Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy

The main events related to the assignment of the «Imperial» Medical and Surgical Academy status are considered. In the days of the celebration of the Academy’s 100th anniversary, publications dedicated to this event asserted that grateful offspring would always honor the memory of the Academy high Founders and Patrons. Our great predecessors, who celebrated the jubilee ideologically and organizationally, had recognized and honored Emperor Paul I as its founder. But the name and status the «Imperia Academy» was received from the hands» of Emperor Alexander I. On August 27, 1808, the Medical Surgical Academy, which had received Permission to be called Imperial, that was, a new quality (education) and other rights, the advantages granted to it, opened its first solemn meeting. That day, in our opinion, can claim to be considered the Birthday of the Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy. We emphasize that it is only about of the «Imperial» status. At that meeting the president of the academy James Wylie announced that the emperor «deigned to take on the title of Honorary Member of the Academy». On September 18, 1809, another great celebration took place in the Assembly Hall of the Academy devoted Alexander I and other High Men receiving the title of Honorary Members of the Academy. At the same time, the Emperor «showed his special favor to the Academy and bestowed upon it the Highest Charter, which «protects the rights and advantages of the Academy for all time». The most important provision of the Highest Charter was that, as a pledge of special imperial favor, the Medical and Surgical Academy was given the title of the Imperial Medical and Surgical Academy. That great celebration, its ritual procedure were reflected in the academic records: a thanksgiving service in the name of the Smolensk Mother of God in the academic church; the arrival of guests to a large academic audience (Assembly Hall, Conference Hall), members of the State Council, members of the Holy Synod, government ministers, foreign ministers; the arrival of Emperor Alexander I in «the Academy house»; the announcement of the Highest Diploma; the presentation of the diploma by the Minister of Internal Affairs Prince A. Kurakin to Emperor Alexander I; the highest order to present the diploma of the Academy; the receipt of the diploma by the President of the academy James Wylie and his thank-you speech; receiving diplomas Honorary Members of the Academy; election of new Honorary Members of the Academy; final speech of the President of the Academy; a visit to the Emperor of the academic church; breakfast of the Emperor in the dining room and his departure from the academy; further celebrations in the academy.

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