Symon Budny
(1530-1593)

Humanist, enlightener, religious reformer, philosopher, publisher. He came from the family of a petty Polish gentleman. He was one of the most educated men of his time. He graduated from the Krakow University. In 1562, a book by Symon Budny “Catechism” was published by the Nesvizh printing house, it being the first printed edition on the territory embracing the present-day Belarus. “Catechism” was written and published in the Old Belarusian language. After that, Budny published his works in Brest, Losk, Vilnia. In his books, he was expounding his views on faith problems, on “secular” destination of the man, on state authority. For that time, his views were advanced, and he was propagating them jointly with his associates and supporters. He favoured a comprehensive cooperation of the Slavic peoples.