Exhibition at the Sofia University Library, included in the programme of the Annual Conference of the European Association for Biblical Studies
The opening of the exhibition was attended by lecturers and researchers from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, members of the European Association for Biblical Studies, Monsignor Francesco Braschi – Vice Prefect and Doctor of Sciences of the Ambrosiana Library of Milan, Dr. Silvia Naydenova – Director of the Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, colleagues from the University Library.
The Deputy Director of the University Library Assoc. Prof. Bilyana Yavrukova welcomed the guests and presented the exhibits in the exhibition, pointing out that history shows how the Bible and its translations have contributed to the cultural growth of many nations.
Professor. Vasya Velinova – Director of the Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies “Prof. Ivan Duychev” thanked for the hospitality and emphasized the long-standing cooperation with the University Library. Prof. Velinova spoke about the manuscripts and old printed books in the central showcases, restored and preserved by the Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies “Prof. Ivan Duychev”.
The director of the Historical Museum in Etropole Mrs. Galya Dikova spoke about the oldest book in the exhibition – the Ostrog Bible from 1581. The copy of the first printed Bible in the Cyrillic alphabet, which has been kept in the town of Etropole for over 400 years, is in a process of restoration and further research of the valuable information recorded on its pages is planned.
The rector of the Sofia University prof. Prof. Georgi Valchev pointed out the enormous role of Christianity, of the texts created by the people dedicated to this religion, and outlined the need to take care of the preservation and promotion of this heritage.
In the showcases are exhibited editions with a chronological range from the 16th to the 21st century: three manuscripts – the Four Gospels from the second half of the 16th century; fragments of the Resurrection Gospels from the late 16th century; the Psalter of Duskal Philip from 1692, as well as old printed editions published between the 16th and 19th centuries, including a Four Gospels printed by Hieromonk Lawrence in Bucharest after 1582 and a 17th century German Bible with valuable Baroque decoration. On the collections of the Sofia University Library include the first complete translation of the Bible into New Bulgarian language, the so-called Slaveykov’s Bible, printed in Tzarigrad in 1871, editions of the sacred texts in various languages, scholarly research by Bulgarian and foreign scholars on the texts of the Bible, and interdisciplinary studies.
Visitors can see the exhibition “The Bible and its Explorers” until July 19, 2024 at the Central University Library.
