The International Exhibition “Belarus and the Bible”, dedicated to the most known and influential book in the history of mankind, has opened in the National Library, on September 8.
First in Belarus, one display presents such valuable rarities, some of which are five thousand years old. The exhibits have arrived in the library from Great Britain, the USA, Israel, Korea and many private collections.
The exhibition is organized by the National Library of Belarus and the non-profit organization Manuscript Research Group (USA).
Director of the National Library of Belarus Roman Motulsky, Vice Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Yatsko, Archbishop of Minsk and Mogilev, Metropolitan Tadeush Kondrusevich, first pro-rector of the Institute of Theology named after St. Methodius and St. Cyril at Belarusian State University, archpriest Sergey Gordun, and director of the Manuscript Research Group Dr. Scott Carroll spoke at the ceremonial opening. The event was attended by representatives of governmental bodies, diplomatic missions, heads and staff of the institutions of culture, education, non-government organizations, known scientists and other persons concerned.
At the exhibition, the guests became familiarized with truly unique exhibits:
- the original manuscripts of “the Bible of the Antiquity” – the Iliad by Homer – papyrus in Greek, written before Christ;
- original biblical engravings by Albrecht Durer, Salvador Dali and other famous artists;
- the Dead Sea Scrolls (two thousand years old) – the oldest manuscripts of the Bible;
- the original Bibles of Gutenberg, Luther and Skaryna;
- the oldest fragments of the New Testament (2–3 A.D.);
- biblical manuscripts in the classical languages: Greek, Latin, Coptic, Samaritan, Armenian, Indian and Chinese;
- early-printed books of many peoples and countries, first translations of the Bible into national languages;
- the old Belarusian biblical manuscripts and early-printed books.
The project involves entertainers from different countries. A pleasant bonus is the opportunity to learn printing on a Gutenberg machine, and also attend a manuscript workshop. Children are welcomed to the Book Professors’ Club, and for adults, there are scientific lectures from known foreign and Belarusian researchers.
Entrance to the exhibition is available by the library ticket, or ticket of the library's social and cultural center, or with a tour group.
The exhibition runs at the Book Museum (room 347), until October 21, 2018.
For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 22, 293 28 85.
Е-mail: pr@nlb.by
See also the videos and our photo reportage about the event:
