On May 22-23, within the framework of the International Cyril and Methodius Lectures, the annual science and practical conference “Spiritual revival of society and the Orthodox book” was held.
This year the major discussion theme of reports, messages and debates was “Spiritually and educational activities of Belarusian libraries”.
Opening of the conference took place at the Center of spiritual education and social service of parish devoted to the Icon of Our Lady Pleasure Of All Grieving of the Belarusian Exarchate which central library during ten years has traditionally hosted this event.
Senior priest of the temple, archpriest Igor Korostelev welcomed participants of the conference giving blessing on behalf of Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Paul and bishop of Borisov Veniamin – chairman of the Publishing board of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
More than 60 representatives of departmental libraries of Belarus took part in the conference. The majority were employees of public libraries of the Ministry of Culture of Belarus and representatives of libraries of the Belarusian Exarchate of the Belarusian Orthodox Church (eparchial, monastic, parochial, libraries of theological schools). Also employees of school libraries, libraries of technical secondary schools and institutes of higher educational of the Ministry of Education of Belarus, representatives of the sphere of science, education and culture participated in the conference.
The work in the field of spiritual and ethical education of people in close cooperation with the Belarusian Orthodox Church is one of new trends in modern activities of public libraries. On March 22nd, 2014, was 10 years from the date of signing of the Program of cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of Belarus and the Belarusian Orthodox Church in the field of culture and creative activity, protection, restoration and development of historical and cultural heritage.
By currying on this program public libraries have strengthened their activities in the field of spiritual and moral education, and their work has got features of a sequence and a system. Theological and educational centers created at libraries and long-term thematic programs and projects testify this fact. Various educational events arranged by libraries are based on spiritual and moral values and national traditions of Orthodox Christian culture and religion.
The science and practical conference “Spiritual revival of society and the Orthodox book” from year to year manifests the evolution and professional growth of public libraries and promotes accumulation of experience in the field of spiritual and ethical education. Versatile reports presented by representatives of public libraries of Belarus testify this as well.
During reports and discussions a wide spectrum of urgent issues in the sphere of spiritual and moral life of modern society and also ways of their solution by libraries were considered: the activities of Belarusian libraries in the field of spiritual and ethical education were analyzed; the rise of research work on local lore and Orthodox history of Belarus was marked; the experience of an information-educational project against foul language was presented; the activities of children’s libraries for creative realization of the program on promotion of the Orthodox book and Christian values among youth were covered; coordinated activities of different departmental libraries for formation of spiritual culture of the Belarusian people was summed up etc.
During the conference members of the methodological council “Orthodox revival of society and the Orthodox book” carried out a charitable action “Let’s present books to rural parochial libraries!”.
Besides, an idea of carrying out a republican contest “The library as a center of spiritual and ethical education” among all departmental libraries working within the limits of programs of cooperation with the Belarusian Orthodox Church was suggested at the conference.
At the conference Executive Director of the Belarusian Exarchate Publishing House Vladimir Grozov presented to participants a facsimile copy of the Polotsk Gospel and also a new illustrated edition of the Bible. Employees of the publishing house presented new books for children and other publishing production. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper Revival, member of the Union of Writers of Belarus Elena Mikhalenko presented a series of children’s books The Sunlight Spot.
Within the limits of the conference there was held a working meeting of representatives of central libraries of dioceses of the Belarusian Orthodox Church dedicated to urgent issues of organization of library activities on places. Programmer Dmitry Kuzmitsky led consultations and trainings on introduction of the new version of software IRBIS 64 for representatives of church libraries and libraries of theological schools who maintained electronic catalogues with the use of IRBIS software.
On the resolution of the Presidium of the General supervisory council of the international welfare fund “Family – Union – Motherland”, most active participants of the conference were awarded for their great services to spiritual revival of the Motherland. At the opening ceremony the Fund’s certificates of honor were handed over to librarian of the parochial library in Zhabinka (the Brest diocese) Vera Arbuzova and head of reference-bibliographic department of Molodechno Regional Library named after M. Bogdanovich Tatyana Zakrevskaya. The medal “For merits” was handed over to Olga Rynkevich, head of section of the Bibliology department of the National Library of Belarus.
Program of the 20th International Cyril and Methodius Lectures
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