Ostroh Academy Opened Ivan Kardash Centre of Anciently Printed Books

January 20, 2011

A solemn opening ceremony of the first in Ukraine Centre for the study of anciently printed books named after old books collector Ivan Kardash was held in Ostroh Academy National University.

The event was attended by OA Rector Ihor Pasichnyk, Vice-rector for teaching and education Petro Kraliuk and patron Ivan Kardash himself.

The anciently printed books of Ostroh Academy collection occupy two rooms: one of them contains secular, ecclesiastic books from Russia and Belarus, the other serves for storing anciently printed books of Lviv and Dormition printing houses, as well as for several Western publications.

"These books are not just one man's property, it is a heritage of all Ukrainian nation for many centuries. We take our greatest pride in the fact that some these old books are priceless. "We also possess the unique Ostroh Bible dated 1581, and thanks to the sponsors it arrived at the Academy. Most importantly, the Centre will have its own purpose as the anciently printed books will be translated into Ukrainian. Their translation has been initiated by Professor Rafail Turkoniak, who accomplished a Ukrainian translation of Ostroh Bible. Sacral Books Translation Centre has been established to facilitate the work of students and scholars from all regions of Ukraine, since there is no other similar institution in Ukraine", said Ihor Pasichnyk.