The vastness of the Internet simultaneously provides incredible opportunities for limitless virtual contact and communication with the outside world, while at the same time depriving us of a certain freedom. Administrations of social networks, payment services, and email clients are constantly reminded about the rules of online behavior and precautions. However, not all Internet users devote enough time and attention to protecting their personal data. Recently, another one has appeared on the calendar of important dates that directly corresponds to user safety - International Personal Data Protection Day. On this day, January 28, they are annually reminded of the need to be attentive to submitting any information about yourself, your type of activity, leisure time, social circle, and so on. The starting point or birthday of this day is considered to be January 28, 1981, when the Council of Europe Convention was signed. It was called the Convention on the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data. It is easy to understand that the need to consolidate this holiday was imposed by the incredibly rapid development of Internet technologies. However, the tradition of celebrating January 28 as a holiday arose much later - in 2006, on the initiative of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The second name of the holiday is International Privacy Day. Currently, the Council of Europe initiative to protect the rights to the protection of personal data is supported by about 80 states. In addition, the practice of correctly submitting and processing personal information is actively used in the world's largest organizations, such as the UN. It is worth noting that working groups are tirelessly developing proposals to update the Convention in order to improve the level of data protection. Basic principles of International Personal Data Protection Day: • Legality of obtaining data • Correctness of their storage • Legitimacy of their processing and use In addition to the official safety rules for submitting personal information, every user of the Internet and information systems in general should remember basic precautions and not submit unnecessary and compromising information about themselves and their loved ones. Information today is both an ally of each individual and a powerful tool of influence. Vigilance and caution will protect your life, finances and professional activities.

A week after the tragic death of style icon Marilyn Monroe in August 1962, the extravagant American artist Andy Warhol began work on his new art project, which in the future would become a symbol of a new direction in art. The master used screen printing and a famous photograph of the actress, taken back in 1953 during the filming process. He applied fifty identical images to the canvas, but divided it into two parts. On the left side of the diptych, twenty-five miniature photographs are painted in bright colors. The pictures on the right side were black and white. Some of them were deliberately blurred. This painting, which the artist completed within a few months, contained Warhol's vision of Monroe's unstable, contrasting life. Many years later, a popular British publication would compile a list of five hundred outstanding works of contemporary art, in which the painting by the American artist would take third place. It will be copied many times, although the bright left part will become more popular. Young artists will begin to create their works in this unique style. Warhol's painting itself will have the honor of being included in the exhibition of the famous Tate Gallery in London, which houses the world's largest collection of British art. The diptych with Marilyn Monroe will become a symbol of a new direction in art that will worship mass culture, called pop art. In the middle of the last century, a new style in art - expressive abstractionism - was at the peak of popularity. Born under the influence of the ideas of Andre Breton, it gained unprecedented scope with the assistance of Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. Artists of this school used huge canvases, and their works were often decorated with sloppy spots of paint - a strong display of expression. Those who did not support this style of work decided to create a different direction that could become a counterweight to expressive abstractionism. Its supporters did not look for deep meaning in art. Their main idol was mass culture, and their images were consumer products. This was the beginning of the pop art era. American artists ironically used impersonal, mundane reality to ridicule and parody the works of the masters of expressive abstractionism. At the same time, pop art was actively developing in Great Britain, but here the direction took a completely different path. The prerequisites for its appearance in European countries appeared in the 1920s, when artists used advertising and commercial products in their works. Pop art was originally aimed at commerce and entertainment for a jaded public. Trends, fashion, advertising, and style icons played a key role in the development of this direction. British pop art has retained its academic quality. The American version of this style completely excluded the philosophical component of art, and artists stopped searching for spiritual meaning. Pop art is sometimes called one of the branches of avant-garde art. An interesting story was connected with the appearance of the term itself. It was first coined by the British critic Lawrence Alloway to refer to any commercial product that was related to the mass media. The author did not plan to give a name to the new direction in art; instead, the public did it, who picked up the new word and put a slightly different meaning into it. Although the development of pop art peaked in the middle of the last century, after which it was replaced by other styles, this cultural movement is still popular today. One might even say that today it is experiencing its renaissance. The direction has repeatedly been subjected to harsh criticism. Artists of the pop art school were accused of vulgarity and a desire to please the broad masses. The trend was compared with the art of advertising and no differences were found, but it continues to live and celebrates its birthday every year on January 28th.

Jesus Christ called on his flock: “Be like children!” What did the Messiah mean? Children by nature are simple, sociable and open, spontaneous and kind. At an early age, they are characterized by integrity of mind and heart, which ensures harmony with themselves and others. Adults often lack these qualities. Therefore, January 28 is celebrated as the Day of Awakening of the Inner Child. Childhood is a very important stage in the development of a person’s personality. Toddlers and older children need to rejoice, play, create, dream and be endlessly surprised, thereby building relationships with the world around them. If a person’s childhood was not full of discoveries and positive emotions, it is necessary and possible to try to make up for the deficiency in maturity. Despite growing up, a child continues to live inside each of us, who must be cherished and cherished. In some he is capricious and offended, in others he is cheerful and happy. The Day of Awakening of the Inner Child calls on you to hear his voice and establish a connection. The recapitulation technique helps correct a situation that happened in the past, or rather reduce its impact on the present. Psychologists suggest that clients try to independently track painful feelings and reactions coming from childhood, understand and forgive offenders. It is difficult for an adult with a traumatized past and a suffering inner child to be happy and self-sufficient in the present. Therefore, you need to try to approach the assessment of the events of many years ago objectively, relive the emotions and try to form a new way of thinking. The recapitulation technique can heal the wounds of the inner child and make an adult happier and more whole. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry advised to definitely pamper your children, because “it is unknown what trials life has in store for them.” If your parents didn’t have time to do this or couldn’t fully do it, don’t despair. For pampering, indulging your sweet weaknesses and fulfilling desires, there is a Day for the Awakening of the Inner Baby. In honor of the holiday, you can and should allow yourself all sorts of pranks - from eating a box of chocolates at once, contrary to childhood guidelines, to riding on a swing. On January 28, some people review their photographs of kindergarten age and listen to their parents’ memories of this happy time of life, while others realize their dream and finally buy a kaleidoscope. The holiday encourages you to go to the land of your childhood and remember the fascinating events and joyful moments of time “when the trees were big.” In honor of the Day of Awakening of the Inner Child, you need to open up to the world and understand what long-standing desires have not come true. It is very important to do everything to implement them. Don't be afraid to look ridiculous standing ankle-deep in a puddle launching a paper boat! Finally win a friendly competition for the biggest bubble gum or throwing darts! Awaken your inner child and enjoy life with him.

For most children and adults from different parts of the world, when the word “constructor” is mentioned, only one association arises - “Lego”. The development path of this company has become a vivid example of a classic success story when a product name becomes a household name. The Lego designer has his own birthday - an international holiday, which is celebrated on January 28. Today, the LEGO Group is the second largest toy manufacturer in the world. The company was surpassed only by the American brand Hasbro. When Dane Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in his carpentry workshop in 1932, he could not have imagined that his brainchild would become such an incredible success, and that he himself would soon become a billionaire. Two years after starting work, Ole came up with a name for his own company. He shortened the Danish expression "leg godt", which means "play well", into the more concise and memorable "LEGO". Ten years later, the company switched to the production of plastic toys. At that time, this material had just appeared on the market as a more practical alternative to wood. In 1939, the British company Kiddicraft received a patent for the manufacture of self-locking bricks - one of the versions of the designer. The Danes used this invention as a basis and came up with their own parts. In 1949, the first version of the world-famous designer went on sale. Ole never skimped on quality. The founder of the company came up with the motto “The best is not good enough”, paraphrasing the famous expression “there is no limit to perfection”, and set a high bar for his employees. Although many were suspicious of plastic in the middle of the last century, by 1957 almost half of LEGO toys were made from this material. Skeptics were convinced that it would never replace wood, but the products of the Danish company were a success not only among children, but also among adults. In 1954, Ole partially handed over the reins to his son, who saw great potential in the designers. It was under his leadership that the very design of universal bricks that is still used today was developed. Two decades later, the sets began to be supplemented with mini-figures, without which it is difficult to imagine LEGO sets today. The company's headquarters is located in the Danish city of Billund. The world's largest Legoland was built here - a city in which everything is built from construction elements. This amusement park was opened back in 1968. The Danish company has managed to create a unique product that is suitable for both adults and children. The construction sets are not tied to the gender of the child, although today LEGO produces sets aimed only at boys or girls. Different series allow you to collect robots, cars, ships, planes, buildings and furniture. During the assembly process, the child not only develops fine motor skills, but also learns to solve technical problems of various levels of complexity. The company continues to maintain the high quality standard that was established by its founder. Perhaps this is why everyone loves Lego so much. His popularity breaks all records. If all the parts from the kits, which are sold annually, are put together in a chain, then it can be wrapped around the globe ten times. Some Lego sets have even been to space. The best way to celebrate the holiday is to take the box with the construction set out of the closet and assemble it once again. If you still don’t have such a set, then it’s time to make your childhood dream come true and treat yourself to a wonderful gift.

In Rus', healers and sorcerers have been revered since ancient times. Sorcerers treated people and domestic animals for illnesses, predicted the weather, made amulets to protect against evil spirits, and removed damage and evil eyes. Magi and shamans had occult knowledge, so they could communicate with natural deities and elements, predicting the future. The sorcerers passed on their knowledge by inheritance to blood relatives or students. Everyone who believes in magic and otherworldly forces celebrates the Day of Witches on January 28th. In the Middle Ages, people with supernatural abilities were persecuted by the Christian church. Witch hunts in the “Dark Ages” took the form of criminal prosecution, which, as a rule, ended with the burning of magicians at the stake. Often angry crowds carried out lynchings. The decision to apply punishment was made by the Inquisition, which fought against heresy. When considering cases of witchcraft and connections with the devil, torture was often used against suspects. Due to torture and false denunciations in the Middle Ages, many people who had no relation to the Black Book were executed. Superstitions, witchcraft, casting out demons from people are still prohibited by Christianity today. The Church does not approve of the flock's visits to healers, who refer to spirits and the other world when treating the sick. Christianity does not deny the fact that man is possessed by dark forces, but wants to reserve a monopoly on the healing of believers. Specially trained exorcist priests are engaged in expelling infernal entities. For thousands of years, the Church has been trying to eradicate pagan beliefs from the memory of the people, which the Slavs are in no hurry to abandon. Christianity considers ancient conspiracies, superstitions and omens to be obscurantism, which must be combated. Most Orthodox holidays, Maslenitsa, Epiphany, Trinity, Christmastide and others, fall on the dates of ancient Slavic celebrations. Thus, from ancient times the church tried to replace pagan beliefs with Christianity. Perhaps that is why another holiday is celebrated on January 28 - the Day of Remembrance of Paul of Thebes, the founder of the tradition of monasticism in Orthodoxy. Connoisseurs of occultism and Vedic knowledge are not ready to abandon the customs of their ancestors. Many mystical-minded people celebrate Witch Day every year. In the old days, it was believed that on January 28, evil spirits tested a person’s strength, testing his spirit. Students of magicians and warlocks, who received knowledge from their mentors on this day, began to practice in life with the enthusiasm characteristic of neophytes. Therefore, on the Day of the Sorcerer, it is customary to carry out rituals to protect against the evil eye and damage, to appease the brownie, who is a faithful assistant in the fight against dark forces, with treats.

Every year on January 28th World Unemployment Day is celebrated. It is celebrated in many countries. The purpose of its creation is to focus the population’s attention on unemployment, the level of which in the Russian Federation is quite high. When it comes to such a problem as unemployment, many immediately have a picture of people who simply do not want to get a job. In fact, everything is completely different. The vast majority simply cannot find a job, since it is very difficult to find a job with a salary that would provide for the whole family. A person can cope with a task that no machine or software can do. Neither production nor various types of service sectors can function without the direct help of humans. Economic problems are accompanied by job cuts. As a result, a crisis arises, both in political and social areas. And as for the latter, it hinders the well-being of the population. This holiday calls on the population to work, and the authorities to draw attention to a very important problem - unemployment. Traditional society existed without wages, since there was no money in those days. The society lived off the land. As soon as money was invented, cities began to be built. As a result, the population became dependent on money, purchasing food rather than growing it. Due to some circumstances, people could not get a job at an enterprise, which means they did not have a job and their status grew into “unemployed.” And economic problems only make the situation worse. In general, an unemployed person cannot take this day as a reason to have fun. After all, the problem is very serious, and the holiday itself is not aimed at entertainment purposes, but at extremely serious ones. And the main people on this day are not the unemployed, but representatives of government agencies who are making every attempt to solve this problem. Therefore, on this day they:• Collect funds to help people looking for work.• Consider various bills regarding the employment of society.• Provide reports on how government programs are being implemented.• Discuss pressing problems of unemployment, as well as employment.• Organize various kinds of conferences. But it is worth saying that this holiday concerns everyone who solves the problem of unemployment. Employees of social insurance, trade unions and charitable foundations also join the holiday. The media broadcast stories, and the largest employers publish their reports. So anyone can participate and help in this problem.

Communication means are an integral part of people's lives. They help save personal time and speed up business. The Internet is the most popular information source, a convenient tool for communication and entertainment. Due to the fact that many people have become dependent on the global network, it was decided to create an international day without the Internet. This holiday is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of January. Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and residents of many other countries join the event. The event is celebrated by members of public associations, users of the World Wide Web, and activists of thematic organizations. The holiday was first established in the West. It was not possible to find exact information about the time and author of this event. Researchers have suggested that it was organized by the Institute for Social Invention, located in the UK. There is also a version according to which the founder is one of the non-profit Internet sites. The idea of ​​abandoning the global network has become popular since the beginning of the 21st century. The followers of this idea were regular online users who advocated giving up online communication at least for a day. However, they are not opponents of the Internet itself. Every year on the last Sunday of January, various events aimed at education are organized. Social activists talk about the need and importance of real communication, promoting the rejection of online communications. The media publish reports on ongoing events, feature articles, and show programs and films about the Internet on TV. Flash mobs encourage participants to maintain tradition. Charity events are held, the organizers of which raise money for important projects. Conferences, congresses and seminars are organized. Public figures report reliable facts and data about the addiction of the virtual web. Adherents of the holiday congratulate each other. The first person to call online addiction a mental disorder was scientist A. Goldberg from the USA. This event occurred in 1995, but medicine did not officially recognize this disease. According to expert statistics, 6% of people around the planet are addicted. Most of them (more than 10%) are residents of Middle Eastern countries. European countries are home to a minimal proportion of people addicted to the Internet (2.6%). Books and plays are devoted to this problem. At the same time, scientists were able to prove that the World Wide Web has not only a negative, but also a positive effect on a person’s state of mind. Older network users experience improved brain function and the development of visual memory. It is easier for such people to make decisions in various life situations.

Every year on the last Sunday of January, World Leprosy Day is celebrated around the world. This international holiday was approved in 1953 thanks to the efforts of the French writer Raoul Follero, who made a huge contribution to the study and raising people's awareness of this disease. Thanks to this holiday, it was possible to draw the attention of the world community, government agencies, religious communities and charitable foundations to the existing problem. This disease has several names - leprosy, leprosy, hansenosis, krymka and Hansen's disease. All of them belong to the same type of chronic infectious disease granulomatosis, the causative agents of which are mycobacteria. As the disease develops, patients experience severe damage to the skin, as well as certain areas of the nervous system. In some cases, damage occurs to the upper respiratory tract, as well as the feet and hands. The World Health Organization has officially added leprosy to its list of neglected diseases. The first mentions of leprosy were found in the Old Testament. However, there is a high probability that they were talking about a milder form of the disease, which has symptoms similar to leprosy. In the 11th century, the disease spread throughout medieval Europe and remained a real infectious scourge until the 14th century, when people began to die from the plague. In order to avoid the widespread spread of leprosy, numerous leper colonies began to be created. According to one theory, the cause of mass morbidity among people was the fur that medieval Vikings brought from the East. Leprosy pathogens could be transmitted by blow flies, but this fact has not been officially proven by scientists. The lack of effective methods for treating the disease led to the emergence of a special liturgical rite, during which demonstrative funerals were held for living people who were infected with leprosy. The decision on who could be classified as a leper was made by a special council consisting of priests, doctors and other patients. After a person was transferred to the status of “dead” and a funeral rite was performed over him, he was isolated from society. Lepers were dressed in special clothes that completely covered the body and face of the patient. It was also not where they hung a bell or rattle, which with their loud sound warned people that a leper was approaching. Later, a long list of prohibitions was drawn up for such people, aimed at their complete isolation. According to the historian Matvey of Paris, by the beginning of the 13th century in Europe the number of leper colonies increased to 19 thousand. In France alone there were about 2 thousand such institutions. The first leper colony was founded in 1084 in England on the site of St. Nicholas Hospital. People infected with leprosy were quarantined there. Such measures turned out to be very effective, so in the 15th century leper colonies began to close en masse. The Norwegian doctor Gerhard Hansen in 1873 managed to identify the causative agent of leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae. Based on his research, methods for treating the disease subsequently began to be created. One of those who devoted his life to the fight against leprosy in the 20th century was the French writer and journalist Raoul Follero. He founded the Order of Charity, as well as the Federation of European Anti-Leprosy Associations. Thanks to his exorbitant efforts, on January 30, 1953, an international holiday was officially approved - World Leprosy Day, which since then has been celebrated annually in all countries of the world.

The training of officers for the fleet is carried out by a specially created military educational institution, called in 1827 the Naval Cadet Corps. Today, commanders of ships, combat units and submarines, their deputies for educational matters, and heads of air defense formations emerge from the walls of the institution. The Naval Academy is engaged in scientific research and problem solving in the field of tactics, training of naval forces, and the use of technical means and weapons. On January 28, VUNC teachers and graduates celebrate the Day of Higher Special Officer Classes of the Russian Navy. The date of the holiday is associated with the publication by Nicholas I in 1827 of a decree on the establishment of an officer class in the corps under the Maritime Department of St. Petersburg. Already in April, 7 midshipmen were sent back to training. In the classroom, according to the emperor's plan, officers were supposed to improve the knowledge necessary for naval service. The initiator of the organization of a special class in the Naval Cadet Corps was its director, Rear Admiral I.F. Krusenstern. The number of officers being trained was constantly increasing, and in 1862 the class was transformed into an academic course, and in 1877 it became the Nikolaev Maritime Academy. Officer training was conducted in Krandshtat in 3 detachments: mine, mechanical engineering and artillery. Since 1897, a diving class has appeared. Each of the detachments had its own territory and structure. The training lasted 6 months and was carried out in hull offices, laboratories and on ships assigned to each class. Thus, mine mechanics studied the technology of electric lighting, Whitehead mines and devices for them. In 1906, the underwater officer class appeared, in 1909, the navigator class, and in 1913, the electrical engineering class. After the October Revolution, naval officer classes were closed for a short period - from January to October 1918. However, the need for qualified Navy commanders in the young state of workers and peasants existed. Therefore, in 1923, on the basis of classes, Higher Special Courses for Navy Commanders were formed. During the Great Patriotic War, the VSKSF were redeployed to the rear - to Astrakhan, and later to Samarkand. In August 1942, the courses returned to Leningrad. From 1918 to the present, the list of graduates of the Higher Officer Classes includes 19 thousand ship commanders and 20 thousand flagship specialists. Among them, 69 people have honorary titles of Heroes - both of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. The teachers are naval officers with an academic education who have experience serving on ships and at headquarters at various levels. Training in 40 naval specialties consists of theoretical training, which takes about 40% of the time, and 60% of practice. Since 2012, the classes began to be called the Military Institute of Additional Professional Education, which is part of the Military Educational Center of the Navy at the Academy named after N.K. Kuznetsova. The main task of the institution is the retraining of officer personnel. The teaching staff of the institute has been coping with this and other responsibilities perfectly for almost 200 years. The famous Higher Special Classes for officers, awarded the Order of Lenin in 1945, are well known in Russia and abroad. The institute trains both domestic and foreign specialists for the navy of Syria, Vietnam, Algeria and Kazakhstan. Therefore, its graduates and teachers are congratulated on January 28 in different parts of the world on the Day of Foundation of the Higher Special Officer Classes of the Navy.

At the end of the 19th century. As mechanical engineering developed, the question of replacing steam engines with motors of a new type became acute. In Europe, experiments in this direction began in 1870 by engineer Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel. Having abandoned the idea of ​​using coal dust, the inventor decided to use heavy fractions of oil. The first tests of the internal combustion engine were carried out in Augsburg in 1897 at a local engineering plant. The experiment was completed successfully, and the whole world learned about the German engineer of French origin. In honor of this event, the birthday of the diesel engine is celebrated on January 28. The engineer received a patent for his invention “Method and apparatus for converting high temperature into work” on January 28, 1893. However, it was the practical use of the engine that confirmed that it is a cost-effective, powerful and economically viable analogue of a gasoline engine. Initially, to operate diesel engines they tried to use not only coal dust, which was abundant in Germany at that time, but also peanut oil. However, it was difficult to feed small powder particles into the cylinders, unlike liquid fuel. Vegetable oil has a low calorific value and low volatility, which means it requires higher consumption compared to diesel fuel. Therefore, in 1897, the choice was made in favor of petroleum products. The first diesel engine, named after the inventor, was a four-stroke, had 1 cylinder and a power of about 19 horsepower. And fuel consumption per 1 hp. was 258 grams of fraction per hour. A modern single-cylinder engine consumes 251.6 g. Unlike a gasoline internal combustion engine, in a diesel engine the combustible mixture is ignited by pressure in the cylinder, rather than being set on fire. Diesel oil is cheaper than traditional fuel. In addition, the dense oil fraction causes less harm to the environment compared to gasoline engine exhaust. On average, the efficiency of Rudolf Diesel's invention is 40%. Its motor is not only economical, but also practical, durable and easy to maintain. Over the past 120 years since their invention, diesel engines have taken pride of place in the automotive industry. They are produced and installed in cars and trucks by the largest companies - industry leaders. The first to do this was in 1936 by the Mercedes concern in the Mercedes Benz-260D car model. Diesel engines are used in the production of heavy equipment, since 1903 they have been used in marine transport, and since 1908 in railway transport. The German engineer took 17 years to achieve his goal, but still created a motor with excellent performance characteristics. The engine immediately found application in many countries. However, in his homeland, Diesel did not gain deserved recognition during his lifetime. The inventor was very worried about this. Paying tribute to his talent and perseverance, every year on January 28, car enthusiasts and equipment manufacturers celebrate the birthday of the diesel engine.

Every year on January 28, Armenians celebrate “Army Day” - a professional holiday for the military. This date appeared in the register of public holidays relatively recently, on January 6, 2001. On this day, the head of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, signed a new bill “On the country’s memorable dates.” The solemn event took place in the main city of the state - Yerevan. Article 2 of the adopted law stated that Army Day in Armenia is now celebrated on January 28. In November of the following year, some amendments were made to the bill, making this day a day off for the entire people. The head of the country chose the holiday date for a reason. On this day, in 1992, the decree “On the Defense of the Armenian Republic” was adopted, proclaiming the creation of a state army. Previously, during the years of the existence of the Soviet Union, starting in 1922, the Armenian military on February 23, together with the USSR, celebrated the “Day of the Red (later Soviet) Army.” This continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union, when Armenia gained independence. The history of the formation and further development of the Armenian Army distinguishes 3 main periods. The first stage began in February 1989 and lasted until May 1992. At this time, relations between Armenians and Azerbaijanis were strained, and the security of the country was ensured by volunteer detachments. The second period, which began in June 1992 and lasted until May 1994, is associated with the formation of the national Army against the backdrop of hostilities. The final, third stage (from June 1994 to the present) is called “army construction”. According to the Armenian Minister of Defense, in peacetime conditions, key attention is paid to the development of military branches, strengthening the connection between society and the army, as well as improving the living conditions of the military. The fact that Armenia is part of the Soviet Union, its participation in the Security Treaty Organization, as well as productive military cooperation with the Russian Federation had a great influence on the development and current appearance of the Armenian Army. For example, some military ranks used during the Soviet Union were retained. The state Ministry of Defense still contains categories such as "ensign". The only difference is that their ranks are now called "non-commissioned officer" and "senior non-commissioned officer". According to tradition, on January 28, all military personnel of the state receive warm congratulations from the leadership of the country and the highest ranks of the Armed Forces of the Republic. The most distinguished ones are awarded state awards, military ranks and memorable gifts. Solemn military parades and reviews are held throughout the country. The media broadcast TV programs and films on military topics throughout the day.

January 28 (January 15, old style) is celebrated according to the folk calendar as Pavlov's Day. Its name comes from the church date of honoring the memory of St. Paul of Thebes, who lived as a hermit for 91 years. Paul's story began in the 3rd century. Blackmail by selfish relatives to hand him over to the persecutors of Christians for an inheritance forced the believer to leave for the silent desert, where he spent a long life. Crows brought food to Paul, and he made clothes from palm leaves. The saint devoted all his time to prayers to the Lord. Before his death, the Monk Anthony came to his monastery and helped bury the humble elder. But among the people, Pavlov's day is more often referred to as the Day of Witches. Sorcerers and witches passed on their experience to young apprentices. They, in turn, practiced on whomever they could and wherever they could. Rarely has this practice been successful. Therefore, on the Day of Witches, peasants tried to stay at home and avoid meeting with unfamiliar people. To protect themselves from witchcraft influence, they prayed in church, painted crosses on the windows and doors of their homes, spat over their shoulders, and gave holy water to themselves and their livestock. They also read out spells against damage and the evil eye. According to tradition, on Pavlov's day the brownie was treated to help him take better care of the house. Usually during the day they said kind words about him, and in the evening they left a glass of vodka or wine and a pot of porridge by the stove. If they forgot to appease the little drummer, he could do bad things. On Pavlov's day, the days gradually became longer and the nights became shorter. The people rejoiced that winter was waning. Looking at the strong gusts of wind, a rainy summer was determined. If the birds were hiding in the corners, a cold was approaching, if they were chirping in the trees, warming was expected, and if they sat silently on the branches, a blizzard was foreshadowed.

The main body of the scientific system of Belarus is the National Academy of Sciences. It is here that innovative technologies are developed and appear, which extend to any sector of the life of the state - be it agriculture, medicine, production or educational systems of the country. The applied and theoretical science of the country is developed by the efforts of people who are not indifferent to the structure and development of their homeland. Here research is carried out and new theoretical knowledge is formed. Here, training programs for talented young people of the country are formed, created and improved. The last Sunday of January is a day dedicated to science workers in Belarus - this day is called the Day of Belarusian Science and has been celebrated since 1993. Of course, financing and development, the progress of various sectors of the country’s life, the result of which is stable economic growth, is a rather complex undertaking, but quite a few people are working on this and, albeit slowly, the state is developing and does not remain at the same level. On this day, I would like to wish all the people of Belarus who are close to science patience, creative success, development and fulfillment of all their wildest wishes in the field of professional knowledge and skills. The state needs to finance scientific achievements, because without this it will not be possible to update various systems and mechanisms of work in a particular area, be it production, accumulation and trade. The country’s scientific system, developed at the modern level, is a fairly solid foundation for its development. The Belarusian National Academy of Sciences employs about 18 thousand scientists - among them are researchers, doctors and candidates for doctors of science, professors and associate professors. All these people made certain discoveries, conducted research and in one way or another made life easier for others - after all, they create progressive technologies and introduce them into everyday use, for which I bow to them. Every year, at the end of January, forums and seminars are held in the country to exchange experiences among scientific achievements. Colleagues in the same professional field have the opportunity to communicate with each other, get tips on their work and share their own experiences. They hold international conferences to exchange experiences with colleagues from foreign countries. Do not forget that Belarus is located in the center of Europe - although it is a small country, it still has every chance of developing at the level of other European countries.

Orthodox holidays January 28:

The Monk Paul of Thebes lived a long life, more than 100 years, and most of his life he lived as a hermit in the desert. Although he did not found monastic monasteries throughout his life, many followed his example. Paul of Thebes is called the “father” of monasticism in Orthodoxy. His childhood was spent in the city of Thebaid (Egypt), where he was from. Having lost both parents at a young age, the young man had a hard time. Not having time to survive the bitterness of losing his parents, he had to defend his rights to his parental inheritance. In one moment the guy lost everything. Pavel is forced to flee the city to save him from arrest and an unfair trial. Their reason was a slander written by his relative. In the desert, he settled in a cave, where he lived as an absolute hermit for 91 years. He spent all his time in prayer. For food, Paul of Thebes had dates with bread, which the raven brought in his beak every day, and palm leaves served as clothing. Thus, the elder lived almost his entire life in prayer, humility and asceticism, until he was found by another hermit, Anthony the Great, who lived in the same desert. The Lord himself showed the way to Paul of Thebes after Anthony asked him: Are there people who live like me? God answered this: Yes, and they are superior to you. Having met, the elders hugged, had a long conversation and remained together until the death of Paul of Thebes. Moreover, the Monk Paul of Thebes himself told Saint Anthony the date of his death and bequeathed to bury him in a Christian manner. Death overtook him when he predicted it, and he spent the last minutes of his life in prayer. Saint Anthony was a witness to his death; he saw how the soul of Paul of Thebes ascended upward, surrounded by angels and apostles. He buried the venerable elder according to Christian customs, and took the clothes made from palm branches with him as a souvenir. Saint Anthony carefully kept it as a relic and wore it only on major Orthodox holidays.

Memorial Day of St. John Kushchnik