More about the cycle of events can be discovered at the website https://www.gramatai500.lv and for more about the Latvian National Library and its constantly changing exhibitions and collections, visit: https://www.lnb.lv/.
500 Years of Latvian Books: the Enchiridion, 16th century handbook of the Lutheran church
In 1586, the first handbook of the Latvian Lutheran Church, the Enchiridion, was printed in Königsberg, the capital of Prussia at that time, and work on all three parts was completed in 1587. To support the consolidation of Lutheranism, the publication was initiated and sponsored by the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia, Gotthard Kettler. On his orders, the books were distributed in 1587 to all pastors of Lutheran churches in the duchy.
The first part of the Enchiridion, entitled "The Small Catechism or Christian Education for Ordinary Pastors and Preachers, also for Heads of the Household, etc." contained a translation of Martin Luther's Catechism; the second, larger part contained various spiritual texts.
The title of the book in Latvian: "Gospels and Epistles, translated from German into non-German language, to be read before non-Germans in churches in the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia in Livonia every Sunday and major feast days throughout the year". The third part, "Non-German Psalms and Spiritual Songs or Hymns Sung in the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia", also included agendas – texts for church offices and worship services, including the order of ceremonies.
The role of the enchiridion was crucial not only in the introduction of the new Lutheran faith, but in a much wider cultural and historical context. The first printed texts formed the beginnings of the long and difficult path of evolution of the Latvian literary language and became the basis for the development of book publishing. Over the centuries the enchiridion was the basis for countless editions of the Catechism and also the Latvian hymn book. This book is important in the history of literature, and was substantially modified, expanded and improved.
The 1586 edition was compiled by Catholic clergymen who had recently converted to the new Lutheran faith, bringing with them the existing tradition of translating from German. The texts were edited by an editorial board of the most literary-minded pastors of the time. Three pastors from Bauska, Tukums and Saldus continued with the editing of texts which had previously been prepared by the pastor of St. James (St. Jacob) Church in Riga, and later from Dobele, Johann Rivius (?– 1586), and proofread them for the printer.
It should be noted that subsequent editions contributed to developing and consolidating the publication of different books, hymn books in particular, for the Provinces of Livland and Courland. The next edition of the enchiridion was printed in Riga (1615), while in Courland, the Catechism translated by Georg Mancelius (1685) was published in Jelgava.
