The first book printer in Russia bore the surname Moskovitin. But he became known to his descendants as Ivan Fedorov. The biography of this remarkable person is rich in events and travels, from which it is important to highlight the most significant details. These brief theses of the life of a great man became the basis for the creation of books on the topic "Ivan Fedorov, a biography for children." The biography of this man will be of interest to everyone who is interested in the development of Russian literature, primarily for young readers. The biography of Ivan Fedorov for children should indicate the main points of his activity as an associate and first printer. After all, the development of the Russian language is impossible to imagine without printed publications. And the name of the initiator of the Russian book is Ivan Fedorov.
Short biography
Years of life of the first printer - 1510-1583. The exact date of birth of Ivan Moskovitin is unknown. His surname, most likely, did not come from a generic name, but from the place of birth. In those days, Rus was called a small principality, territorially assigned to the Commonwe alth. The vast northern territories of present-day Russia were known to foreigners as Muscovy in the 16th century.
It is known that at a young age, Ivan traveled a lot and studied at European universities. The literacy of Europeans struck Ivan Moskvitin - after all, by that time the printed book had been known in Europe for more than a century. The level of education was many times different from what Ivan Fedorov saw in his homeland. A biography would be incomplete without stories about the impression Europe made on him.
First Printing House
An interesting biography of Ivan Fedorov for children must necessarily indicate the place of the first printing house, which was located on the territory of our country. The first printing workshop was opened in Moscow.
Its activity is firmly connected with the name of its owner, who called himself Ivan Fedorov. A brief biography of this man indicates that he did not start this good deed alone, but together with a printer and partner, whose name was Pyotr Timofeevich Mstislavtsev. According to the decree of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, religious books were to be published in the printing house. Ivan Fedorov was appointed responsible for the sovereign's printing house. A short biography for children may indicate that the first printer was a jack of all trades - he cut complex engravings using pear wood boards for this, he himself invented a collection of fonts, he himself decorated his first books.
Apostle
The first book they published was called "The Apostle". The biography of Ivan Fedorov for children cannot ignore this colorful book. Amazing vignettes, crisp print, and gorgeous illustrations make this book a true work of art.
Many of the issues of the Apostle contain the printer's commentary. In them, the commentator shows himself to be a well-educated person, fluent in the literary norms of the Russian language of that time. Most of the comments were signed simply: "Ivan Fedorov." A brief biography of this person must necessarily indicate that he published his books not only at the behest of the sovereign. The main task of the author was to print the book "for the enjoyment of the Russian people." The first "Apostle" earned the full approval of the church and was published in 2000 copies. No more than 60 rarities have survived to this day.
Clockmaker
The second book published in the Moscow printing workshop was The Clockworker. Its authors were still Peter Mstislavets and Ivan Fedorov. The biography of the Russian book printer does not stop much at his second book. It is known that it was also a religious publication, and was allowed to print with the full approval of the Orthodox Church.
Moving
The biography of Ivan Fedorov for children should not be based on the sad episodes of his life. For a number of reasons beyond his control, the printing business in Moscow had to be curtailed. Perhaps the reason for their departure wasthe immediate danger posed by the new soldiers of Ivan the Terrible - guardsmen. The first printers left the Moscow principality and settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in the city of Zabludów, which is currently in Poland. The glory of the first printers reached these distant places - Fedorov and Mstislavets were warmly welcomed in the courtyard of Hetman Grigory Alexandrovich Khotkevich. A great zealot of Orthodoxy and a supporter of the independence of the Principality of Lithuania, he offered his patronage to the first printers. Soon, under his patronage, a small printing workshop was founded, in which the publication of books in Church Slavonic was being prepared.
Teaching Gospel
The first errant edition was the Doctrine Gospel, published in 1569. After its release, the paths of the first printers diverged - Mstislavets went to the city of Vilna, and Ivan Fedorov took over all the worries about the fate of the printing house. The biography of that period of life shows that the matter was put on a solid basis, and new books found their readers. It is important to know that in those days books were not only a source of knowledge, but also a means of investing capital. Printed products were very expensive, and enterprising rich people preferred to invest in books, not caring about what exactly was written in them. Be that as it may, the Doctrine Gospel showed the success of this undertaking, and Ivan Fedorov began to think over the publication of a new book.
Ps alter
1570 was the best of the entire period of life in Zdolbuniv. In this year, the famous "Ps alter" was published in a large edition, decorated with a frontispiece engraving depicting the Israeli king David. This is one of the most luxurious editions of Fedorov, which he dedicated to his patron - one of the pages depicts the coat of arms of the Khotkeviches. Unfortunately, only four copies of this book have survived to this day - two of them are in Western Europe, one is in Russia, and one is in Ukraine.
The Union of Lublin put Hetman Khotkevich in a difficult position. He could no longer support the vital activity of the printing business, and was forced to refuse Fedorov support and patronage. The book printer left the hospitable Zabludów and moved to Lvov. Thus began the Lviv period of his work.
In 1574, the first printing workshop in Ukraine was founded in Lviv.
And again, Ivan Fedorov becomes the only author, proofreader and editor in it. A biography for children would certainly indicate the return of the book printer to his first creation - in Lvov, his first book was again "The Apostle". In Lvov, Fedorov owed no money or position to anyone, so the Lvov "Apostle" is the first of Fedorov's books to have his own publishing stamp. The first grammar textbook in Russian, which was called "Azbuka", was also published here.
Working with Konstantin Ostrozhsky
Over time, luck left the first printer, and inLviv began to pursue financial failures. He was forced to curtail his activities and accept the invitation of a we althy and influential magnate - Prince Konstantin Ostrozhsky. The prince welcomed educated people and valued their company, so in his circle there was an alliance of learned people headed by Gerasim Smotrytsky. The Ostroh Academy functioned here, which really needed its own “drukarnya” - that was the name of the printing workshop in those days. Here Ivan Fedorov began preparing the publication of a unique Bible, which was supposed to overshadow all the printed editions of God's word available at that time.
In 1580 the Ostroh Printing House issued a New Testament with a Ps alter. This is how the “Book-Collection of Necessary Things” appeared, the authors of which were Timofey Mikhailovich and Ivan Fedorov. Biography for children should indicate the content of this publication. In the "Book.." there was a short list of some phrases from the New Testament, indicating their location on the pages of the Gospels. The design of the “Book” is interesting - the title page of the publication was decorated with a huge gate, inviting the reader to discover the world of the book.
Ostroh Bible
Of course, the most famous edition of Ivan Fedorov during this period was the Ostroh Bible. This wonderful work is the cultural heritage of all Slavic peoples, and an example of printing art. If it were necessary to publish the book “Ivan Fedorov. Brief biography for children” - a photo of the Ostroh Bible would rightfully adorn its frontispiece.
There were five in totaleditions of this excellent book. Ivan Fedorov improved his financial affairs and returned to Lviv at the height of his fame. Here he tried to reopen the printing workshop, but died without seeing the results of his undertaking. The children of the first printer and his students had a chance to open the Lviv printing house. Fedorov was buried at the Onufrievsky cemetery not far from the temple. The son and students of the first printer continued the work of Ivan Fedorov with dignity, but did not achieve the fame of their teacher.
