First facsimile edition of all Skaryna’s books to be published in Belarus

         Belarus launches a nationwide project to publish the first facsimile edition of the complete works of the first printer of Belarus and Eastern Europe Frantsysk Skaryna. The project is timed to the 500th anniversary of the first book published by Skaryna for Eastern Slavs. The anniversary will be marked on 6 August 2017. The project was initiated and will be implemented by Bank BelVEB. The project is part of the government program Culture of Belarus set to run in 2011-2015. The program aims to return the literary legacy of Francysk Skaryna to Belarus, to demonstrate the rich and ancient culture of Belarus and its close historical ties with Europe and Russia, to study the Belarusian Renaissance and the works of Francysk Skaryna, who is viewed as the most outstanding cultural figure of the period. The program also seeks to expand the holdings of the National Library and the future National Electronic Library by adding valuable Belarusian books and to educate Belarusian children and the youth about the works of Francysk Skorina. The project aims to make digital copies of the original editions by Francysk Skaryna, and prepare and publish facsimile editions of 25 books in 20 volumes.