The head of the Centre for Neighbouring and Mediterranean Studies, Dr. Slobodan Janković, participated in the activities of the cultural festivity dedicated to Johan Ludwig Runeberg. It is being traditionally organized in his hometown Jakobstad/Pietarsaari.   Dr. Janković held a lecture “Patterns and sources of Serbian identity”.

Runeberg was wholeheartedly translating songs and other written Serbian heritage collected by Vuk Stefanović Karadžić. He was inspired by our epic poems when he wrote the poem which was used for the creation of the national hymn of Finland.