Author: Rev. PhD. George V. Palade (“The Annunciation” Romanian Parish in Brussels)
Keywords: Romanian Orthodox Church, Moldova, slavonic manuscripts, Anastasie Crimca, menaion
Abstract:
This study highlights two volumes of a collection of Slavo-Romanian manuscript dating from the 17th century. These are stored, in our day, at the State Library of Russia in Moscow in the fund nr. 178, called Collection of the Museum (Музейное Собрание) and bear the no. 3170 and 3171. These two volumes are liturgical writings and identify themselves under the name of “minei torjestvenik” (минеи торжественник), who means „menaion for festal days”. These examples differ from the other Moldavian menaion in their size, volume and patristic content. They represent a fragment of a large collection made for the twelve months of the year, the ms. 3170 being the menaion for November and the ms. 3171, for January. The Menaion for November consists of 19 patristic works. Among them, the hagiographic works for Saint Victor and Stephanida, St. John the Merciful, St. Ap. Ev. Matthew and St. Clement Pope of Rome are absent from the catalogues of Slavo-Romanian manuscripts known until today. The writings of St. Theophilact of Bulgaria (f.161r) and St. Euthymius of Tarnovo (f.175v) are also present in this volume. On page 207r of the book, the life of St. Catherine of Alexandria makes us know that the saint was praised at this time on November 24th and not on the 25th. The Menaion for January includes 25 patristic works. Among them, the speech of St. Gregory the Theologian (f. 232r) is also absent from the catalogues of Slavo-Romanian manuscripts. A homily of Gregory Tsamblak in this volume shows us that St. Euthymius of Tarnovo is honored at this time on January 10. On page 216r, we notice a rare writing, “The story of the Empress Irina”, Xenia the nun, work known only through a Greek manuscript. This “Great Moldavian Menaion” have no proof to identify the sponsor or the copyists of these volumes. But certain calligraphic details as well as many elements contained in these two volumes, determine us to attribute these manuscripts to the Moldavian Metropolitan Anastasie Crimca (1608-1617, 1619-1629). All the arguments supporting this hypothesis are presented in this study.
Pages: 112-135