Juozas KARACIEJUS

THE FIRST BOOK AND ITS ADDRESSEE

Abstract

It is pointed out on the title page of Martynas Mažvydas "Katekizmas" that the book was published on the 8th of January 1547, but up to now it has been argued that January is comprehended according to the present day calendar, not to the old one. If this is true, then January would be present-day December. The conclusion is drawn on the basis of that assumption as well as on Mažvydas' biography (that the first Lithuanian book was published in December). Naturally, the printing itself must have been started much earlier.

Facts of political history, the dedications and prefaces of "Katekizmas" support the opinion of Konstantinas Jablonskis and Pranas Skardžius that Mažvydas dedicated the first Lithuanian book to the inhabitants of the Great Lithuanian Duchy in order to convert them to the Protestantism.

DARBAI ir DIENOS, 1997. 04 (13)
ACTA ET COMMENTATIONES UNIVERSITATIS VYTAUTI MAGNI