‘University for Life’: Wedding Held at Durasov House for the First Time
.jpg "‘University for Life’: Wedding Held at Durasov House for the First Time")
In the heart of Moscow, the unique historical mansion of the late 18th century—the Durasov House on Pokrovsky Bulvar, which is part of the HSE University campus, —has opened its doors as a wedding venue. Throughout the summer, HSE students and staff can now celebrate one of the most significant moments of their lives within the walls of their beloved university. Ksenia and Ilya Samonenko, Deputy Dean for Methodological and Educational Work at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science, were the first couple to tie the knot in this remarkable space.
The idea of summer weddings at HSE University belongs to the Student Initiative Support Centre. The ceremonies are not official; they are organised and conducted by student volunteers without the involvement of the registry office (which means that the marriage must be registered beforehand). This unusual initiative has received a positive response from HSE students and staff as the Student Initiative Support Centre has already received several requests to hold the ceremony from various HSE campuses.
The official registration of the marriage of Ksenia and Ilya Samonenko took place in Saint Petersburg. The decision to hold the celebration at the Durasov House was spontaneous: Ilya saw the announcement in ‘HSE University Life.’ The ceremony was organised on the first Saturday of July, ahead of the All-Russian Day of Family, Love, and Fidelity, which is traditionally celebrated on July 8.
The Durasov House is a historical mansion from the late 18th century, commissioned by the nobleman Alexei Durasov during a time when the centre of Moscow was undergoing a major renovation in the classical style. It is believed that one of the architects of the mansion was Matvey Kazakov, as it was restored to its original form based on his drawings. Today, the Durasov House serves as an administrative building for the university, hosting the Rectorate, Academic Council, conferences, round tables, official meetings, and now even weddings. During the Durasov family's ownership, grand balls, soirées, and formal dinners were held there.
In this beautiful building, Ilya and Ksenia exchanged rings and danced the wedding waltz after the solemn ceremony. The role of the marriage celebrant was performed by Ekaterina, a third-year student of the Cultural Studies programme. She said that this wedding made a very touching impression on her. ‘It is especially moving when the university plays a big role in shaping the lives of two people. It’s great to find your soulmate at HSE University, where you share so much in common. Being part of this ceremony as a celebrant is both nerve-wracking and joyful,’ she added, saying that she also hopes to find her future spouse at HSE University.
The bride and groom had a photo shoot at the famous cast-iron staircase of the Durasov House, which is the gem of the mansion and dates back to the 19th century, when the building was handed over to the Practical Academy of Commercial Sciences. There are only a few such staircases left in Moscow's historical buildings. The newlyweds then continued their photo session in the HSE atrium.
The event organisers carefully selected the music and decorations, creating an atmosphere that made guests forget they were in a university building and be taken back to a classical era.
‘The Durasov House is a calm and atmospheric place that is close to all university staff and students,’ says Ilya Samonenko. Although their love story with Ksenia is not directly connected to the university, they found it valuable and meaningful to celebrate the birth of their family within its walls. ‘It’s great that the university is not just for work, but also for life,’ the couple noted.
Applications for wedding ceremonies at HSE University can be submitted on the website. The event is free for newlyweds. Weddings are held on weekends during the summer.
The summer weddings at the HSE buildings coincide with the Year of the Family celebrations in Russia.