On December 10, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at the Headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, in Paris, in the presence of the Bulgarian ambassador in the French capital – H.E. Mrs. Radka Balabanova, as well as many foreign diplomats and representatives of scientific, educational and cultural institutions from all continents, a Special Exhibition dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the publication of the “Fish Primer” was opened. On behalf of the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria – prof. Galin Tsokov, was announced Congratulatory address.
The exhibition, which is prepared by the University of Library Science and Information Technologies, Sofia, Republic of Bulgaria and the National Library of the country “St. St. Cyril and Methodius“, was presented by Bulgarian cultural heritage experts Prof. Vencislav Velev and Assoc. Vasil Zagorov from UniBIT and Mrs. Yulia Karadachka from NBKM.
In the coming days, diplomats, representatives of UNESCO member countries, as well as guests of the international organization will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the seven book editions of the “Fish Primer”, the work of Dr. Peter Beron.
„Primer with various teachings“ of Dr. Peter Beron was issued in 1824. and is the first modern Bulgarian textbook. Used by children throughout the 19th century, it contains, in addition to the rules of grammar, general information about nature and the basics of arithmetic.
The celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of “The Fish Primer” in addition to being national, it also has an international character. At the proposal of the National Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria for UNESCO, this significant Bulgarian event has been included in UNESCO's international calendar of significant events related to human history and culture. There it is present under the name: “200 years since the publication of the first new Bulgarian textbook “Primer with different teachings” (“The Fish Primer”), an achievement of Bulgarian culture from the 19th century, published by Petar Beron (1824) – https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385098.
In this regard, the University of Library Science and Information Technology (UniBIT) took the initiative to hold a series of events to mark this anniversary in a national and international aspect. These initiatives went under the motto “The beginning of Bulgarian literature– European cultural projections (200 years since the publication of the Fish Primer)“. The anniversary is also included in the National Cultural Calendar. 6.webp" style="width: 640px; height: 480px;" />
The events are under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and the National Commission for UNESCO. The combined efforts of scientists and teachers from UniBIT, researchers from the National Library “St. St. Cyril and Methodius“, as well as many members of the public.