Posted:
02.09.2021 14:00:00
Welcome to Belarusian Written Language Day
In autumn, Belarusians harvest not only grain but also cultural fields. The main September event in the country is Belarusian Written Language Day — celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. This year, the literary holiday will be hosted by the town of Kopyl in the Minsk District.
![]()
In just a few days, Kopyl will host Belarusian Written Language Day
Hello from the past
Critic and publicist, Lev Kleinbort, wrote in his memoirs, “When Lenin saw an envelope with the stamp of Kopyl on my desk, he questioned me about it for a long time...” He was originally from this Belarusian town but, by early 20th century, he had become a very influential person in the publishing business in St. Petersburg. It was owing to Kleinbort that ‘a young yellow-haired boy with a Ryazan dialect’ published his first collection: Radunitsa. It was Sergei Yesenin. Lev also helped Yanka Kupala take his first step on the great path to literature.
The Kleinbort family estate has been preserved in the centre of the town. On the festive day, a trademark with the Kopyl coat of arms on colourful holiday envelopes will be made nearby. Everyone can send a paper ‘hello’ to friends on the model of what once greatly impressed Lenin.
Find the Kopyl horn
Traditionally, cities and towns with a rich history become the venue for Belarusian Written Language Day. Kopyl was founded back in 1006. That’s why the outlines of a medieval settlement are clearly visible in the city.
What was the wooden castle like? Today we can only guess. The local steep hills, covered by the rivers Mazha and Kamenka, hint that the fortifications were notable. It’s known from the chronicles that neither the Tatar khans nor the neighbouring princes could conquer them.
Legend has it that the ancient town went underground after the curse of an evil witch doctor. The locals, telling this, even hint, “Zamkovaya Mountain is cup-shaped, as if it really swallowed the castle!”
![]()
Zamkovaya Hill is now empty, but historians have a good idea of what the fortress looked like and created a realistic visualisation
The first pedestrian QR-quest in Belarus — ‘Kopyl Horn’ — will help plunge visitors into this mysticism. Participants will be offered the chance to show their intellectual abilities, logical thinking, the ability to navigate the terrain and try their hand at Belarusian folk riddles. There are no promises of gold treasure at the finish line, but lasting impressions are guaranteed.
![]()
Stylish murals appeared on the facades of some houses in Kopyl
Appreciate the street art of the province
One of the main advantages of holding large-scale festivities in small towns is that they always leave an impressive legacy. Kopyl streets are already unrecognisable: stylish murals have appeared on the facades of old Khrushchev-era houses. These depict the literary celebrities of the region: Kuzma Cherny, Ales Adamovich, Adam Rusak, as well as simple abstract images.
The unique Avenue of Writers, with named benches, has appeared in the park in the Kopyl District. Local benches have a QR-code with biographies and works hidden there.
The memorable Master-Tanner sign will become a recognisable symbol of the city. Why this particular craft? The name of the city came from the word ‘kapyl’ — a wooden shoe, on which the skin was stretched to make boots.
Unite in Belarusian style
The main festivities in Kopyl will take place at the ‘Memory’, ‘Traditions and Modernity’, ‘Together with the Book We Grow’, ‘The Word of the Writer’ and ‘The Unity’ interactive pavilions. Each of them will host thematic lectures, exhibitions, autograph sessions and meetings with authors.
We advise you to take a look at the ‘Unity’ site which will present a unique author’s project by the winner of the Prize ‘For Spiritual Revival’: Vladimir Likhodedov. This will be a collection of postcards that were used by Belarusians more than eighty years ago. A newsstand with newspapers published in 1921-1939 will also be on show, in addition to rare photos with smiling great-grandparents.
![]()
Trinity Church in the village of Telyadovichi
Warm up at the holy fire
We all know the saying: ‘In the beginning was the Word...’ The holiday in Kopyl is not only about literature, but also about spirituality. The Orthodox faith gave impetus to the development of writing in our area a thousand years ago. The son of Vladimir and Rogneda — Izyaslav — was generally the first prince-bookkeeper in Ancient Russia.
Kirill Turovsky, Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya, Francysk Skaryna are Belarusian educators who are known all over the world. Therefore, it’s not surprising that, on the eve of Belarusian Written Language Day, a scientific and educational expedition – ‘The Road to Shrines’ — will go from the capital to Kopyl with the Holy Fire from the Holy Sepulchre.
In five days, the pilgrims will walk a couple of hundred kilometres and visit temples along the way. One of the most interesting points on the route is the wooden Trinity Church in the village of Telyadovichi. You can’t pass this painted beauty without bowing! It was built in 1792, decorated with rich carvings and doll turrets. Initially, the church belonged to the Uniates, then to the Catholics and only after that did it become Orthodox. The church has never closed its doors to parishioners for two hundred years.
By Sofia Arsenieva
In just a few days, Kopyl will host Belarusian Written Language Day Hello from the past
Critic and publicist, Lev Kleinbort, wrote in his memoirs, “When Lenin saw an envelope with the stamp of Kopyl on my desk, he questioned me about it for a long time...” He was originally from this Belarusian town but, by early 20th century, he had become a very influential person in the publishing business in St. Petersburg. It was owing to Kleinbort that ‘a young yellow-haired boy with a Ryazan dialect’ published his first collection: Radunitsa. It was Sergei Yesenin. Lev also helped Yanka Kupala take his first step on the great path to literature.
The Kleinbort family estate has been preserved in the centre of the town. On the festive day, a trademark with the Kopyl coat of arms on colourful holiday envelopes will be made nearby. Everyone can send a paper ‘hello’ to friends on the model of what once greatly impressed Lenin.
Find the Kopyl horn
Traditionally, cities and towns with a rich history become the venue for Belarusian Written Language Day. Kopyl was founded back in 1006. That’s why the outlines of a medieval settlement are clearly visible in the city.
What was the wooden castle like? Today we can only guess. The local steep hills, covered by the rivers Mazha and Kamenka, hint that the fortifications were notable. It’s known from the chronicles that neither the Tatar khans nor the neighbouring princes could conquer them.
Legend has it that the ancient town went underground after the curse of an evil witch doctor. The locals, telling this, even hint, “Zamkovaya Mountain is cup-shaped, as if it really swallowed the castle!”
Zamkovaya Hill is now empty, but historians have a good idea of what the fortress looked like and created a realistic visualisationThe first pedestrian QR-quest in Belarus — ‘Kopyl Horn’ — will help plunge visitors into this mysticism. Participants will be offered the chance to show their intellectual abilities, logical thinking, the ability to navigate the terrain and try their hand at Belarusian folk riddles. There are no promises of gold treasure at the finish line, but lasting impressions are guaranteed.
Stylish murals appeared on the facades of some houses in KopylOne of the main advantages of holding large-scale festivities in small towns is that they always leave an impressive legacy. Kopyl streets are already unrecognisable: stylish murals have appeared on the facades of old Khrushchev-era houses. These depict the literary celebrities of the region: Kuzma Cherny, Ales Adamovich, Adam Rusak, as well as simple abstract images.
The unique Avenue of Writers, with named benches, has appeared in the park in the Kopyl District. Local benches have a QR-code with biographies and works hidden there.
The memorable Master-Tanner sign will become a recognisable symbol of the city. Why this particular craft? The name of the city came from the word ‘kapyl’ — a wooden shoe, on which the skin was stretched to make boots.
Unite in Belarusian style
The main festivities in Kopyl will take place at the ‘Memory’, ‘Traditions and Modernity’, ‘Together with the Book We Grow’, ‘The Word of the Writer’ and ‘The Unity’ interactive pavilions. Each of them will host thematic lectures, exhibitions, autograph sessions and meetings with authors.
We advise you to take a look at the ‘Unity’ site which will present a unique author’s project by the winner of the Prize ‘For Spiritual Revival’: Vladimir Likhodedov. This will be a collection of postcards that were used by Belarusians more than eighty years ago. A newsstand with newspapers published in 1921-1939 will also be on show, in addition to rare photos with smiling great-grandparents.
Trinity Church in the village of TelyadovichiWe all know the saying: ‘In the beginning was the Word...’ The holiday in Kopyl is not only about literature, but also about spirituality. The Orthodox faith gave impetus to the development of writing in our area a thousand years ago. The son of Vladimir and Rogneda — Izyaslav — was generally the first prince-bookkeeper in Ancient Russia.
Kirill Turovsky, Yevfrosiniya Polotskaya, Francysk Skaryna are Belarusian educators who are known all over the world. Therefore, it’s not surprising that, on the eve of Belarusian Written Language Day, a scientific and educational expedition – ‘The Road to Shrines’ — will go from the capital to Kopyl with the Holy Fire from the Holy Sepulchre.
In five days, the pilgrims will walk a couple of hundred kilometres and visit temples along the way. One of the most interesting points on the route is the wooden Trinity Church in the village of Telyadovichi. You can’t pass this painted beauty without bowing! It was built in 1792, decorated with rich carvings and doll turrets. Initially, the church belonged to the Uniates, then to the Catholics and only after that did it become Orthodox. The church has never closed its doors to parishioners for two hundred years.
By Sofia Arsenieva
