The Day of Belarusian Written Language will be held in Polotsk for the third time

— Vladimir Petrovich, 2017 is a special year for the Vitebsk region. Such a significant anniversary of Belarusian book printing will be celebrated. The Day of Belarusian Written Language will be held in Polotsk for the third (!) time. In parallel, the 1155th anniversary of the oldest city in the country was celebrated. How is the preparation for these events going?

— Preparations began in May last year. The "starting point" were the relevant instructions and orders at various levels of government and departments. The district organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the Day of Belarusian Written Language holds meetings every week, and meetings of the regional and republican organizing committees have taken place.

We consider it necessary to tell about the history of the Belarusian people and statehood through printed word, song and poetry. We will try to present all the richness of the Belarusian language and spirituality. The main thematic events are planned to be held in the Museum of Belarusian Book Printing and the Simeon Polotsky Museum-Library. They will also take place in the premises of the first Belarusian university – the buildings of the former Jesuit collegium (in Polotsk State University. – Auth.)

— "Zvyazda" has already reported on some developments and plans. The renovation of the facade of the Museum of Belarusian Book Printing and the improvement of the adjacent territory, capital repair with modernization of the St. Sophia Cathedral, and so on were envisaged...

— A great deal of work is being carried out to prepare the entire city and district for the celebration. And in this matter, there is full interaction between city and regional services. Thanks to the republican departments for their support. The restoration work in the St. Sophia Cathedral is planned to be completed. This year, all window units should be replaced, and the ventilation system should be completed. After the work on the facade, this unique architectural monument will shine with all its unique grandeur and beauty. And the Museum

the Belarusian book printing will also be brought into proper condition. Among other things, the facade will be polished, and the roofs will be put in order... All work will be mandatorily coordinated with the Ministry of Culture. As required by law.

At the same time, work is underway to update the exposition, especially the part dedicated to the first printer. This includes the replacement of lighting equipment (with LEDs), the installation of an info-kiosk where visitors can virtually flip through all of Skaryna's publications.

— How is the issue of creating and installing the commemorative sign "Polotsk — the cradle of Belarusian statehood" in the city being resolved?

— A competition among authors has been announced. As of our conversation, the results have not yet been summarized. By mid-March, the competition commission will make an appropriate decision. The commemorative sign should symbolize that Polotsk is the place where the first statehood appeared on Belarusian lands. And it is very symbolic that it will be installed in the "heart" of the ancient city — near the St. Sophia Cathedral. It was there, on the site near the western wall of the ancient Sophia (where the main entrance to the temple used to be), that the city residents held their veche meetings. Therefore, this place is of great importance for Belarusian history... As for financing, it will be carried out from various sources, including with the participation of patrons and everyone who wishes to contribute money to the relevant account.

— Polotsk is on the list of cities that are highly recommended for foreign guests to visit. How developed is the infrastructure for receiving tourists? How many of them visit annually?

— In the Polotsk district, there are 4 hotels, more than 20 agro-estates, 12 hunting lodges, and 32 recreation areas. A new tourist reception base near Lake Suya is successfully operating.

Last year, the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve alone was visited by about 235,000 people. And every fifth visitor was from other countries. By the way, in the St. Sophia Cathedral and the Museum of Belarusian Book Printing, which are part of the reserve, there are audio guides for foreigners. Scientific employees who conduct excursions in English and German are involved there.

In

museums, souvenirs are readily bought. In warm weather, they are also sold near St. Sophia Cathedral, near the memorial sign "Geographical Center of Europe". On Francysk Skaryna Avenue, there is a souvenir shop "City of Masters".

— How developed is printing in the Vitebsk region in our "digital" age of high technologies and the Internet?

— The Dvina region has glorious centuries-old traditions of printing. It was in the Polotsk district, in his estate Tyapino (now Chashnitsky district), that Vasil Nikolaevich Tyapinsky continued Skaryna's work, who organized a printing house in the 1570s and published the "Gospel". In 1630, near Orsha, at the Kutein Monastery, a printing house began its activities under the leadership of Spiridon Sobol. It became the center of Belarusian Cyrillic printing. There, Sobol, a printer, enlightener, and writer, began working on the Psalter with additional chapters. Besides the "Psalter", he printed three books - the "Alphabet" (1630), the "Prayer Book" (1631), the "Chaslov" (1632)... For the first time in the history of Belarusian Cyrillic printing, secular genre illustration appeared in Kutein... Printing houses in our century, I believe, are also operating successfully. The "Vitebsk Regional Printing House" is the most active. In particular, last year they printed more than 30 books there. Most often, local history literature and fiction are ordered. The greatest income is generated by the publication of albums and popular science literature.

Alexander PUKSHANSKY,"Zvyazda".