Exhibitions in the Cupola Hall and in the South Hall
The coming Exhibitions
7.6.-20.10.2012
In the Cupola Hall
The Literary Middle Ages - 1000 Years of Book Culture
The letters, books, and literary culture arriving in Finland a thousand years ago during the Middle Ages enabled Finland to be integrated as a part of the heritage of Antiquity, Western Europe, and Latin-language cultural circles.
It is emblematic that more handwritten parchment pages have survived in Finland than any other objects from the Middle Ages; hence the immense appreciation for their writing and reading accorded them, considering that our current literary ideals and practices are derived from past centuries.
Besides presenting the magnificent literary culture of the Middle Ages, the exhibition enables Finland’s oldest national literary treasures to be viewed by the general public for the first time. An online presentation also sheds light on the exhibition’s themes.
The Literary Middle Ages exhibition climaxes with the Literary Culture in Medieval Finland research project that began in 2006. Besides scientific research, the project is associated with the digitizing and shaping of the National Library of Finland’s internationally significant collection of medieval parchment fragments that will be published as a database in 2012.
Exhibition’s expert group: Docent Tuomas Heikkilä, Researcher Jesse Keskiaho, Researcher Jaakko Tahkokallio.
7.6.-20.10.2012
In the South Hall
Luther, the Reformation, and the Book
From the very beginning, the religious movement initiated by Martin Luther was based on the use of the printed word. The significance of the book was central to the Lutheran Church and all of Protestant Christendom.
To be understood by the common people, the Bible had to be translated into the vernacular. Literacy became a condition for Salvation, and thus popular education became the main task of the Lutheran Church.
Bishops and priests wrote a large number of Catechisms and sermons for the teaching of Christian doctrine. Catechisms were also used to convert pagans and people with other confessions.
Exhibition’s expert group: Professor Simo Heininen, Professor Tuija Laine, Professor Risto Saarinen.
In connection with the exhibition, a publication containing articles and an exhibition catalogue will be published; the editor is Tuija Laine.
The exhibition is associated with the 12th International Congress for Luther Research at the University of Helsinki 5–10 August 2012.
