Czech Manuscripts – Marvels of Ornamentation & History
Manuscripts in Czech Libraries was the name of the exhibition that was held on March 28 at the new premises of the Korneli Kekelidze Georgian National Center of Manuscripts.
Organized by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Georgia, the exposition showcased Czech manuscripts and copies of various Georgian national manuscripts.
Zaza Abashidze, Director of Korneli Kekelidze National Center of Manuscripts, opened the soiree and welcomed the guests to the new building: “Today we host the opening of the exhibition of the Czech heritage of manuscripts, represented in the shape of digital copies. I think that it is a very important occasion for our center. I hope that in future, diplomats of other countries will also consider the Czech example and bring materials depicting their national heritage, which we will exhibit with great pleasure.”
He appealed to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Georgian Diplomatic Corps abroad to organize similar exhibitions in those countries where Georgian embassies are present, saying that manuscripts are among the major heritage that acquaints the public with the writing culture of the given country. “I am biased when I express my joy that the Czech Republic was the first country to exhibit its manuscripts at our premises because back in the 1990s, I was one of the founders of the Czech Association of Fellow Countrymen in Georgia. I am a member, too, though I am Georgian. We should not forget the significance of the Czech Republic in the European and Slav histories. It was exactly there, on the territory of Moravia in particular, where the Slav alphabet was founded. Shortly after that, the Bible was translated into Kirilitsa. The manuscripts presented today bear Slav and Latin inscriptions. We are happy to be sharing this rich heritage with Georgians!”
Tomas Pernitsky, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Georgia, humbly addressed the audience: “I am very honored to open the exhibition called Manuscripts in Czech Libraries in this beautiful hall. First of all, let me express my deepest thanks to the Korneli Kekelidze National Center of Manuscripts for the excellent cooperation. Since the first moment I entered this beautiful historical palace in May of 2014, I had a dream to organize an exhibition or a reception here. Unfortunately, it was not possible then, but now, thanks to the Georgian National Center of Manuscripts, we are here. I am very proud. We want to invite you to the beautiful world of manuscripts. We could not exhibit the originals as you can imagine how much it would cost to arrange transportation. [But] I would like to ask all of you to consider this exhibition today to be “an appetizer.” “The main course” should be served in Prague. Take it as an open invitation for all of you to go to the Czech Republic and visit the libraries in Prague. I am very happy that I can convey this invitation to all of you especially today, because today is a very important day in the history of Georgia, as from now on, you can visit Prague and its libraries and see the originals of these manuscripts without a visa. My big congratulations to Georgians on this very special day!”
Tamaz Marsagishvili, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, was the third public speaker: “I am happy to be able to address you today. It is a great day for Georgia. This exhibition of the Czech Republic has coincided with the launch of visa-free travel to EU, which was our dream of 25 years since our independence. We, as most small countries, have a very complicated history and fate. But small states are important in order to balance the conflicts between the larger countries. Small republics are pacifists, as peace is the only state they can afford. I believe that such exhibitions enable us to show our culture to our European friends and neighbors; to how that we are European, too. This is the chance to demonstrate how Georgia has managed to maintain its cultural identity in spite of obstacles during its hard history. I want to thank the Czech Republic for this exhibition. The friendship between small countries is the basis of stability and peace in Europe.”
Originally, the manuscripts were the primary “memory media.” In the course of time, other media took over the recording and informative function and modern technologies, computers and the internet have changed the approach to using manuscripts as historical sources. Nowadays, the Czech Republic is one of the most prominent countries in this field, possessing the significant project Manuscriptorium (www.manuscriptorium.eu) – the largest digital library of manuscripts in Europe.
Maka Lomadze