Congress of Russian Americans

SINCE 1973

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CRA CONGRATULATES GRADUATES

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Each year, the Congress of Russian Americans receives lists of graduates and honor students from parish Russian schools across the United States. This tradition allows CRA to recognize young people who continue to study Russian language, history, culture, and faith while growing up in America.

Some schools have already completed their academic year, and CRA representatives have begun presenting congratulatory letters and awards to students. Other graduation ceremonies will take place in the coming weeks, and additional students will receive commendation and celebration packages from CRA.

Over the years, participating schools have included Sts. Cyril and Methodius High School at the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco; Russian schools at the Church of All Russian Saints in Burlingame; the school at Holy Transfiguration Church in Los Angeles; and Russian schools in Reno, Sacramento, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, and other communities.

CRA representatives present graduates with a congratulatory letter, an honorarium check, a special proclamation from CRA, and honorary CRA membership for the current year. Students who continue their annual membership may remain eligible for waived membership fees while they continue their education. Upon graduating from high school and applying to a college or university, they may also apply for a CRA scholarship.

CRA scholarship applications may be requested from the CRA office. Applications are due by the end of June of the year in which the student is applying.

The Congress of Russian Americans warmly congratulates all graduates this year, including students graduating from Russian schools, American schools, colleges, universities, trade schools, technical programs, vocational institutions, academies, and other institutions of higher learning.

CRA is proud to recognize the achievements of these young people and to support their continued education, cultural identity, and service to their communities.

Honoring the 250th Anniversary of the United States

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On this momentous occasion of the United States Semiquincentennial, the Congress of Russian Americans extends its most heartfelt congratulations to our nation. Two hundred and fifty years ago, a bold vision of liberty, justice, and opportunity was born. Today, we proudly stand together to celebrate the enduring legacy and triumph of that great American experiment.

For some of our members, America is the land of their birth. For many others, it is the destination of a long journey—a beacon of hope that welcomed us or our ancestors with open arms. But regardless of where our individual stories began, for all of us, the United States is, first and foremost, our cherished home.

Since the earliest days of this Republic, Russian Americans have stood shoulder to shoulder with men and women of all backgrounds and nationalities to defend, build, and enrich this country. We have shared in its struggles, rejoiced in its victories, and worked tirelessly to make this nation great.

Our history is deeply woven into the fabric of American greatness. We remember military leaders like Brigadier General John Basil Turchin (Ivan Turchinov), who fought valiantly for the Union during the Civil War, helping to keep our nation whole. We celebrate visionary scientists and inventors like Igor Sikorsky, whose aviation pioneering transformed the skies, and Vladimir Zworykin, the father of modern television. We honor the unparalleled cultural contributions of artists, composers, and creators like Sergei Rachmaninoff, George Balanchine, and Irving Berlin, who gave America a voice, a rhythm, and a soul that resonated across the globe.

As we celebrate the 250th jubilee of the United States, we also reflect on our own journey. Having recently crossed our own half-century milestone—marking over 50 years since the founding of the Congress of Russian Americans—we recognize that our organization’s story is inextricably linked to the American story. For a half-century, we have dedicated ourselves to preserving our cultural heritage while fostering a strong, engaged, and patriotic Russian-American community. Our 50 years of advocacy is a proud chapter within this quarter-millennium of American freedom.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunities this great country has provided. May the United States of America continue to be a shining city on a hill—a land of liberty, justice, and boundless opportunity for all generations to come.

Happy 250th Birthday, America! May God bless our shared home.

— The Congress of Russian Americans

Christ is Risen! Happy Holy Feast of the Resurrection of Christ

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On this joyous and holy Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, the Congress of Russian Americans extends its heartfelt congratulations to all our members, friends, and their families.

May this radiant day bring peace to your hearts, hope to your homes, and renewed strength to all who celebrate the victory of life over death, light over darkness, and love over fear.

Holy Pascha is the great feast of faith, joy, and spiritual renewal. It reminds us that even in difficult times, hope is never lost, and that the light of Christ shines forth for all.

We wish you a blessed and joyful Pascha. May your homes be filled with peace, your tables with loved ones, and your hearts with the gladness of the Resurrection.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Congress of Russian Americans

The Russian-American Women Who Shaped the American Century

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During Women’s History Month, currently celebrated across the United States, we are reminded that history is not solely written in textbooks—it is lived, breathed, and forged through acts of undeniable courage, deep-seated care, and unyielding conviction. From the bold philosophical paradigms of Ayn Rand to the tireless humanitarian work of Alexandra Tolstaya, and the cinematic brilliance of Natalie Wood, Russian-American women have played an indelible role in weaving the intellectual, moral, and cultural fabric of the United States.

Here are the stories of three remarkable women whose legacies continue to define the Russian-American experience.

Ayn Rand: The Voice of Individualism

Born Alisa Rosenbaum in St. Petersburg, Ayn Rand immigrated to the United States in 1926, carrying with her a fierce belief in individual freedom—a worldview irrevocably shaped by the upheavals of the Russian Revolution.

Her landmark novels, including The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged, fundamentally transformed American intellectual life. Through her philosophy of Objectivism, Rand championed reason, independence, and the moral imperative of personal achievement.

Today, she remains a deeply polarizing figure. Admirers revere her as a titan of freedom and creative enterprise, while critics argue her philosophy neglects the vital importance of community and social responsibility. Yet, regardless of where one stands on the ideological spectrum, her influence is undeniable. She transmuted her personal narrative into a provocative body of work that continues to spark fierce debate, inspire soaring ambition, and challenge foundational assumptions.

Alexandra Tolstaya: Preserving a Legacy, Building a Haven

If Ayn Rand represents the intellectual force of the Russian-American diaspora, Alexandra Tolstaya embodies its profound moral resilience and cultural continuity.

Born in 1884 as the youngest daughter of the legendary Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, Alexandra came of age at the heart of one of the world’s most significant literary households. Yet, her life was defined by far more than her famous lineage.

Service and Survival During World War I, she served valiantly as a frontline nurse, earning decorations for her bravery. Following the Bolshevik Revolution, her association with Tolstoyan ideals and her fiercely independent activism led to multiple arrests.

Emigration and New Beginnings In 1929, she joined the broader wave of Russian émigrés fleeing for safety and freedom, eventually settling in the United States. Like countless others, she was forced to rebuild her life from the ground up in an unfamiliar land.

The Tolstoy Foundation By 1939, she channeled her resilience into the creation of the Tolstoy Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping refugees—particularly displaced Russians—resettle and adapt to American life. Through her tireless advocacy, Alexandra directly assisted thousands of immigrants, offering housing, vital support, and a renewed sense of community during the darkest decades of the 20th century.

Tolstoy Farm in New York She further cemented this mission by establishing the Tolstoy Farm in New York. The farm became a vital sanctuary for refugees and a thriving center for preserving Russian spiritual and cultural traditions in exile.

Natalie Wood: An American Star with a Russian Soul

While Rand reshaped thought and Tolstaya preserved life, Natalie Wood captured the American heart, bringing the profound depth of the Russian soul to the silver screen.

Born Natalia Zakharenko in San Francisco in 1938 to Russian immigrant parents who had fled the ravages of the revolution and civil war, Wood grew up elegantly straddling two worlds. Her childhood was deeply steeped in her family’s heritage. Her parents instilled in her a profound respect for her roots, celebrating Orthodox holidays, speaking Russian at home, and discussing the complex philosophical depths of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. This rich, multilayered upbringing provided the young actress with an extraordinary emotional vocabulary and a critical mind.

Finding her breakthrough at just eight years old in the classic Miracle on 34th Street, Wood quickly ascended to Hollywood royalty. As she matured into iconic, Oscar-nominated roles in films like Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, and Splendor in the Grass, she famously blended American vibrancy with a distinctly Russian emotional intensity.

In a fiercely competitive and often superficial mid-century Hollywood, Wood’s dedication to her roots kept her grounded. She adapted Eastern European acting depths to American cinematic standards, openly embracing her heritage and proving that a star could conquer the global stage without sacrificing the cultural identity that shaped her.

Three Paths, One Enduring Legacy

Ayn Rand, Alexandra Tolstaya, and Natalie Wood walked vastly different paths:

  • One redefined American philosophy and literature.
  • Another preserved human dignity, memory, and community.
  • The third immortalized the complexity of the human experience on film.

Yet, together, they illuminate the profound, multifaceted contributions of Russian-American women. Their stories speak to the courage required to leave everything behind, the sheer strength needed to rebuild in a new country, and the fierce determination to shape the world around them. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor not just their individual triumphs, but the enduring, dynamic spirit they so brilliantly represent.