International Scientific Conference Marking the 500th Anniversary of Mir Castle: Participation of the National Historical Archives of Belarus
On September 10, 2026, the international scientific conference «Defensive Architecture of Belarus: Marking the 500th Anniversary of Mir Castle» opened in the town of Mir. The forum’s first day featured a ceremonial plenary session attended by Olga Volkova, a leading researcher at the National Historical Archives of Belarus and a Candidate of Historical Sciences. The opening program was rich and varied; in addition to the official proceedings, participants and guests enjoyed a tour of the famous castle complex and a celebratory concert. The major forum also served to strengthen professional ties between the country’s archival and museum communities. In a formal ceremony, Olga Volkova read out a congratulatory address and presented it—along with a commemorative gift from the staff of the National Historical Archives of Belarus—to Alexander Loiko, Director of the «Mir Castle Complex» Museum. The gift was a copy of a document titled «Letter from Prince Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł ‘the Orphan’ to Mir Governor Andrzej Skarulski, mentioning the name of one of the first known painters, Marcin Zaborowski (April 19, 1594)».
On September 11, 2026, the conference proceedings continued at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. That day, Olga Volkova moderated Section 2, titled «History of Mir Castle and the Region: Restoration and Museification of Historical Complexes, Monuments, and Artifacts», and presented a research paper titled «War and Mir: Pages from the History of the Front-Line Town of Mir During World War I».
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| 1. Conference participants |
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| 2. A.Ch.Loiko, Director of the «Mir Castle Complex» Museum; V.L.Lakiza, Director of an Institute at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus; and O.N.Popko, Director of the Center for the Study of Belarusian Culture, Language and Literature (NAS of Belarus) and Director of Mir Castle from 2012 to 2016 |
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| 3. Leading Researcher O.V.Volkova presenting a commemorative gift to the Director of the «Mir Castle Complex» Museum A.Ch.Loyko |
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| 4. The conference in progress |
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| 5. A commemorative gift and a congratulatory address from the staff of the National Historical Archive of Belarus |
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| 6. During the tour of the museum exhibition |
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| 7. During the tour of the museum exhibition |
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| 8. During the tour of the museum exhibition |
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| 9. During the tour of the museum exhibition |
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| 10. During the tour of the museum exhibition |
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| 11. During the tour of the museum exhibition |
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| 12. During the tour of the museum exhibition |