Description of the attraction
The monument to Francysk Skaryna near the National Library was erected in 2005, but this monument was created earlier.
1990 marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Belarusian pioneer printer and educator Francysk Skaryna. UNESCO has announced the celebration of this jubilee all over the world. In connection with the anniversary in Minsk in 1989, a competition was announced for the best design of the monument to Francysk Skaryna, which was planned to be installed near the building of the Academy of Sciences. The Belarusian sculptor Ales Dranets won the competition.
The monument was cast in bronze by 1990, but it was not installed where it was planned - opposite the building of the Academy of Sciences, because the leadership of the Academy spoke out against its installation.
Until 2005, Minsk did not know where to place this monument. In 2005, the National Library was built, it was decided to erect a monument near it.
Interestingly, near the building of the National Library in Minsk, the monument to Francysk Skaryna looks very harmonious, as if the monument was expected to be installed in this place.
Francisk Skaryna is a Belarusian pioneer printer, educator, translator, scientist. Born in Polotsk in 1470. He is famous primarily for the fact that in 1517 he published the first Bible in the Belarusian language. He was the first to translate and start publishing books in his native language, accessible to all educated compatriots. His book publishing workshop was the first in Eastern Europe. The books written by Francysk Skaryna are an example of humanism, morality and advanced scientific thought.
