Finland, The Country of White Lilies

by Grigory Petrov, Muge Sozen (Translator)

Overview

During most of Finland's history, it had been ruled by different countries. The first instance of this was the Treaty of Nöteborg in 1323. This treaty was between Sweden and the Novgorod Republic and it established their borders. After the treaty, the majority of Finland became a part of Sweden. From 1323 through 1808, the majority of Finland was a part of Sweden. After 1808, Russia captured the region of Finland from Sweden. Russia captured the region of Finland from 1808 through 1809. Then, in 1906, Finland had its own parliament. Although, Russia recognized Finland's independence on December 31, 1917. In 1906, Finland had universal and equal right to vote which also applied to women. Then, in August of 1939, Finland went under Soviet Union influence. Throughout Finland's history, Finland was not independent very often. Although, when Finland became independent, a man named Johan Vilhelm Snellman advocated and supported the development of Finnish culture and the development of the country. Snellman wanted Finland to have full independence and its own culture.
Snellman was born on May 12, 1806 in Sweden. He was born after the establishment of semi-independent Finland. Snellman was a philosopher, statesman, and a journalist. He taught at a university in Helsinki. Snellman wanted Finland to be advanced in education and the arts. Snellman had told the young Finnish people that, "Your success in football does not make me happy! Young Finnish like you not to beat Germans, English, Frenchs, Hungarians by shooting to the ball; Instead of it, with your mind, your heart, science, craft, trade, carpentry I would love to defeat them to take your homeland forward with your willing." This book explains Snellman's ideas on developing a newly growing country. It focuses on increasing the quality of education and the school environment. This book became very popular among developing countries. It was first written in Serbia in 1923 under the title "Zidari of Belly" which translates to "Creators of Life". It was next printed in Bulgarian in 1925 under the title "In the Country of White Lilies". In Bulgarian, the book has gone through 14 editions. The book was also printed in Turkish in 1928. In Turkish, the book has gone through 16 editions. The first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, knew that this book held valuable information so he made all public employees read the book, he put it into the school curriculum, and made Turkish officers study the book. This book was then published in Russia in 2004 under the title "Finland, the Country of White Lilies".
Today marks the day that this book was translated to English by Atatürk Research Center CT. (July 2020)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940162870166
Publisher:	Ataturk Research Center CT
Publication date:	07/17/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	157 KB

About the Author

Grigory Spiridonovich Petrov was born in Yamburg, (now Kingisepp, Leningrad Oblast) on February 6, 1866. Petrov graduated from St. Petersburg Theological Seminary in 1886 and later graduated from St. Petersburg Theological Academy in 1891. Petrov’s most successful work was the “Gospel as the Foundation of Life'', which he wrote in 1898. Petrov was an Orthodox Priest. From 1895 - 1906, Petrov served as prior to the Church of Mikhailovsky Ordnance Academy. In 1902 - 1904, Petrov worked as a lecturer of theology at the Polytechnical Institute. In 1899 - 1917, Petrov contributed to the Russkoe Slovo newspaper. Petrov wrote books, brochures, and articles where he advocated Christian socialism. From 1901 - 1903, Petrov took part in various religious and philosophic meetings. Also in 1903, conservatives attacked Petrov’s ideas on religion. He joined the liberal renovated church movement. This movement opposed the Russian Orthodox Church. Then, in 1906, Petrov published the Pravada Bozhiya newspaper. Pravada means “truth” in English. The purpose of the newspaper was to publicize labor activism and expose working conditions in Russian factories. In 1907, Petrov was elected Deputy of the Second State Duma as a member of the constitutional Democratic Party. He did not get to serve as Duma because he was charged with false teaching at an ecclesiastical court. Also in 1907, Petrov was banned from his ministry and was sent for discipline in the Cheremenetsky Monastery. In 1908, Petrov was defrocked. After being defrocked, Petrov became a journalist for a liberal newspaper called, “The Word''. Since Petrov was defrocked, he was banned from living in St. Petersburg. Petrov then travelled around the country giving lectures. In 1920, Petrov went to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) by ship from Crimea. He ended up in a refugee camp in Gallipoli (modern day Gelibolu). He then went to Trieste and then to Belgrade. In June of 1925, Petrov arrived in France. He went to a clinic near Paris called “Maison de Sante”. Petrov found out he had an incurable cancerous tumor. Petrov had to have an operation to try to take out the tumor. Unfortunately, on June 18, 1925, right after his operation he passed away. Petrov died in Paris and was cremated. His ashes were transferred from Paris to Munich.