Fostering Peace Through Literature and Open Dialogue
Svet Seminar is a nonprofit educational platform that brings people together for deep, thoughtful dialogue.
What is the project's idea?
At the core of our work is the seminar — a free-form, Socratic-style discussion based on great works of literature.
🔹 Online & open to all ages
🔹 Inspired by St. John's College, called "the most contrarian college in America" (NYT)
🔹 No lectures. Just conversation that matters.
How it Works
Choose a Text
From ancient philosophy to modern literature. We read everything!
Register for a Seminar
Seminar places are limited. Sign up through our Telegram channel.
Participate in Discussion
Read the text, share your unique opinion, and listen to others.
Discover Yourself
Our seminars provide an opportunity to learn more about yourself, your beliefs, and contradictions.
Recent Courses and Partnerships
"As far as I know, this is the first time that students, in a very formal way — explicitly — want to use the St. John's College seminar mode as the way to solve a very big project, which is the psychology, history and toxicity of history that leads to conflict."
🏆 Projects for Peace 2024
Selected as recipients of the prestigious $10,000 Projects for Peace grant through Middlebury College's Kathryn W. Davis Collaborative. Our "Svet Summer Seminar Program" successfully brought together students from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus for collaborative literary discussion during a time of conflict.
🤝 Current Private Partnerships
We are proud to work with two dedicated private donors associated with St. John's College who believe in our mission. Notably, one patron has generously committed to matching every additional private donation, effectively doubling the impact of new supporters' contributions to our educational initiatives.
Course Offerings
Summer 2024: Eastern European Literature
An intensive exploration of pivotal works that shaped Eastern European consciousness and political thought:
Fall-Winter 2024: Critical Reading of Early Soviet Theory and Evolution of the Soviet Project
A comprehensive analysis of foundational Soviet theoretical texts and their historical development:
Project Founders
Our founding partnership emerged from a shared academic vision during our university studies. We recognized the profound need for accessible alternative educational pathways that leverage literary analysis as a foundation for critical thinking and intellectual development.
Kanstantsin Tsiarokhin
Kanstantsin's formative years in Minsk, Belarus and Kyiv, Ukraine provided deep exposure to post-Soviet cultural dynamics and political discourse. His educational leadership began in Minsk, where he established conversational English courses, demonstrating early commitment to accessible education. Following his relocation to Berlin in 2022, he achieved fluency in German while immersing himself in European intellectual traditions. Having finished his undergraduate degree at St. John's College, Kanstantsin works as a teacher at a public school in New York City.
Amir B.
Amir B. is an experienced entrepreneur, and a current student at St. John's College. Born in Russia, Amir began his education at an Orthodox gymnasium, which laid the foundation for his interest in tradition, dialogue, and ideas. He comes from Eastern Europe, with roots and family connections in several countries across the region. He later attended UWC Dilijan in Armenia, where he encountered transformative approaches to learning grounded in reflection and global engagement. At St. John's, he has deepened his belief that authentic education should foster independent thinking and meaningful inquiry, rather than rely on rote memorization. Amir B. prefers to remain anonymous in public-facing materials.
Contact
Email: svetseminar.edu@gmail.com
Phone: (505) 310-0190