Presentation of the «Belarusian Archive of Ancient Letters»

On March 15, 2025, at the XXXII Minsk International Book Fair, a presentation of the two-volume publication «Belarusian Archive of Ancient Letters» was held, a joint project of the Belarusian State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art (hereinafter referred to as BGAMLI) and the National Library of Belarus.

«Belarusian Archive of Ancient Letters» is the first archaeographic collection of documents on the history of Belarus in the 16th-18th centuries. It was compiled by the Belarusian historian and archaeographer Ivan Ivanovich Grigorovich (1792-1852). The first part of the collection was first published in 1824 with money from the famous philanthropist, Count N.P.Rumyantsev. The 2025 edition of this part is a reprint. The second part of the collection in manuscript form is stored in the BGAMLI and this year it acquired a book form for the first time – facsimile.

The main stage of the central exhibitor of the exhibition-fair was given by the director of the BGAMLI E.A. Makarenko, professor of the source study department of the history faculty of the Belarusian State University M.F.Shumeiko, head of the department of church history and church-practical disciplines of the Minsk Theological Academy, professor V.A.Teplova.

In her speech, E.A.Makarenko emphasized the importance of this project for Belarusian areography, source study and, in general, for the history of Belarus. Particular attention was paid to the second volume of the «Belarusian Archive of Ancient Letters», first published 200 years after its preparation by I.I.Grigorovich.

Professor M.F.Shumeiko told about the history of the preparation of this collection of documents, about its transfer for storage to the BGAMLI. Professor V.A.Teplova introduced the audience to the biography of I.I.Grigorovich and his contribution to the study of the history of the Orthodox Church in Belarus in more detail. The purpose of the publication of the Belarusian State Archive of Ancient Letters is to implement the original idea of I.I. Grigorovich and facilitate access for modern researchers to the unique documents he collected.

You can read more about E.A.Makarenko’s speech at the link.

1. Presentation of the two-volume publication «Belarusian Archive of Ancient Letters» at the XXXII Minsk International Book Fair

2. Director of the Belarusian State Archive of Ancient Letters E.A.Makarenko during the presentation of the «Belarusian Archive of Ancient Letters»

3. Speech by Professor M.F.Shumeiko

4. Speech by Professor V.A.Teplova