Yakov Nikolayevich Lyubarsky (Russian: Яков Николаевич Люба́рский; July 7, 1929 – November 30, 2003) was a Soviet scholar, Doctor of Philology, specialist in Byzantine studies.

During WW2, Yakov Lyubarsky was evacuated from besieged Leningrad and returned to the city only at the end of the war to continue high school, which he finished with honors.

Recommended by the faculty to the postgraduate program (aspirantura), he however was not accepted due to his Jewish descent and for several years, worked as a German teacher at an evening school for adults.

In 1955 after completing her postgraduate studies, Lyubarsky's wife, also a literary scholar was “distributed” by the Soviet government to Velikie Luki to teach at the department of Russian and Foreign Literature of the local Pedagogical Institute.

In 1965, Yakov Lyubarsky wins a contest to become a docent (Associate Professor) at the department of foreign languages of a Naval College in Leningrad.

However, his permanent appointment as a professor within the department of Modern Greek Philology of the Leningrad University became possible only in the 1990s, with the changes in the Russian political climate.

Profound knowledge and love for the subjects he taught, wide experience as an educator, and Lyubarsky's casual and humorous manner (“non-puffed-up”, as he himself described it) won respect and appreciation among many of his students.

In the meantime, while his worldwide fame as a scholar continues to grow, he travels to international conferences of Byzantine Studies and lectures at the universities of Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Crete and Cyprus, England, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Australia.

[3] It was the first complete Russian edition of the historical account written by the Byzantine princess about the reign of her father, Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium (1081–1118).

[7] A series of these essays discuss relationships between the philosopher and his contemporaries, thus offering us a view into spiritual, ethical, and everyday life of the Byzantine society in the 11th century.

[8] In contrast to existing stereotypes, Yakov Lyubarsky rediscovers Pselloes’ worth and significance, and emphasizes previously overlooked artistic value of his work.