Greek and Slavic manuscripts with biblical content. Annotations toward the construction of new catalogues

Preview this chapter:

Greek and Slavic manuscripts with biblical content. Annotations toward the construction of new catalogues, Page 1 of 1

< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1484/M.CBM-SUBSIDIA-EB.6.09070802050003050408090501/M.CBM.1.101399-1.gif

[

There are a number of shortcomings in traditional catalogues of Greek and Slavic manuscripts with biblical contents, for example the focus on linguistic features that point to a codex’s national origin e.g. Bulgarian or Macedonian. A new approach to cataloguing these manuscripts is offered. Since the liturgy was the natural setting of these codices, they should be catalogued according to their liturgical function. Greek and Slavic manuscripts should be catalogued together because they share the same liturgical function. Their comparison will illuminate specific aspects and forms of manuscript tradition. Some ideal features of this new codico-liturgical catalogue are listed, including the construction of a hierarchy of codices according to their liturgical function. The article finishes with some suggestions for those who may embark on constructing such a catalogue.

The world of Byzantine manuscripts is fascinating but also confusing. Although they play an important part in modern studies on the history of Christian liturgy and on the textual history of the Bible, a clear overview of the vast amount of these manuscripts in their many different forms is lacking. A new approach in their cataloguing is called for. The present volume brings together a number of specialists in the field of Byzantine, liturgical and Biblical studies with the aim to develop a new methodology for codicological research of the Byzantine manuscripts, taking seriously the original environment of the integral codices in the monasteries and the churches in which they were manufactured and functioned.

Prof. dr. Klaas Spronk is Head of the Research Department Sources of the Protestant Theological University (PThU), location Amsterdam, and chairman of the CBM Academic Board.

Prof. dr. Gerard Rouwhorst is Professor of Liturgical History at the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology and member of the Department of Biblical Sciences and Church History of that institution. He is member of the CBM Academic Board.

Dr. Stefan Royé is member of the Research Department Sources of the Protestant Theological University (PThU), location Amsterdam, and CBM programme coordinator and secretary of the Academic Board.