The National Library of Montenegro "Đurđe Crnojević" organized a solemn celebration of the 520th anniversary of Oktoich the First-Called.
In celebration of that significant date in Montenegrin history, the Ceremonial Academy and exhibition of the graphic map Oktoih 1494-2014, by the European-known Montenegrin-Croatian artist Dimitrija Popović, was organized.
The formal academy was held in the Royal Theater "Zetski dom", where the attendees enjoyed a program dedicated to Đurđe Crnojević and his Oktoikh.
The director of the National Library of Montenegro, Jelena Đurović, addressed those present, who noted that "the establishment of the Crnojević printing house, the second Cyrillic printing house in Europe, and the first state-owned printing house in the world, as well as the printing of the first Montenegrin and South Slavic book Octoich in it, is one of the most important a page from the history of Montenegro."
She recalled that for centuries Oktoich was the subject of interest of many historians, paleologists, bibliologists, art historians and graphic designers and that "thanks to their research, today we have extensive literature on this book, which unequivocally confirms the great importance and literary, scientific and cultural value of Oktoich and the Crnojević printing house itself."
"Convinced that Đurđe's work, Oktoih and other books from his printing house belong to the world's cultural heritage, the National Library celebrates this great jubilee with the support of the Ministry of Culture and under the patronage of the President of Montenegro, Mr. Filip Vujanović, with great dedication," said Jelena Đurović.
The Minister of Science, Sanja Vlahović, also spoke at the Ceremonial Academy, who reflected on the civilizational and historical path of book development in Montenegro.
"The story of Oktoich and the story of our first printing press leaves a deep mark on us, but it reminds us that the book is actually the bearer of the historical, spiritual and cultural heritage of a nation. He tells us that books and knowledge have no boundaries, because Đurđe Crnojević brought the press from Venice, but that's why the letters were Cyrillic, those who printed were trained in Venice, wonderful Renaissance presses came out, but what was the result of spiritual heritage Slavic culture."
The drama program "Masons and Librarians" was performed as part of the Formal Academy. The direction and script of this interesting program is signed by the famous director Ana Vukotić, and it starred Mirko Vlahović, Varja Đukić, Dejan Ivanić, Ana Vučković and Petar Vlahović.
This great jubilee in Montenegrin culture was the reason for the well-known Montenegrin and Croatian painter, sculptor and writer Dimitri Popović to design and realize a graphic map of October 1494-2014 in cooperation with the National Library of Montenegro "Đurđe Crnojević".
The exhibition of the graphic map of October 1494-2014, in the National Library of Montenegro "Đurđe Crnojević", was opened by the historian Živko Andrijašević, who pointed out that since the publication of the first printed book by the South Slavs, two directions of rulership have been recognized in our political and history of Montenegro, governance and mission. "We mostly have rulers who paid more attention to management than to the mission, but today we mostly mention the others, that's why we remember Đurđ Crnojević."
"The establishment of a printing house in Montenegro and the appearance of the first printed book are events whose significance far exceeds the borders of our existence," Andrijašević said.
"The sheets of the graphic map OKTOIH 1494 - 2014 are not illustrations of texts from the first-hand Oktoich, but are an expression of inspiration that honors this book, its spiritual and aesthetic value in a modern way. The compositions of the graphic sheets are based on the letters that make up the word "octoih". The basis of the composition is a Cyrillic letter taken from the initials or texts of this church book. Over the original letter, its modern modification is developed as an artistic abstract sign. A concrete Christian symbol is incorporated into the abstract modification of the letters. In this sense, the letter unites the earthly and the heavenly, the secular and the sacred. A letter is a form and a sign. The lexis of the image is based on it. The graphic map is a modern tribute to the masterpiece of typographic art and graphic refinement of the master "craftsman" Makari and his seven students", wrote Dimitrije Popović about the works presented on the anniversary of the first printed book.
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