UNESCO-Listed Archives from Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia on Display

An exhibition titled “Heritage and Memory Beyond Borders” opened Wednesday at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia, CE Report quotes BTA.

The display presents the diversity of documentary heritage inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register through panels from Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia. The exhibition was prepared jointly with the National Library of Serbia, the Slovak National Library, and Bulgaria’s National Library.

Library Director Assoc. Professor Kalina Ivanova said that on the occasion of Sofia Day, the institution is showcasing part of its priceless archives inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme. She stressed that memory is humanity’s most responsible mission, without which it cannot exist. “Knowledge and memory of the world belong to all,” Ivanova added.

In a congratulatory address, Culture Minister Marian Bachev noted that Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Serbia all have items listed in UNESCO’s Register.

“The partnership among the three national libraries is not only a symbol of our shared care for cultural heritage in the context of the European libraries’ mission, but also a significant contribution to its preservation, scholarly study, and accessibility to the public,” he said.

Dr. Stanislava Knapcokova of the Slovak National Library highlighted manuscripts and rare technical maps on display, reflecting the evolution of written culture in Slovakia. “I believe the exhibition will inspire visitors, researchers, and lovers of book history and will be a true celebration of our common cultural heritage,” she said.

Vladan Trijic of the National Library of Serbia presented Miroslav Gospel manuscript, describing it as a key literary monument deeply embedded in Serbian cultural identity, “probably the only manuscript every Serb knows.” Serbia also contributed the archive of Nikola Tesla and the 1914 telegram from Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, which “set off a chain of events leading to the First World War,” he noted.

The National Library announced that the exhibition will later travel to Serbia and Slovakia.