The facsimile edition "The Book Heritage of Francysk Skaryna" was handed over to the regional library
Welcoming the conference participants – scientists, historians, local lore specialists, museum and library employees, and university representatives from Belarus, Russia, and Latvia, Gennady Yegorov, Head of the Main Department of Ideological Work, Culture, and Youth Affairs of the Regional Executive Committee, noted that this significant forum contributes to the study and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of our country and the Vitebsk region. He wished them fruitful work, new creative successes, and pleasant impressions of the Dvina region. He also, together with Svetlana Valyushkina, Director of Polotsk Gymnasium No. 1 named after Francysk Skaryna, thanked everyone who joined in its creation and contributed to the spiritual enrichment of the Belarusian people for this valuable gift. The distinctive multi-volume edition was presented by Alexander Suscha, Candidate of Cultural Studies, Deputy Director for Scientific Work and Publishing Activities of the National Library, which implemented this grand educational project.
The image of Francysk Skaryna and the books he printed in Prague and Vilnius are a symbol that unites contemporary society and culture, and people of different generations. The renowned Polotsk native fundamentally changed the Belarusian intellectual space, opening up an important opportunity for our nation to speak its word to the world and making books accessible. Therefore, the facsimile version of the great Francysk's heritage is a very significant achievement, not only on the occasion of the anniversary of printing. It is an attempt to reclaim the richness created 500 years ago, which until recently was inaccessible to Belarusians. The Republic has only 10 Skaryna books, and even those, unfortunately, are incomplete and have other defects.
A deep scientific study was conducted, digital copies of famous publications by our compatriot were obtained from various countries around the world and under different conditions, and specialists were fortunate enough to work with some of the originals in person. As a result, 521 copies of books were found and described, mainly stored in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Great Britain, and Slovenia, and a digital collection was created for widespread use.
The facsimile reproduction of Skaryna's heritage, executed at a high polygraphic level, with absolute preservation of the peculiarities of their originals, even with damage acquired over time, became one of the most important acts of its return to the homeland of the first printer. For this purpose, the original texts were translated for the first time into modern Belarusian, as well as Russian and English, to become as accessible as possible.
For the first time, each of these books was analyzed and described separately in three languages, and all research and translations were included in the facsimile edition. The result was a 20-volume set plus one additional volume of appendices, which also tells about this educational project.
By the way, it was launched four years ago at the library of Polotsk State University with the participation of the regional library. The largest book depositories of the region received the first volumes into their collections then. And now the grand project "Return" has been completed in the main book temple of the Vitebsk region.
The overarching theme of the conference's plenary session was the comprehension of the personality and activities of Francysk Skaryna. Even before that, researchers and promoters of his heritage worked productively in sections dedicated to historical and religious local history, and the role of cultural, educational, and academic institutions in the system of modern local history. The range of topics was very broad. Rich and interesting material will be systematized and will certainly become available to all lovers of domestic, including Vitebsk, antiquity.