accept symbols of the Soviet past. He agreed on a compromise under which the old anthem would be restored, while Russia under which the old anthem would be restored, while Russia would keep the post-Soviet tricolour flag and the state coat of would keep the post-Soviet tricolour flag and the state coat of arms with the czarist double-headed eagle. arms with the czarist double-headed eagle.

Political System of the

Russian Federation.

Russian ConstitutionRussian Constitution All Russian All Russian

referendum adopted referendum adopted the New Constitution the New Constitution of the Russian of the Russian Federation on Federation on December 12, 1993 December 12, 1993 and in 1994 the and in 1994 the President of the President of the Russian Federation in Russian Federation in his decree declared his decree declared this day as a national this day as a national holiday. holiday.

The Legislative Body.The Legislative Body.

All legislative Powers All legislative Powers herein granted shall be herein granted shall be vested in a Federal Assembly vested in a Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, of the Russian Federation, which will consist of two which will consist of two chambers:chambers:- The Council of FederationsThe Council of Federations- The State Duma of the The State Duma of the Russian FederationRussian Federation

The Building of theThe Building of the State Duma State Duma

Sitting of the State DumaSitting of the State Duma

Boris Gryzlov – Speakerof State Duma

The Council of The Council of FederationsFederations

Sergey MironovThe Chairman of the Council of Federations

The Executive PowerThe Executive Power

The executive The executive Power shall be Power shall be vested in a vested in a President of the President of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation. He shall hold his He shall hold his Office during the Office during the Term of four Years.Term of four Years. Dmitry Medvedev –

President of the Russian Federation

Inauguration ofInauguration of President Dmitry President Dmitry

MedvedevMedvedev

President Dmitry Medvedev President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir and Prime Minister Vladimir

PutinPutin

Government of the Russian Government of the Russian FederationFederation

The White House

Vladimir Putin - Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Judicial Power.Judicial Power.

The judicial Power The judicial Power

of the Russian Federationof the Russian Federation

shall be vested in shall be vested in

one Supreme Court. one Supreme Court.

President of The Russian Federation

Government of the Russian Federation

Chairman ofThe Government

StateDuma

CouncilOf

FederationsSupreme

Court

Central Electorate

CommissionConstitutional

Court

Boris Gryzlov

Sergey MironovVyacheslav LebedevValeri Zorkin Vladimir Churov

Dmitry Medvede

vVladimir Putin

From From the History of the the History of the

Russian Russian Anthems.Anthems.

“God Save the King”

Anthem of the Russian Anthem of the Russian Empire from 1833 to 1917Empire from 1833 to 1917

Боже, Царя храни!Сильный, Державный,Царствуй на славу нам,Царствуй на страх врагам,Царь Православный!Боже, Царя храни! 1833

музыка Алексея Федоровича Львоваавтор новой версии гимна П.И. Чайковский слова Василия Андреевича Жуковского

Боже, Царя храни Боже, Царя храни Сильный, державный, Сильный, державный, Царствуй на славу нам, Царствуй на славу нам, Царствуй на страх врагам, Царствуй на страх врагам, Царь православный. Царь православный. Боже, Царя храни!Боже, Царя храни!Боже, Царя храни! Боже, Царя храни! Славному долги дни Славному долги дни Дай на земли! Дай на земли! Гордых смирителю: Гордых смирителю: Слабых хранителю, Слабых хранителю, Всех утешителю - Всех утешителю - Всё ниспошли!Всё ниспошли!Перводержавную Перводержавную Русь Православную Русь Православную Боже, храни! Боже, храни! Царство ей стройное, Царство ей стройное, В силе спокойное, - В силе спокойное, - Все ж недостойное, Все ж недостойное, Прочь отжени!Прочь отжени!О, провидение, О, провидение, Благословение Благословение Нам ниспошли! Нам ниспошли! К благу стремление, К благу стремление, В счастье смирение, В счастье смирение, В скорби терпение В скорби терпение Дай на земли!Дай на земли!

Aleksey LvovThe author of the

first Russian Anthem

P.I. Tchaikovsky -author of last variantof the anthem“God save the King”

Vasiliy Zhukovsky - The Great Russian Poet.

The Text of the AnthemThe Text of the Anthem“God Save the King”.“God Save the King”.

The Former Symbols of The Former Symbols of the Russia Empirethe Russia Empire

The Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire till 1917

The National Flag

The Union-Order The Union-Order of the Russian Empire of the Russian Empire

“We are Russians, God with “We are Russians, God with us!”us!”