The round table, dedicated to the 950th anniversary of the first Belarusian library – the Library of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, took place in the National Library of Belarus on the Day of Libraries, September 15.
Heads and representatives of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus, Belarusian Orthodox Church, employers of libraries and museums, leading specialists of scientific and educational institutions gathered to celebrate the 950th anniversary of the first Belarusian library and discuss issues of the national book heritage preservation.
Head of culture and folk art department of the Ministry of Culture Natalia Zaderkovskaya, first deputy chairman of Polotsk district executive committee Sergei Leichenko, director of the National Library of Belarus Roman Motulski, bishop of Borisov and Mariina Gorka Veniamin delivered welcoming speeches.
Head of the historical department of the BSU, doctor of historical sciences Alexander Kokhanovsky, priest, secretary of the Synodal department for religious education and catechesis, teacher of church history department of Minsk theological seminary Aleksey Khotev, director of the National Library of Belarus, doctor of pedagogical sciences Roman Motulski, director of the National Polotsk historical cultural conservation museum, candidate of culturology Tamara Dzhumantaeva delivered reports and presentations on the Library of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom history.
The Library of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom as a centre of the orthodoxy on Belarusian lands has had an outstanding fund and played a significant role in the social life since its appearing. Euphrosyne of Polotsk contributed to the collection development in the 12th century, she copied herself sacred books in the scriptorium. The Library included manifold types of literary monuments, such as liturgical books, philosophical essays, Biblical and New Testament texts and compilations, and historical works and manuscripts. Unfortunately, the Library lost its treasures during the Livonian War and now there are many suppositions about its fund’s destiny. Books of this Library – a significant part of the Belarusian cultural life – are in Poland, Russia, Ukraine, in private collections.
Participants of the round table got acquainted with the exhibition, dedicated to the Library of the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom and history of the Belarusian librarianship.
Results of the round table and decisions made will contribute to the further strengthening of cooperation between cultural, educational and scientific institutions in the solution of the restoration of the Belarusian cultural heritage issue.
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