On the Benefit of Book Reading #
There is perhaps no more useful invention that holds within it one of the spiritual treasures of humanity—knowledge. A book must not be regarded as a mere vessel of information. A thoughtful book is far more to a person than the volume of information measured in printed sheets, number of pages, or physical thickness; a book possesses a much deeper value.
In a certain sense, a good book becomes for a person a conversation partner and a friend, a mentor and a moral guide, a comforter, and a source of peace and tranquility. A book grants us knowledge which, together with Christian humility, enlightens us, helps us to perceive the world more broadly, to understand its workings, to discern people and ourselves, to ennoble the soul, and to draw closer to God.
Let us not forget that throughout the centuries, the book has been a source of education and enlightenment for entire peoples, serving as one of the driving forces behind the development of civilizations. The wisest and most farsighted rulers—tsars, emperors, kings, and princes—have always counted among their state priorities the collection of rich palace libraries and the encouragement of local book production. An enlightened ruler has always desired to see his people enlightened as well. Every wise statesman invests in the education and enlightenment of the people. This is a strategic task, the fruits of which are not immediately apparent, but fulfilling it guarantees the spiritual and intellectual flourishing of the nation. From this arise the development of science and technology, and thus the growth of the economy and material prosperity—books aid humanity even in material matters. Such is the universal purpose of the book.
The holy Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev was the most educated man of his time and, according to various accounts, knew between five and eight languages. It is rare for a prince to be given the title “the Wise” by the people. He was truly a scholar upon the throne. Under his rule, Rus’ took a tremendous leap forward in Orthodox enlightenment and culture. Other nations of Yaroslav’s time looked upon Rus’ with respect. The book strengthens the state! Yaroslav the Wise gathered a unique library and blessed his subjects to do the same. Monasteries became centers of literary enlightenment.
We must not forget that the book is an object not only of spiritual but also of applied culture. Often, a book became a work of artistic craftsmanship: finely worked leather, the skillful hand of a literate scribe, the imagination of a jeweler adorning it with inlaid precious stones, delicate artistic metalwork, gold with enamel, silver with niello—such precious book covers transformed books into sacred relics.
Book culture is not merely the transmission of knowledge through copying or printing. Book culture is a category of spiritual life, and its visible manifestation is the book itself.
Careless treatment of books and the lack of reverence for the written word never go without consequences. One such example is the trampling of sacred texts during the reforms of the 17th century. We all know what that led to.
The great pioneers of printing—Johannes Gutenberg in the West and Ivan Fedorov in Russia—desired that the book be made accessible to all. They were driven by one noble idea: that everyone might read the Word of God—the Bible.
Today, digital technologies have somewhat displaced “Her Majesty” the book. It is with sadness that we note how little favor the book finds among modern youth. Yet it is clear that the book is an eternal, imperishable value; it will never lose its relevance. And we hope that we will return to the book and immerse ourselves in the world of book culture to the degree which the book rightfully deserves.
— Metropolitan Korniliy of Moscow and All Rus’