MINSK, 14 March (BelTA) - The digital copy and facsimile reprint of the Slavic Primer (Epiphany Brotherhood Printing-House, Mogilev, 1649) were donated to the National Library of Belarus by Per Carlsson, the didactic of history at the Stockholm State University, in a ceremony on 13 March, BelTA learned from the library.
The return of this valuable book to the homeland became possible thanks to the efforts of the Belarusian Cultural Foundation.
Today the original Slavic Primer is kept in the University Library in Uppsala, Sweden. The Russian State Library is in possession of a microfilm copy while the Russian National Library has a fragment of the book.
During the ceremony, Chairman of the Belarusian Cultural Foundation Vladimir Gilep noted that Belarus has been looking for its cultural values all over the world and is now starting to bring them home. This is a big step forward on the path to spiritual revival.
Roman Motulsky, the Director of the National Library of Belarus, expressed gratitude for the valuable gift, noting that it was very symbolic in 2018, the year when we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first Belarusian ABC-book. It will be a topic of a number of major events at the National Library: the 14th International Book Lectures, the presentation of the first Primer facsimile edition, and a big exhibition project.
Roman Motulsky invited guests to take part in the upcoming events and gave them the facsimile edition of the 1767 Primer as a memorable gift.
