Monument to Francis Skarina

The monument to Francisk Skarina at the National Library of Belarus in Minsk is one of the most important cultural sites in the capital and attracts the attention of both tourists and locals. This majestic six-meter bronze statue, weighing more than five tons, was created by Belarusian sculptor Alexander Drants.
The monument to Francis Skarina is a bronze figure holding a book in one hand and blessing printing with the other. This symbolic image conveys the role that Skaryna played in history as the founder of Belarusian and East Slavic book printing. An important addition to the sculpture were three bronze reliefs, which were mounted on a granite pedestal on three sides. These reliefs depict views of cities closely associated with Skaryna's life and work: Polotsk, where he was born, Prague, where his publishing career began, and Padua, where he received his education.