Ivan Fyodorov (printer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivan Fyodorov
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The first monument to Fyodorov was unveiled in front of the Moscow Print Yard in 1909
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| Born | c. 1510–1525 |
| Died | 16 December 1583 |
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| Known for | first Russian printer |
Ivan Fyodorov (born around 1510 or 1525 – died December 16, 1583) was a very important person in the history of printing. He is known as one of the first printers in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He helped bring the amazing invention of printing with moveable type to these lands.
Besides being a printer, Ivan Fyodorov was also a talented craftsman. He even invented a special cannon that could fire multiple shots! His work changed how books were made and shared forever.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Back in Ivan Fyodorov's time, people didn't have last names that were passed down through families like we do today. Instead, they often used a patronymic. This means their name included their father's name.
So, "Ivan Fyodorov" simply meant "Ivan, son of Fyodor." When he printed his first book in Moscow in 1564, he signed it this way. Later, when he lived in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, he sometimes used a different spelling, "Fedorowicz," which was common there. He also added "a Muscovite" to show where he was from.
Ivan Fyodorov's Life Story
We don't know exactly when or where Ivan Fyodorov was born. Most people think he was born around 1510 or 1525. He probably came from Moscow, which was then called the Grand Duchy of Moscow. He always called Moscow "our home" and "our fatherland," even after he moved away.
We know that Fyodorov studied at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. He earned a bachelor's degree there in 1532. This shows he was a well-educated person.
Starting the First Print Shop
Around 1564, Ivan Fyodorov became a deacon in a church in the Moscow Kremlin. He teamed up with another printer, Pyotr Mstislavets. Together, they set up the Moscow Print Yard. This was a huge step for Russia!
They started printing religious books using a new method called "moveable type." This meant they used individual metal letters that could be rearranged to print different pages. Before this, books were copied by hand, which was very slow and expensive.
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However, not everyone was happy about this new technology. Some people who copied books by hand felt threatened by the printing press. They started causing trouble for Fyodorov and Mstislavets. Sadly, their printing workshop was even burned down. Because of these problems, they had to leave Moscow.
Moving to New Lands
After leaving Moscow, the printers were welcomed by a powerful leader named Hrehory Chodkiewicz. He was a Great Lithuanian Hetman and lived in a place called Zabłudów. There, Fyodorov and Mstislavets continued their printing work. They published important books like the Didactic Gospel (1569) and the Psalter (1570).
In 1572, Fyodorov moved to Lviv, a city that is now in Ukraine. He kept printing books there. His tombstone in Lviv even says he "renewed neglected printing." This shows how important his work was. In 1574, with help from his son, he published a second edition of the Apostolos (a religious book). He also printed an Azbuka, which was an alphabet book for learning to read.
The Famous Ostrog Bible
A few years later, in 1575, Ivan Fyodorov started working for Prince Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski. He was put in charge of a monastery near Dubno. Between 1577 and 1579, he set up the Ostrog Press.
His biggest achievement there was printing the Ostrog Bible in 1581. This was the very first complete version of the Bible printed in Church Slavonic using moveable type. It was a massive project and a landmark in printing history! He also printed other books at Ostrog.
After some disagreements with Prince Ostrogski, Fyodorov returned to Lviv. He tried to open his printing shop again, but it didn't work out. His printing equipment eventually went to a group called the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood. They continued to use his original designs for many years.
Final Years
In 1583, Ivan Fyodorov traveled to Vienna and Kraków. He showed his latest inventions to the Emperor. He then returned to Lviv, where he passed away on December 16, 1583. He was buried at the Saint Onuphrius Monastery in Lviv.
Ivan Fyodorov's life was full of challenges and amazing achievements. He is remembered as a pioneer who brought the power of printed books to many people.
See also
- Moscow Print Yard
