Archangel Gospel
Encyclopedia
The Archangel Gospel is a Cyrillic
Gospel Book
manuscript written in 1092. It is the fourth oldest Eastern Slavic manuscript. The book is stored in the collection of Russian State Library
. UNESCO
added the Arkhangelsk Gospel to the international register Memory of the World Programme
in 1997.
The Arkhangelsk Gospel has a modest design and is a cheap, mass produced book. The story of its creation and providence until 1876 is unknown. The book was brought to Moscow by an Archangelsk region farmer and received its name from its place of discovery. The manuscript is in satisfactory condition, e.g. the ink and vermilion
crumbled in places, but parchment
do not have signs of contamination or moisture. The Archangel Gospel was reproduced in the 1912 as a facsimile and in 1997 as a scientific publication.
. There are some suggestions that it came from the scriptorium of the monastery in Great Novgorod, but this assumption is not supported by any evidence.
In the beginning of December of the year 1876 the manuscript was brought by a peasant from Arkhangelsk to the Rumjancev Museum in Moscow. Several palaeographers worked on the manuscripts.
In 1912, for the fiftieth anniversary of the Rumjancev Museum, the text of the codex was edited in 100 copies in a facsimile edition. The facsimile
edition reproduces a natural colour of the manuscript (parchment
, ink, pictures, and holes created by insects). The paper used for this edition has approximately the same thickness as the parchment of the original codex.
droplets fall on them, but this does not interfere with the text's legibility. As the restoration of the manuscript from the moment of its discovery was never successful, the manuscript needs a new binding of the book block and strengthening of reliure.
The manuscript lost six of the 8-folios quires (three in the beginning, two between leaves 84 and 85, one between leaves 100 and 101) and five separate leaves — together 53 leaves are lost. Separately last leaf of the manuscript is sewn to the book block with the text-palimpsest
(presumably 12th century), written on the old washed off text.
The main text of the manuscript was written by two scribes. It is believed, that the work of these scribes was distributed before work was started. As it « was done, possibly, for acceleration it is difficult to assume an opportunity of using the general original ».
The first scribe copied the text of the Gospels lectionary
(Evangelistarium) which goes back to Cyril and Methodius
translation of the Gospels. The professor A. Voskresensky considers, that this text concerns to the most ancient Slavic translations of the four Gospels and represents the so-called Yugoslavian edition closest to initial translation of Cyril and Methody. This part of the Archangel Gospel contains a number of readings has the order distinct from readings of the Ostromir Gospel
, and also there are inserts absent in the Gospel (for example, addition of lessons in a weekday from Easter
to Pentecost).
The second scribe copied the text of the full Gospel-lectionary which sample was not kept, but by its text from the Archangel Gospel, it has essential distinctions on structure and sequences of evangelical readings from the Mstislav Gospel (it is written till 1117), most ancient of kept full of lectionary markings.
Although ink and cinnabar used for initial letters partially fell off some pages the general state of manuscript is acceptable because its calf parchment pages are clean and dry. It has never been restored. The manuscript is kept in the holdings of Russian State Library
in Moscow.
The first facsimile reprint of the Archangel Gospel was published in 1912, in 1997 there was a second annotated reprint.
The Archangel Gospel was included into the UNESCO
’s Memory of the World Register – Europe and North America Memory of the World Register – in 1997 in recognition of its historical significance.
, their names were — Michka and presbyter Peter), and also the third scribe (Jakim or Akim), who is responsible for the 175—177 leaves (with Sunday Gospel lessons) and the fourth, which name is unknown — who wrote only leaf 178 (Gospel lessons at date of Archangel Michael).
The handwriting of the two last scribes is dated palaeographically
to the 13th—14th centuries. According to N. N. Durnovo the fourth scribe was a contemporary for the first two scribes and dates its work to the end of the 11th century, or to the beginning of the 12th century.
In the end written the fourth scribe writing existed a certain text which at the moment of detection of the manuscript to disassemble it was inconvenient. The chemical way of restoration of the text had completely destroyed this text. The manuscript is written by the documentary hands, the letters have essential deviations from the classical style according to which other monuments of that period were written (e.g. Ostromir Gospel).
Cyrillic alphabet
The Cyrillic script or azbuka is an alphabetic writing system developed in the First Bulgarian Empire during the 10th century AD at the Preslav Literary School...
Gospel Book
Gospel Book
The Gospel Book, Evangelion, or Book of the Gospels is a codex or bound volume containing one or more of the four Gospels of the Christian New Testament...
manuscript written in 1092. It is the fourth oldest Eastern Slavic manuscript. The book is stored in the collection of Russian State Library
Russian State Library
The Russian State Library is the national library of Russia, located in Moscow. It is the largest in the country and the third largest in the world for its collection of books . It was named the V. I...
. UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
added the Arkhangelsk Gospel to the international register Memory of the World Programme
Memory of the World Programme
UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme is an international initiative launched to safeguard the documentary heritage of humanity against collective amnesia, neglect, the ravages of time and climatic conditions, and willful and deliberate destruction...
in 1997.
The Arkhangelsk Gospel has a modest design and is a cheap, mass produced book. The story of its creation and providence until 1876 is unknown. The book was brought to Moscow by an Archangelsk region farmer and received its name from its place of discovery. The manuscript is in satisfactory condition, e.g. the ink and vermilion
Vermilion
Vermilion is an opaque orangish red pigment, similar to scarlet. As a naturally occurring mineral pigment, it is known as cinnabar, and was in use around the world before the Common Era began. Most naturally produced vermilion comes from cinnabar mined in China, and vermilion is nowadays commonly...
crumbled in places, but parchment
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
do not have signs of contamination or moisture. The Archangel Gospel was reproduced in the 1912 as a facsimile and in 1997 as a scientific publication.
History of the manuscript
The early history of the manuscript and place of its provenance are unknown until to its discovery in 1876 in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. There are some suggestions that it came from the scriptorium of the monastery in Great Novgorod, but this assumption is not supported by any evidence.
In the beginning of December of the year 1876 the manuscript was brought by a peasant from Arkhangelsk to the Rumjancev Museum in Moscow. Several palaeographers worked on the manuscripts.
In 1912, for the fiftieth anniversary of the Rumjancev Museum, the text of the codex was edited in 100 copies in a facsimile edition. The facsimile
Facsimile
A facsimile is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. It differs from other forms of reproduction by attempting to replicate the source as accurately as possible in terms of scale,...
edition reproduces a natural colour of the manuscript (parchment
Parchment
Parchment is a thin material made from calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin, often split. Its most common use was as a material for writing on, for documents, notes, or the pages of a book, codex or manuscript. It is distinct from leather in that parchment is limed but not tanned; therefore, it is very...
, ink, pictures, and holes created by insects). The paper used for this edition has approximately the same thickness as the parchment of the original codex.
Description
The manuscript consists of 178 pages of different sizes ranging from 20×16 centimetres to 20.5×16.8 cm. The tops of the leaves have been cut off with damage of numbering of the quires. The manuscript is written on parchment made from calf skins. Experts describe the quality of the material as low: rough manufacture of the leather, very economical open. Fifty-four pages have various defects: rough fields which have been not sewn up or have unfilled holes, the filed parts of the leaves. The Archangel Gospel is in a satisfactory condition; the parchment is not polluted, and traces of moisture are absent, but a number of sheets show traces of wormholes. It appears that some sheets had ink and cinnabarCinnabar
Cinnabar or cinnabarite , is the common ore of mercury.-Word origin:The name comes from κινναβαρι , a Greek word most likely applied by Theophrastus to several distinct substances...
droplets fall on them, but this does not interfere with the text's legibility. As the restoration of the manuscript from the moment of its discovery was never successful, the manuscript needs a new binding of the book block and strengthening of reliure.
The manuscript lost six of the 8-folios quires (three in the beginning, two between leaves 84 and 85, one between leaves 100 and 101) and five separate leaves — together 53 leaves are lost. Separately last leaf of the manuscript is sewn to the book block with the text-palimpsest
Palimpsest
A palimpsest is a manuscript page from a scroll or book from which the text has been scraped off and which can be used again. The word "palimpsest" comes through Latin palimpsēstus from Ancient Greek παλίμψηστος originally compounded from πάλιν and ψάω literally meaning “scraped...
(presumably 12th century), written on the old washed off text.
The main text of the manuscript was written by two scribes. It is believed, that the work of these scribes was distributed before work was started. As it « was done, possibly, for acceleration it is difficult to assume an opportunity of using the general original ».
The first scribe copied the text of the Gospels lectionary
Lectionary
A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...
(Evangelistarium) which goes back to Cyril and Methodius
Saints Cyril and Methodius
Saints Cyril and Methodius were two Byzantine Greek brothers born in Thessaloniki in the 9th century. They became missionaries of Christianity among the Slavic peoples of Bulgaria, Great Moravia and Pannonia. Through their work they influenced the cultural development of all Slavs, for which they...
translation of the Gospels. The professor A. Voskresensky considers, that this text concerns to the most ancient Slavic translations of the four Gospels and represents the so-called Yugoslavian edition closest to initial translation of Cyril and Methody. This part of the Archangel Gospel contains a number of readings has the order distinct from readings of the Ostromir Gospel
Ostromir Gospel
The Ostromir Gospels is the second oldest dated East Slavic book...
, and also there are inserts absent in the Gospel (for example, addition of lessons in a weekday from Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
to Pentecost).
The second scribe copied the text of the full Gospel-lectionary which sample was not kept, but by its text from the Archangel Gospel, it has essential distinctions on structure and sequences of evangelical readings from the Mstislav Gospel (it is written till 1117), most ancient of kept full of lectionary markings.
Although ink and cinnabar used for initial letters partially fell off some pages the general state of manuscript is acceptable because its calf parchment pages are clean and dry. It has never been restored. The manuscript is kept in the holdings of Russian State Library
Russian State Library
The Russian State Library is the national library of Russia, located in Moscow. It is the largest in the country and the third largest in the world for its collection of books . It was named the V. I...
in Moscow.
The first facsimile reprint of the Archangel Gospel was published in 1912, in 1997 there was a second annotated reprint.
The Archangel Gospel was included into the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
’s Memory of the World Register – Europe and North America Memory of the World Register – in 1997 in recognition of its historical significance.
Scribes of the codex
The manuscript was written by two scribes (according to the colophonColophon (publishing)
In publishing, a colophon is either:* A brief description of publication or production notes relevant to the edition, in modern books usually located at the reverse of the title page, but can also sometimes be located at the end of the book, or...
, their names were — Michka and presbyter Peter), and also the third scribe (Jakim or Akim), who is responsible for the 175—177 leaves (with Sunday Gospel lessons) and the fourth, which name is unknown — who wrote only leaf 178 (Gospel lessons at date of Archangel Michael).
The handwriting of the two last scribes is dated palaeographically
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
to the 13th—14th centuries. According to N. N. Durnovo the fourth scribe was a contemporary for the first two scribes and dates its work to the end of the 11th century, or to the beginning of the 12th century.
In the end written the fourth scribe writing existed a certain text which at the moment of detection of the manuscript to disassemble it was inconvenient. The chemical way of restoration of the text had completely destroyed this text. The manuscript is written by the documentary hands, the letters have essential deviations from the classical style according to which other monuments of that period were written (e.g. Ostromir Gospel).