Aina VALIKONYTĖ

MAŽVYDAS IN A WIDER CONTEXT

This year is the 450th anniversary of the first printed Lithuanian word, of the first Lithuanian book Catechismus by Martynas Mažvydas. To commemorate this jubilee meetings, exhibitions, and conferences have been organized both in Lithuania and abroad. Recently the Donelaitis Fellow Society in Helsinki, the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, the Helsinki University Library, and the Lithuanian Embassy in Finland have arranged a series of events connected with this date. On September 16, in the M.Agricola Hall of the Helsinki University Library an exhibition devoted to the history of the Lithuanian book and to translations of Finnish literature into Lithuaninan was opened. On October 11, at Helsinki University a seminar "The Lithuanian Book is 450" took place, in which scientists and art critics both from Finland and Lithuania participated. Head of the Department of Rare Editions of the Library of M. Mažvydas Dr. Juozas Tumelis delivered a lecture on Catechismus by M.Mažvydas and its significance for Lithuanian culture. Professor of Helsinki University Simo Heninen spoke about the influence of Michael Agricola, pioneer of the Finnish written language, on the formation of Finnish literature. Professor of Vilnius Teacher Training University Stasys Skrodenis in his report "Similarities between Lithuanian and Finnish Literature, their History and  Present State" devoted much attention to the ties between the two literary traditions. Librarian of the Helsinki University Library Sirkka Havu delivered a lecture on the Lithuanian holdings of the Helsinki University Library. The participants of the seminar were shown a film "M. Mažvydas After 450 Years"<...>

Translated from the weekly ŠIAURĖS ATĖNAI, 29th November, 1997