On holding a round table «Sources of confessional origin in the 16th—21st centuries: current problems and prospects for study»

Published: December 12, 2023

December 8, 2023 in the Central Scientific Library (CSL) named after Y.Kolas of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Belarus held a round table «Sources of confessional origin in the 16th—21st centuries: current problems and prospects for study». The event was organized by the National Archives of the Republic of Belarus (NARB) and the Central Scientific Library named after Y.Kolas NAS of Belarus. The round table was moderated by Deputy Head of the Publications Department of NARB I.A.Vishnevsky.

In his welcoming speech, the head of the Center for Research of Early Prints and Manuscripts of the Central Scientific Library named after Y.Kolas NAS of Belarus K.V.Sytko emphasized the relevance of the round table topic and expressed confidence in further fruitful cooperation between the two institutions.

As part of the event, Associate Professor of the Department of Source Studies of the Faculty of History of the Belarusian State University (BSU), Candidate of Historical Sciences Z.V.Antonovich spoke about the information potential and problems of studying the registration and accounting documentation of the bodies of the confessional leadership of Christian denominations of the late 18th – early 20th centuries; Professor of the Department of Source Studies, Faculty of History, BSU, Candidate of Historical Sciences M.F.Shumeiko made a presentation «Archpriest Ioann Grigorovich – the first Belarusian archaeographer. To the 200th anniversary of Belarusian archeography»; student of the Faculty of History of BSU M.A.Krupko spoke about the development of liturgical literature of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania using the example of the creation of the first Belarusian Service Book of 1583; Chief custodian of the State Archive of the Vitebsk Region, Candidate of Historical Sciences K.G.Karpekin presented a report ««Magilean Diocesan Sciences» as a guardian of Christian-Iudzey scholars»; Researcher, Manuscript Research Department, Center for Research of Early Prints and Manuscripts, Central Scientific Library named after Y.Kolasa NAS of Belarus, Master of Historical Sciences M.A.Krivitsky made a report ««Mogilev Diocesan Gazette» as a source on the history of Baptists in the Mogilev province»; Associate Professor of the Department of Religious Studies at the Institute of Theology named after. St.Methodius and Kirill BSU, candidate of historical sciences A.S.Kalinina presented a report «Letters from believers as a source of research into the parish life of the BSSR in the 1930s». (based on materials from fund 2786 «Belarusian Orthodox Holy Synod»); Deputy Head of the Publications Department of NARB I.A.Vishnevsky spoke about the problems and prospects of studying the archive of the Belarusian Renovation Synod; Head of the Center for Research of Early Prints and Manuscripts of the Central Scientific Library named after Y.Kolas NAS of Belarus K.V.Sytko in his report drew attention to the results of the library’s field archaeographic work in 2022-2023.

All reports aroused keen interest and discussion. When summing up the results of the round table, its participants expressed a desire to continue discussing the problem of confessional source studies at similar events in the future.