Bom, Bam, Bom! There we go again, flying through time in search for the greatest historical Belarusian heroes. After our landing, we get informed by Grisha that we arrived in the year 1520! That is almost 500 years ago! In the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilna.
Super excited we open the door and see that we have landed in the messiest house we have ever seen. All over the place we see books, papers, pieces of wood and a lot of dust lying around. Wow, I thought my room was messy, Masha said with a big laugh. Then suddenly a man appears who looks at us with those familiar shocked eyes. We explain him that we are time travellers and our time machine, Grisha, brings us to historical Belarusian heroes. The man’s eyes light up... He tells us that his name is Francisk Skaryna and that he is delighted by this unexpected visit. "Would you like a honey drink?" - he offers politely.
While drinking some sort of tea, we ask Skaryna a little bit about what he does. He tells us how important it is to him that all people, including children, highly educated and lesser educated people, learn about science, human achievements, grammar, poetry, music, astronomy and history! ‘This is why I am alive’, he tells us with a big proud face. ‘That is why I translated the bible in Ruthenian words in Slavonic language and made it a bit easier for all people to understand’. We ask him who all these people are? And he says very proud the Belarusian people of course! They inspire me to do all these things I am doing. The Belarusian language is the language I intend to not only write but also breath.
We also ask him about all the wood and dust lying around. Francisk tells us that one of his passions is wood engraving. By creating illustrations I make sure that common people also understand all these complicated texts. This is just another way to show people what the Bible and their history is all about. A way that is more creative and artistic. I become pretty good at wood craving, and I truly love to do this, he adds. It also brings my mind to rest and makes me focused. Marta says, ah yes I think it is comparable to what we have in our time, its called yoga. We practice yoga to find that zen moment in our busy lives. Francisk looks at us with a bit of an amused facial expression and says, yes yoga sounds like something I would also enjoy.
His only question to us while we say our farewell is: can you tell me whether the Belarusian language made it? Is it a life and widely spoken? Masha answers: yes, it is definitely spoken, but it would be pretty awesome if there would be more people like you who would inspire others to make our beautiful language flourish! Moreover, we tell him that his statue now stands in front of the National Library, one of Belarus's most iconic buildings! We ask Grisha to print out a photo of the library and Skaryna's statue for us. Francisk is astounded as we present him with this photograph. In return, Skaryna offers us one of his prints. After exchanging gifts, we wave at him and close the door behind us.
Super excited we open the door and see that we have landed in the messiest house we have ever seen. All over the place we see books, papers, pieces of wood and a lot of dust lying around. Wow, I thought my room was messy, Masha said with a big laugh. Then suddenly a man appears who looks at us with those familiar shocked eyes. We explain him that we are time travellers and our time machine, Grisha, brings us to historical Belarusian heroes. The man’s eyes light up... He tells us that his name is Francisk Skaryna and that he is delighted by this unexpected visit. "Would you like a honey drink?" - he offers politely.
While drinking some sort of tea, we ask Skaryna a little bit about what he does. He tells us how important it is to him that all people, including children, highly educated and lesser educated people, learn about science, human achievements, grammar, poetry, music, astronomy and history! ‘This is why I am alive’, he tells us with a big proud face. ‘That is why I translated the bible in Ruthenian words in Slavonic language and made it a bit easier for all people to understand’. We ask him who all these people are? And he says very proud the Belarusian people of course! They inspire me to do all these things I am doing. The Belarusian language is the language I intend to not only write but also breath.
We also ask him about all the wood and dust lying around. Francisk tells us that one of his passions is wood engraving. By creating illustrations I make sure that common people also understand all these complicated texts. This is just another way to show people what the Bible and their history is all about. A way that is more creative and artistic. I become pretty good at wood craving, and I truly love to do this, he adds. It also brings my mind to rest and makes me focused. Marta says, ah yes I think it is comparable to what we have in our time, its called yoga. We practice yoga to find that zen moment in our busy lives. Francisk looks at us with a bit of an amused facial expression and says, yes yoga sounds like something I would also enjoy.
His only question to us while we say our farewell is: can you tell me whether the Belarusian language made it? Is it a life and widely spoken? Masha answers: yes, it is definitely spoken, but it would be pretty awesome if there would be more people like you who would inspire others to make our beautiful language flourish! Moreover, we tell him that his statue now stands in front of the National Library, one of Belarus's most iconic buildings! We ask Grisha to print out a photo of the library and Skaryna's statue for us. Francisk is astounded as we present him with this photograph. In return, Skaryna offers us one of his prints. After exchanging gifts, we wave at him and close the door behind us.
Wow what a talented guy! This is not only the library statue guy, ow no, not even close! He is also not only the contributor to the development of the old Belarusian language; he is also not only a great Author, Poet, linguist, artist, doctor gardener, printer and wood engraver. He above all represents us, the Belarusians today; standing in the crossroad between Western and Eastern civilization with our own uniqueness and culture. He was an extraordinary man who symbolized Europe, combining Western and Easter learning and knowledge to make beautiful things like art, many books (bible) and even gardens. But most important he loved Belarusian language and people, more than anything!
Grisha's display goes on again and while we fly back to a new time, we learn that Francisk Skaryna was born around 1486 in Polatsk. That he studied in Krakow, Prague and Italian city Padua. That Skaryna’s Bible became the second printed Bible in the Slavic world (after the Czech edition). He also informs us that Skaryna’s translation of the bible in Belarusian language came out around eighteen years before the publication of Luther’s German version of the bible! And around fifty years before the earliest bible in Russia! Also we learn that he had close connection to some important people in Central and Eastern Europe at the time of the Renaissance. He served and advised John King of Denmark, Albert King of Prussia and even Ferdinand Hapsburg, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia.
From now on Francisk Skaryna will have a very special place in our hearts! And the moment we come back to Minsk in our time, we will for sure go back to the library and give Francisk Skaryna (his statue) a very big hug!
Grisha's display goes on again and while we fly back to a new time, we learn that Francisk Skaryna was born around 1486 in Polatsk. That he studied in Krakow, Prague and Italian city Padua. That Skaryna’s Bible became the second printed Bible in the Slavic world (after the Czech edition). He also informs us that Skaryna’s translation of the bible in Belarusian language came out around eighteen years before the publication of Luther’s German version of the bible! And around fifty years before the earliest bible in Russia! Also we learn that he had close connection to some important people in Central and Eastern Europe at the time of the Renaissance. He served and advised John King of Denmark, Albert King of Prussia and even Ferdinand Hapsburg, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia.
From now on Francisk Skaryna will have a very special place in our hearts! And the moment we come back to Minsk in our time, we will for sure go back to the library and give Francisk Skaryna (his statue) a very big hug!
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