Ivan Fedorov: biography, years of life, photo

The first book printer in Russia bore the surname Moskovitin. But he became known to descendants as Ivan Fedorov. The biography of this remarkable person is rich in events and travel, from which it is important to highlight the most essential details. These brief theses of the great man's life became the basis for creating books on the topic "Ivan Fedorov, biography for children." This person's biography will be of interest to everyone who is interested in the development of Russian literature, first of all, for small readers. Ivan Fedorov's biography for children should point to the main points of his activity, as an associate and first printer. After all, the development of the Russian language can not be imagined without printed publications. And the name of the beginner 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 Moskovitina is unknown. His name, most likely, did not come from the generic name, but from the place of birth. In those days, Rus was called a small principality, geographically assigned to the Rzeczpospolita. The vast northern territories of modern Russia in the 16th century were known to foreigners as Muscovy.

It is known that at a young age Ivan traveled a lot and studied at European universities. Literacy of Europeans struck Ivan Moskvitin - because by that time the printed book was known in Europe for more than a century. The level of education at times different from what Ivan Fedorov saw at home. The biography would be incomplete without telling what impression Europe made on him.

The first printing house

Ivan Fedorov's interesting biography for children must necessarily point to the place of the first printing house that was on the territory of our country. The first printing workshop was opened in Moscow. Her activities are firmly connected with the name of its owner, who called himself Ivan Fedorov. A brief biography of this man indicates that he started this good business not alone, but together with the printer and partner, whose name was Pyotr Timofeevich Mstislavtsev. According to the decree of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, books of religious content were to be issued in the printing house. Ivan Fyodorov was appointed responsible for the state printing office. A brief biography for children may indicate that the first printer was a master of all trades - he himself cut out complex engravings, using pear wood boards for this, he himself came up with a collection of fonts, he decorated his first books himself.

"Apostle"

The first book they published was called "The Apostle". Ivan Fedorov's biography for children can not ignore this colorful book. Amazing vignettes, a clear printed font and magnificent illustrations made this book a real work of art.

Many of the issues of the "Apostle" contain the comments of the printer. In them the commentator shows himself to be a widely educated person who is 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 printed his books not only at the behest of the sovereign. The main task of the author was to print a book "in the delight of Russian people." The first "Apostle" earned full approval of the church and was published in 2000 copies. Up to now, not more than 60 rarities have survived.

"The chapel"

The second book, published in the Moscow book-printing workshop, was "The Chapel". Its authors were still Peter Mstislavets and Ivan Fedorov. The biography of the Russian book printer does not stop at the 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 in

Ivan Fedorov's biography for children should not be based on the sad episodes of his life. For a number of reasons independent of him, the printing business in Moscow had to be curtailed. Perhaps the reason for their departure was the immediate danger that came from the new warriors of Ivan the Terrible - the oprichniks. The first printers left the boundaries of the Moscow Principality and settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in the city of Zabludu, which is now located on the territory of Poland. The glory of the first printers has reached and these remote places - Fedorov and Mstislavets warmly greeted in the courtyard of Hetman Grigory Aleksandrovich Khotkevich. A great adherent of Orthodoxy and a supporter of the independence of the Lithuanian principality, he offered his first patrons his patronage. Soon under his patronage a small book-printing workshop was founded, in which the publication of books in the Church Slavonic language was prepared.

"The Teaching Gospel"

The first Zabludov edition was the "Teaching Gospel", published in 1569. After his release, the paths of the first printers dispersed - Mstislavets went to the city of Vilna, and Ivan Fedorov took care of the fate of the printing house. The biography of that period of life shows that the case was put on a solid foundation, and new books found their readers. It is important to know that at that time books were not so much a source of knowledge, so much a means of placing capital. The printed matter was very expensive, and enterprising rich people preferred to invest in books, not caring about what was written in them. Be that as it may, the "Teaching Gospel" showed the success of this undertaking, and Ivan Fedorov began to think through the publication of a new book.

"The Psalter"

1570 was the best of the entire period of life in Zdolbunov. In this year the famous "Psalter", decorated with a front-line engraving depicting the Israeli king David, appeared in large circulation. This is one of the most luxurious editions of Fedorov, which he devoted to his patron - one of the pages depicts the coat of arms of the Hotkevich. Unfortunately, up to now only four copies of this book have survived: two of them are in Western Europe, one in Russia, and one in Ukraine.

The Lublin union put Hetkman Khotkevich in a difficult position. He could no longer sustain the life of the printed matter, and was forced to deny Fedorov support and protection. The book printer left hospitable Zabludov and moved to Lviv. So began the Lvov period of his work.

In 1574 the first in the territory of Ukraine book printing workshop was founded in Lviv. And again Ivan Fedorov becomes the only author, proofreader and editor. A biography for children would necessarily indicate the return of the book printer to its first creation - in Lviv, the first "Apostle" was again his book. In Lvov, Fedorov was not obliged to anyone either by money or by position, so Lviv's "Apostle" is the first of Fedorov's books, in which he has his own publishing brand. Here, the first grammar book was published in Russian, which was called "Azbuka".

Work at Konstantin Ostrozhsky

Over time, luck left the first printer, and in Lviv, he began to pursue financial setbacks. He was forced to curtail his activities and accept the invitation of a rich and influential tycoon - Prince Constantine Ostrozky. The prince greeted educated people and valued their society, therefore, in his environment, a union of learned people headed by Gerasim Smotrycky formed. The Ostroh Academy functioned here, which needed its own "drukarnya" - that's how they called the book-printing workshop. Here, Ivan Fedorov was busy preparing the publication of a unique Bible, which was to eclipse all available at the time printed editions of God's Word.

In 1580, the Ostrog Publishing House issued a New Testament with the Psalter. So there was the "Book-collection of things najnuzhnyh", authors of which were Timofey Mikhailovich and Ivan Fedorov. A biography for children should indicate the content of this publication. In the "Book .." was a short list of some of the phrases from the New Testament, indicating their location on the pages of the Gospels. It is interesting to design "Books" - the title page of the edition was decorated with huge gates inviting the reader to open the world of the book.

Ostroh Bible

Of course, the most famous edition of Ivan Fedorov in this period was the Ostrog Bible. This remarkable work is a cultural heritage of all Slavic peoples, and a model of polygraph art. If it was necessary to publish the book "Ivan Fedorov. A short biography for children "- a photo of the Ostroh Bible would rightfully adorn its frontispiece. In total, five editions of this magnificent book were published. Ivan Fedorov corrected his financial affairs and returned to Lviv at the height of glory. Here he tried to re-open the book-printing studio, but died, not seeing the results of his undertaking. The children of the first printer and his students were able to open the Lviv printing press. Fedorov was buried at Onufriev Cemetery not far from the church. The son and pupils of the first printer duly continued the work of Ivan Fedorov, but did not achieve the fame of their teacher.