Printing House of Crnojevici
Encyclopedia
Printing House of Crnojevići is the first Balkan printing house; the facility operated between 1493 and 1496 in Cetinje
, Montenegro
.
It was founded by Đurađ IV Crnojević, the ruler of the Principality of Zeta
(today's Montenegro
) between 1490 and 1496. The printing press was operated by orthodox monks led by hieromonk Makarije
. The Crnojević printing press was also the first in southeastern Europe, and the first state press in the world. Five books printed in this printshop remain preserved, and all are for orthodox liturgy: Oktoih Prvoglasnik
, Oktoih Petoglasnik, Psaltir, Trebnik (Molitvenik) and Cvetni Triod (Čevtverojevađelje). These books were as well the first printed books among the southern Slavs.
Cetinje
Cetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.
It was founded by Đurađ IV Crnojević, the ruler of the Principality of Zeta
Principality of Zeta
Zeta was a medieval state, which territory encompassed parts of present-day Montenegro and Northernwestern Albania. From 1360. to 1421. Zeta was independent state administered by local noble family Balšić. From 1185. to 1360. and from 1421. - 1451, Zeta was province of medieval Serbia...
(today's Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
) between 1490 and 1496. The printing press was operated by orthodox monks led by hieromonk Makarije
Hieromonk Makarije
Hieromonk Makarije is the founder of Serbian and Romanian printing, having printed the first book in Serbian language and the first book in the territory of Walachia ....
. The Crnojević printing press was also the first in southeastern Europe, and the first state press in the world. Five books printed in this printshop remain preserved, and all are for orthodox liturgy: Oktoih Prvoglasnik
Oktoih
Oktoih , in English the Book of Psalms or Psalter, is an incunabula printed in Cetinje, Montenegro in 1494. Oktoih is a book of liturgical hymns for singing in eight parts. It was printed in the Printing House of Crnojevići by Đurađ IV Crnojević, an educated ruler of Montenegro from 1490-1496...
, Oktoih Petoglasnik, Psaltir, Trebnik (Molitvenik) and Cvetni Triod (Čevtverojevađelje). These books were as well the first printed books among the southern Slavs.
The Books Printed
- Oktoih, the first voiceOktoihOktoih , in English the Book of Psalms or Psalter, is an incunabula printed in Cetinje, Montenegro in 1494. Oktoih is a book of liturgical hymns for singing in eight parts. It was printed in the Printing House of Crnojevići by Đurađ IV Crnojević, an educated ruler of Montenegro from 1490-1496...
(Oktoih provglasnik) is the first book printed in Cyrillic type. It was printed on January 17, 1494. There are 108 copies of this book existing. It contains 538 pages sized 29 x 21,6 cm. It is characterized by high quality and clean two-coloured printing, red and black, with nicely shaped letters and well placed banners and initials. These xylographic banners and initials are made in the spirit of Renaissance with a trace of old manuscript tradition. By the beauty of its graphic it is considered to be at the same level as Venetian production at that time. The Central National Montenegrin Library "Đurđe Crnojević" published 600 issues of Oktoih, the first voiceOktoihOktoih , in English the Book of Psalms or Psalter, is an incunabula printed in Cetinje, Montenegro in 1494. Oktoih is a book of liturgical hymns for singing in eight parts. It was printed in the Printing House of Crnojevići by Đurađ IV Crnojević, an educated ruler of Montenegro from 1490-1496...
in 1987.
- Oktoih, the fifth voiceOktoihOktoih , in English the Book of Psalms or Psalter, is an incunabula printed in Cetinje, Montenegro in 1494. Oktoih is a book of liturgical hymns for singing in eight parts. It was printed in the Printing House of Crnojevići by Đurađ IV Crnojević, an educated ruler of Montenegro from 1490-1496...
(Oktoih petoglasnik) represents the first illustrated South SlavicSouth Slavic languagesThe South Slavic languages comprise one of three branches of the Slavic languages. There are approximately 30 million speakers, mainly in the Balkans. These are separated geographically from speakers of the other two Slavic branches by a belt of German, Hungarian and Romanian speakers...
incunabula. It was printed in 1494. Its fragments have been preserved. The longest one contains 37 pages. What makes this incunabula special are six xylographic illustrations. The artist who engraved them managed to put rather complex compositions with many characters on a relatively small space.
- Book of Psalms with Possession (Psaltiri s posjedovanjem) was printed at CetinjeCetinjeCetinje , Цетиње / Cetinje , Italian: Cettigne, Greek: Κετίγνη, Ketígni) is a town and Old Royal Capital of Montenegro. It is also a historical and the secondary capital of Montenegro , with the official residence of the President of Montenegro...
in 1495. It is not only of liturgical and conventional but also historical and literary significance. It is decorated with three engraved banners and 27 initials repeated for the 221 time. There are 36 complete and partial copies preserved. The Central National Library ‘Đurđe Crnojević’ published 650 copies of its photo-printed edition in 1986.