Let Us Preserve the Brest Bible for Future Generations

Project deadline: December 1, 2026

In the 16th century, one of the most significant cultural and religious monuments of the region was created in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – the Brest Bible. It was printed in Brest (Lithuania) at the press of the nobleman Mikołaj “the Black” Radziwiłł and became the first edition of the Holy Scripture in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as well as the first translation of the Bible into Polish. This monumental work was prepared over six years by a team of 18 translators, who translated the text from Hebrew and Greek while also consulting Latin and French sources. The title page of the publication features a symbolic narrative reflecting the ideas of the Reformation – emphasizing the importance of the Holy Scripture in both faith and public life.

However, history was not kind to this book. After the death of Mikołaj “the Black” Radziwiłł, his son Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł “the Orphan” closed the printing house, and many Evangelical publications were publicly burned. In an effort to preserve books, their title pages were often removed.

The copy of the Brest Bible preserved at the Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus contains a unique feature – two New Testament title pages. This reflects the complex history of the book’s survival: it was repaired, rebound, and assembled from different parts. This rare book also belonged to the Biržai Ordinance Library, whose owners included the collector Mykolas Tiškevičius and Marija Radvilaitė-Tiškevičienė.

Today, this invaluable cultural heritage object requires professional conservation. We invite you to contribute to the restoration of the Brest Bible and help preserve this exceptional witness of Lithuanian history for future generations.