The Path to eternity

The exhibition “The Path to Eternity” is on show in the Belarusian Literature Reading Room (room 205) from April 1 to May 17 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Belarusian historian and literary critic Mikola Ermolovich (1921–2000).

Mikola Ermolovich was born on April 29, 1921 in the village of Malye Novosyolki, Minsk district (now the Dzerzhinsky district) into a peasant family. The parents graduated from the parish school, but they sent their children to science. From childhood, the boy had poor eyesight, and it was clear that he was not fit for hard peasant labor.

Mikola graduated from the Minsk Pedagogical Institute, the Belarusian department of the literary faculty. During the Great Patriotic War he taught in Mordovia. After the liberation of Belarus, he returned to his homeland. He worked as a head teacher at a secondary school in Dzerzhinsk, at the Molodechno Teachers' Institute, where he taught Belarusian literature. In the late 1950s, he retired as his eyesight deteriorated.

According to Mikola Ivanovich, the story has been in him since childhood, but true love for her came much later. First there was literature. His first printed poem appeared in 1936 in a regional newspaper. He wrote critical articles dedicated to F. Bogushevich, Y. Luchina, Y. Kupala, Y. Kolas, K. Kalinovsky. Yermolovich became famous for his historical research. He was interested in the settlement of Eastern Europe by Slavic tribes, the ethnogenesis of Belarusians, the political history of the ancient lands of Belarus, the problems of the emergence of the GDL, etc.

The works of the historian and literary critic Yermolovich are introduced to the visitors in the section “What is written remains”. The book "Passed adnago myth" was published in 1989 and took first place among the "10 best books of the year". It was a bright and significant phenomenon in the public life of Belarus in the 20th century. In 1990, “Starazhitnaya Belarus: Polatsk and Novagarodsk Peryads” was published. And again - the first place. His books, as soon as they appeared on the shelves of bookstores, immediately became a bibliographic rarity. In addition, the exhibition presents "Old-time Belarus: Vilensky Periyad", "Belarusian Dzyarzhava Vyalikae of the Principality of Lithuania", "Vybranae" and others.

“Simple and Significant” is a section of the exposition that tells about the life and creative path of N. Yermolovich. Those who are familiar not only with his activities, but also knew him personally, write about the historian with warmth and respect. The librarians of the Belarusian hall of the National Library also remember Mikola Ivanovich. Everyone was very impressed by his modesty, efficiency and, especially, his enthusiasm for his work. Every day, in the morning until late at night, he is in the small hall, in his place.

In the center of Molodechno, at the intersection of Vilenskaya and Volyntsi streets, there is a monument to the honorary citizen of the city - Mikola Ivanovich Ermolovich.

The opening hours of the exhibition correspond to the opening hours of the library.
Entrance with a library card or a ticket for a socio-cultural center.

For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 16.

Special Collections Service Department