farfel_n05_098_361

The use of the vernacular (Old Slavonic) in the liturgy, a
concession sanctioned by Rome, gave promise to the spread
of the Christian faith among the new nations & easier
access for the Slavic peoples to the theologic content of
the Christian religion.
Slav's earliest literary language whether written in
Glagolitic or Cyrillic letters called Old Church Slavonic
or Old Slavic. By the 11th C. it was used throughout
the Orthodox Slav world, especially for religious subject
matter.
Slavic books before 1700 in Cambridge Library - total of 28
Church Slavonic & Russian.
[inserted]Tran. Camb. Bibliog. Soc. III 5(1963)[end inserted]
copies have often perished in their native lands - most are
biblical, lithurgical or pedagogical in content.
cumulative destruction influences of war, use, religious
intolerance etc. explain their poor life at home.
1564 - Moscow Liturgical Acts & Epistles.
1st dated book in Russian.
1581 - 1st ed. Church Slavonic Bible - Ostrog.
Liturgical Gospel's 2 Vilna
Gospels 4 Moscow 1647.

1st Lithuanian book - Catechismis, Martynas
Mazvydas - 450th anniversary (1997 ie 1547)
- marked the start of the Lithuanian language.