| Library of the Eparchy of Slavonia | |
|---|---|
| Библиотека Епархије славонске Knjižnica Eparhije slavonske | |
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| Location | Pakrac,Croatia |
| Access and use | |
| Access requirements | Open to general public |
| Other information | |
| Website | Official website |
TheLibrary of the Eparchy of Slavonia (Serbian Cyrillic:Библиотека Епархије славонске,Croatian:Knjižnica Eparhije slavonske), also known as thePakrac's Library (Serbian Cyrillic:Пакрачка библиотека,Croatian:Pakračka knjižnica) and abbreviated asPEP,[1] is a cultural and historical institution of theEparchy of Slavonia with a history of approximately 250 years.[2]
It is recognized as one of the most significantSerbian Orthodox Church libraries alongside those at theHilandar Monastery and thePatriarchate of Belgrade.[2] The library contains over 20,000 volumes.[3] It is notable for its collection of early printed South Slavic books, making it the second-largest collection of its kind in the world.[2] The oldest item in the library is a 1497 edition ofVergil’s works in Latin, acquired with support from theGovernment of Republika Srpska.[2]
The library was established by orthodox bishopKiril Živković and is today one of the oldest Serb cultural institutions in Croatia.[4]
During theCroatian War of Independence in 1990s inSAO Western Slavonia the library was at risk of destruction by Croatian forces.[2] The library was relocated twice in that period, with significant portions of its collection saved by Croatian officer Ivan Hiti fromVaraždin.[4] He transported the collection to theNational and University Library in Zagreb.[3] For this act, Hiti was awarded the Order of Saint Constantine by the Serbian Patriarch in 2013.[3] The library's collection, which includes many books and manuscripts, is now protected by the state due to its historical significance.[2]
After the end of the war library is undergoing a transformation to become a specialized academic institution and research centre.[5] Unlike a traditional lending library, it will primarily serve as a repository for research, focusing on providing access to its collections for scholarly study.[5]
In 2023 theUniversity of Banja Luka and the Eparchy of Slavonia have established a partnership to advance research related to the library's collections.[2][6] This collaboration is expected to enhance academic access to and utilization of the library's resources.[2]
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