First Lithuanian book gets forum for 450th anniversary

History buffs from all over the world converged on the University Friday to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the publication of the first Lithuanian book. For the occasion, the Penn Language Center and the Philadelphia Chapter of the Lithuanian-American Community co-sponsored "Colloquium: 450th Anniversary of the First Lithuanian Book, Catechismus 1547 by Martinus Mosvidius" at Houston Hall's Bodek Lounge. The selection of the University as host was not arbitrary. "The tradition of a Lithuanian connection to Penn goes way back," said Terese Gecys, who heads the Philadelphia chapter of the Lithuanian-American Community. "The library of Penn has one of the largest, if not the largest, collection of Lithuanian publications outside of Lithuania," Gecys added. About 50 people turned out to hear four guest speakers discuss the significance of Catechismus, a translation of a religious text. The colloquium attracted members from the United States' Lithuanian community, as well as professors from Penn and colleges throughout the world. According to Oakland (Michigan) University History Professor Leonardas Gerulaitis, oral traditions played a more important role in Lithuania than anywhere else in the Western world. "What we are really celebrating today is Lithuania [stepping] into the brotherhood of written language," Gerulaitis said. Dainora Pociute-Abukeviciene, an ancient literature and folklore professor at Lithuania's University of Vilnius, discussed how the Lithuanian version of Catechismus shows the difference between the Protestant Reformation in Lithuania and in other European countries. William Schmalstieg, a professor emeritus at Penn State, continued the discussion of the significance of translation. He contrasted the difference in the translations of the Ten Commandments made by Mosvidius and English religious reformer John Wycliff. "For the Christian religious reformers, the rendering of the Ten Commandments was and is a serious matter generating much controversy," Schmalstieg said. Celebrating the importance of the publication of Catechismus, the Lithuanian government declared 1997 the "Year of the Book," according to Petras Anusas, Lithuania's consul general. He emphasized the significance of Catechismus for the entire world. "The book's publication has been named one of the most notable dates in the history of world publication." The Free Library of Philadelphia at Logan Square, as well as libraries in Berlin, Paris, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., are holding exhibitions of Lithuanian books as part of a larger celebration of the book. The Lithuanian government also held an international bookplate competition in which 133 artists from 27 countries depicted through art what the publication of Catechismus meant to them. Many of these works were on display at the colloquium. And at the end of the colloquium, Anusas presented a medallion on behalf of his government to Harold Schiffman, director of the Penn Language Center.

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