Four Quarters

Four Quarters (Belarusian: Чатыры чвэрці; Russian: Четыре четверти) is a private, independent publishing house based in Minsk, Belarus. Founded in 1993, it has established itself as a notable publisher of Belarusian national culture, art, literature, science, and education. The company publishes a wide range of genres including fiction, documentary prose, unique music editions, history books, memoirs, and art albums. Over its three decades of operation, Four Quarters has released approximately 1,000 book titles with a total print run of about 500,000 copies. Many of its publications have become landmark works in Belarusian book publishing and have been repeatedly recognized at the national "Art of the Book" competition. The publishing house was the first in Belarus to be awarded the title of laureate in the nomination "For Spiritual Revival" and was also the first in the country to publish Orthodox literature and photo albums of Belarusian Orthodox shrines. It produced a 12-album series titled "Our Spiritual Values," blessed by Metropolitan Filaret, with the first two albums released in 1995. Four Quarters is the only publishing structure in Belarus that supports the development of national musical culture. It collaborates with the Belarusian Institute of Cultural Problems, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, various organizations and enterprises of the Republic of Belarus, and the UNESCO Commission of Belarus. The publishing house operates both on a commissioned basis (author-funded) and with full or partial financing by the publisher itself. Its director and editor-in-chief is Liliana Antsukh (Ліліяна Анцух). The company actively participates in book festivals and cultural events, including the Moscow "Red Square" Book Festival and the "Bibliyaleta" festival at the National Library of Belarus.

Four Quarters was founded in 1993 as a non-state universal publishing house in Minsk, Belarus. From its early years, it distinguished itself by focusing on national culture, art, Belarusian literature, science, and education. The publisher became known as a popularizer of Belarusian writers' creative work. Over its history, it has released approximately 1,000 book titles with a total print run of about 500,000 copies. Many of these books have become landmark publications in Belarusian book publishing and have contributed to the revival of Belarusian spiritual culture. Their artistic and graphic quality has been repeatedly honored with top awards at the national 'Art of the Book' competition. Four Quarters was the first in Belarus to be awarded the title of laureate in the nomination 'For Spiritual Revival'. It was also the first in the country to publish Orthodox literature and photo albums of Belarusian Orthodox shrines. The publisher released a series of 12 albums titled 'Our Spiritual Values', which was blessed by Metropolitan Filaret. In 1995, the first two albums of the series were published: 'Orthodox Monuments' and 'Orthodox Architecture of Belarus', followed by the remaining albums. Significant publications for the house include 'Memoirs of Michał Kleofas Ogiński' in two volumes, as well as 'The Ogiński Gene' and 'Time and Music of Michał Kleofas Ogiński', written by his descendants. The publisher has issued various series, including 'Children of War', 'My Homeland', 'Minsk Young Voices', and 'Library of the Minsk City Branch of the Union of Writers of Belarus'. From 1993 to 2023, over 30 years, the publishing house produced about a thousand books with a total circulation of about 500,000 copies. Many were landmark works in Belarusian publishing and were repeatedly noted at the 'Art of the Book' competition. The publishing house cooperates with the Belarusian Institute of Cultural Problems, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus, various organizations and enterprises of the Republic of Belarus, and the UNESCO Commission of Belarus. In terms of direction, the publisher produces a variety of publications: literary-artistic, spiritual-educational, popular-science, scientific, educational, production-practical, reference, advertising, mass-political, and leisure publications. Four Quarters is the only publishing structure in Belarus that supports the development of national musical culture. The team also works to popularize art, Belarusian literature, and the creative work of Belarusian authors and cultural figures. In its creative projects, the publishing house unites writers and artists: numerous presentations are held, and art exhibitions are organized in libraries, schools, museums, exhibition halls, and houses of culture in Minsk and other regions. The publishing house issues books both on a commissioned basis (at the author's expense) and with full or partial financing by the publisher. Awards received include: 2014 — first-degree diploma in the 'Spirituality' nomination for the publishing project 'Orthodox Saints of the Belarusian Land' of the 'Our Spiritual Values' series; 2014 — first-degree diploma in the 'For Contribution to the Preservation of Spiritual Heritage' nomination for the project 'White Rus from the Mid-1st Millennium to the Mid-13th Century' dedicated to the 1150th anniversary of Slavic writing and the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus; 2015 — winner's diploma in the 'Photo View' nomination for the project 'Treasures of Belarus'; 2015 — first-degree diploma in the 'Polygraph-ART' nomination for the project 'Ten Years of Art of Belarus'; 2017 — winner's diploma in the 'Photo View' nomination for the project 'Minsk Through the Ages' dedicated to the 950th anniversary of Minsk; 2017 — winner's diploma in the 'For Contribution to the Preservation of Spiritual Heritage' nomination for the project 'Symphony of Centuries'; 2024 — first-degree diploma and commemorative sign-symbol 'Golden Folio' of the National Competition 'Art of the Book'—2024 in the nomination 'For Contribution to the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage' for the book by Liliana Antsukh 'Zembin: A Brief Excursion into History and Modernity. Biography of Zembin Residents'.

• 2024

  Received first-degree diploma and 'Golden Folio' commemorative sign at the National 'Art of the Book' competition for Liliana Antsukh's book 'Zembin: A Brief Excursion into History and Modernity'.

• 2023

  30th anniversary of the publishing house; by this year about 1,000 titles and 500,000 copies total.

• 2017

  Won 'Photo View' nomination for 'Minsk Through the Ages' and 'For Contribution to the Preservation of Spiritual Heritage' for 'Symphony of Centuries'.

• 2015

  Won 'Photo View' nomination for 'Treasures of Belarus' and first-degree diploma in 'Polygraph-ART' for 'Ten Years of Art of Belarus'.

• 2014

  Received first-degree diploma in 'Spirituality' nomination for 'Orthodox Saints of the Belarusian Land' and in 'For Contribution to the Preservation of Spiritual Heritage' for 'White Rus from the Mid-1st Millennium to the Mid-13th Century'.

• 1995

  First two albums of the 'Our Spiritual Values' series published: 'Orthodox Monuments' and 'Orthodox Architecture of Belarus'.

• 1993

  Publishing house founded in Minsk, Belarus.

Independent universal publisher focused on national cultural heritage, spiritual literature, and art books; the only Belarusian publisher supporting national musical culture.

• Our Spiritual Values series (12 albums)

  A series of 12 albums blessed by Metropolitan Filaret, including 'Orthodox Monuments' and 'Orthodox Architecture of Belarus' (1995).

• Memoirs of Michał Kleofas Ogiński (2 volumes)

  A landmark two-volume publication of the memoirs of the famous composer and politician.

• The Ogiński Gene

  A book written by descendants of Michał Kleofas Ogiński.

• Time and Music of Michał Kleofas Ogiński

  A publication by descendants of Ogiński.

• Children of War series

  A book series published by the house.

• My Homeland series

  A book series published by the house.

• Minsk Young Voices series

  A book series published by the house.

• Library of the Minsk City Branch of the Union of Writers of Belarus series

  A book series published by the house.

1. 1Official website4-4.by
2. 2Wikidata entrywikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia (Belarusian)be.wikipedia.org