Codex Sinaiticus and the Manuscripts of Mt Sinai in the NLR

Illustrations

  1. Codex Sinaiticus in Collections of the National Library of Russia
  2. Archival Materials

    a) Documents relating to the acquisition of the Codex Sinaiticus by Russia
    (the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire, the Russian State History Archive)
    .

    b) Documents relating to the distribution of Bibliorum Codex Sinaiticus Petropolitanus (the National Library of Russia)

  3. Manuscripts from the Tischendorff Collection in the NLR
  4. Manuscripts from the Porphyrius Uspensky Collection in the NLR

    a) Greek Manuscripts

    b) Slavic Manuscripts

    c) Copies of Manuscripts Fragments

    d) Views of Sinai

    e) Tischendorff's Autograph

Digital copies of documents on the history of Russia's acquisition of the Sinai Bible provided by the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire

Greek-Syriac-Georgian Palimpsest. Fragment. 7th-10th cent.
Parchment. 1 fol. 15х19,5. Palimpsest.
Lower text is Greek: Triodion, fragment. 7th-early 8th cent. Small uncial script.
Medium text - Syriac: the text is not identified as only individual letters are visible. 7th-8th cent. (no later than 9th cent.).
Upper text is Georgian: fragment of a hagiographic work. 10th cent. The lines of the Georgian text are perpendicular to the lines of the Syriac and Greek texts.

Palimpsest entered the IPL in 1858.
РНБ. Греч. 8. Fol. 1.
"Sinaitic Palimpsest". 10th-13th cent.
Parchment and paper. 119 fols. 19,0 15,0. Palimpsest.
Lower text is Greek and Slavic: fragments of liturgical text. 10th and 11th cent. (minuscle script), 11-12th cent. (Cyrillic, uncial script).
Upper text is Slavic: A collection containing the Book of Needs (a short Service Book), the Pandektai by Nikon of the Black Mountain (a collection of conciliar and patristic writings on canon law for wandering monks), apocrypha, excerpts from Lives of Saints, discourses and sermons. 12-13th cent. (Middle Bulgarian version), 13 cent. (Old Russian version, uncial script).

Parts of this manuscript are housed in the National Library of Russia (Q. item.I.63 - 6 fol.; Q. item.I.64 - 8 fol.) and in St. Catherine's Monastery Library (Слав. № 18/N and № 34). The manuscript entered the IPL in 1858-1859.
РНБ. Греч. 70. Fol. 4 v.-5.
Liturgical Collection (Codex Sinaiticus Liturgicus). 8th-9th cent.
Parchment. 69 fol. 19,5 14,5. Uncial script. Without a beginning.
РНБ. Греч. 44. Fol. 36 v.-37.
Prophetologion, fragment. 10th-11th cent.
Parchment. 4 fol. 28,4 21,0. Uncial script.

A major part of the manuscript is now in St. Catherine's Monastery Library (№ 8). Another sheet of the manuscript entered the IPB as part of the collection of Bishop Porfyrius (Uspensky) in 1883. (РНБ. Греч. 324).
РНБ. Греч. 52. Fol. 3 v.-4.
Gospel of Matthew, fragment (21:19-24). 6th-7th cent.
Parchment. 1 fol. 34,5 26,0. Uncial script.

A major part of the manuscript is now in St. Catherine's Monastery Library (№ 11). Another sheet of the manuscript entered the IPB as part of the collection of Bishop Porfyrius (Uspensky) in 1883г. (РНБ. Греч. 278). This leaf entered the IPL in 1858.
РНБ. Греч. 12. Fol. 1.
Gospels of Matthew, and Mark. 9th-10th cent.
Parchment. 121 fol. 21,0 16,8. Minuscle and uncial scripts.

From the manuscript of the Sinai Monastery of St Catherine, a fragment of which is kept in Oxford (Bodl. Misc. Gr. № 310). Another sheet of the manuscript entered the IPB as part of the collection of Bishop Porfyrius (Uspensky) in 1883. (РНБ. Греч. 282).
Греч. 54. Fol. 1 v.-2. Таблицы канонов.
Gospel of Mark, fragment (8:3-9:50). 12th cent.
Parchment. I+20 fol. 19,0 15,2. Minuscle script.

A major part of the manuscript is now in St. Catherine's Monastery Library (№ 194).
РНБ. Греч. 99. Fol. 4 v.-5.
St. John the Evangelist with St. Prochorus (miniature) and the beginning of the Gospel of John.
Gospels. 10th and 13th (miniatures) cent. Parchment. 214 fols. 17,3 11,6. Minuscule.
Греч. 220. Fols. 168 v.-169.

The codex is written in magnificent handwriting and is decorated with miniatures, headpieces and other decorative elements, using paints and gold. The miniatures were added to the manuscript thereafter. However, their analysis only confirms the Sinai origin of the manuscript: the images of the ap. Peter and Paul in the 10th century Apostle are attributed to the same artist (St. Catherine's Monastery Library, Sin. gr. 283).

Liturgy of the Preconsecrated Offerings, fragment.
Euchologion. 10th cent. Scribe Nicholas. Parchment. 173 fols. 15,5 11,5. Minuscule.
Греч. 226. Fols. 64 v.-65.

The manuscript was presented to Porfyrius Uspensky by the elders of St. Catherine's Monastery and brought by him in 1850.
One of the most valuable and interesting Greek Euchologia. It is written in a very peculiar handwriting, with a lot of spelling errors. At different times, the letterring was defined by researchers as either Syrian or South Italian. The dating of the manuscript also varied: for example, Porfyrius Uspensky attributed it to the 8th cent. Modern researchers tend to the southern Italian origin of the codex, and the time of its creation is called the 10th cent. It is not possible to say with certainty where and when the manuscript was made. Various views were expressed at different times. Some researchers consider the manuscript was written in Syria, others — in South Italia. Dating the manuscript is also difficult: for example, Porfyrius Uspensky attributed it to the the 8th cent. Modern scholars tend to the Southern Italian origin of the book, and the time of its creation is called the 10th cent.

Verses by: John Apokaukos on Epiphany; Eustathius of Thessalonica in memory of St. Demetrius; Euthymios Malakes in commemoration of Humn, and Julian the Apostate; The Exhortation to Emperor Alexios I Komnenos by Euthymios Tornikos (the beginning).
Collection of documents. 13th cent. Paper. 150 fols. 28,0 22,0. Italics.
Греч. 250. Fol. 81 v.-82

The collection is a rare example of a secular manuscript. (The majority were of a religious nature). Its main part consists of letters from Metropolitan John Apokaukos of Nafpaktos, who lived in the late 12th - early 13th cent., as well as letters to him, decrees of local councils and other document.

Psalms 52 (7, the end) - 53 (1-8).
Illustrated Psalms, fragments. Approx. 1074-1075.
Parchment. 3 fols. 19,3 15,0. Minuscule.
Греч. 267. Fols. 3 v.

A fragment of the Greek Psalter, decorated with colorful marginal miniatures illustrating the content of the psalms. Each of the 3 leaves is marked in pencil, by the hand of Porfyrius Uspensky: "6583 1075 Sinai". In his catalogue of the Greek manuscripts of St. Catherine's Monastery on Sinai, published by V. Beneshevich, it is stated that these leaves belonged to manuscript no. 48. However, there is no description of this manuscript in the publication.

Irmologion (notated), fragment. 1309.
Scribes Irina, daughter of the calligrapher Theodore Agiopetritus, and John Koukouzelis.
Parchment. 1 fol. 16,0 11,3. Minuscule и нотные знаки.
Греч. 371. Fols. 1 v.

A fragment of manuscript no. 1256 from the library of the Sinai Monastery's metochion in Cairo. The Irmologion is truly unique. It is a dated manuscript, created by two well-known scribes, one of whom was a woman. The text was written by Irina, the daughter of the famous Byzantine calligrapher Theodore Agiopetritus, and the musical signs — by the even more famous Byzantine composer John Koukouzelis.
Until recently, it was believed that this Irmologion was rewritten only by Irina from the manuscript of Koukouzelis.

Beginning of the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great (the Liturgy of Preparation) and the anaphora of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (the epiklesis and intercession), fragments.
Sinai Service Book, fragments. 11th cent. 2 fols. 14.0x8.7. Glagolitic. Old Church Slavonic
Глаг. 2, fols. 1 v.-2.

The fragments were separated by Porfyrius Uspensky from the binding of the printed book from the library of St. Catherine's Monastery in 1850.
It was established that the order of the leaves in the complete manuscript was different than now: fol. 2 preceded fol. 1, that is, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom preceded the Liturgy of St Basil in the book. This in turn means that the Sinai Service Book is one of the earliest examples of a new type of a Liturgical Book, created after the reform of the Byzantine Euchologion (the chief liturgical book) at the end of the 10th - beginning of the 11th century. Prior to this reform, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom followed the Liturgy of St Basil in divine services. The order of the main and secondary liturgy is shown in the manuscript in an archaic way, characteristic of the 8th-11th century Greek service books: the second liturgy (i.e. the Liturgy of St Basil) has no title, and an indication of a succession is the attribution of the first prayer (fol. 1 v .: "Prayer of St. Basil. Offering bread").

Office of the Mass, fragment.
Book of Hours. 13th cent. 230 + I fols. 19.5x16.5. Old Russian.
Q.п.I.57, fol. 111 v.; Q.п.I.38, fol. 1

Two parts of one of the oldest Old Russian Books of Hours: fol. 1 in Q.п.I.38 follows text on fol. 111 v. in Q.п.I.57. The Imperial Public Library obtained them from different sources. Fragment Q.п.I.38 was brought from Sinai by Porfyrius Uspensky and, as part of his collection, was transferred into the IPL in 1883. Manuscript Q.п.I.57 first was found in Vienna, where in 1896 it was acquired by Academician I. Yagich. The scholar spent some time researching the book, and in 1899 sold it to the Imperial Public Library.
Other parts of the Book of Hours: Sin. slav. 41/N и BNF. Slav. 65.

St. John the Evangelist. Miniature.
Copy. Sinai. 1850. Drawing by P. Soloviev. Paints, tracing paper pasted on thick cardboard.
Ф. 1499. Собр. Порфирия Успенского (copies of fragments of manuscripts, miniatures, etc.). Греч., карт. 2, табл. 6

Copies of miniatures of Greek Gospel Book lectionary no. 204 from the St. Catherine's Monastery Library, written on thin white parchment in gold in a large uncial script in 2 columns. The codex contains 7 polychrome miniatures: images of the Savior, the Mother of God, 4 evangelists and the Monk Peter of Galatian.

St. Peter the Hermit of Galatia. Miniature.
Copy. Sinai. 1850. Drawing by P. Soloviev. Paints, tracing paper pasted on thick cardboard.
Ф. 1499. Собр. Порфирия Успенского (copies of fragments of manuscripts, miniatures, etc.). Греч., карт. 2, табл. 7

Copies of miniatures of Greek Gospel Book lectionary no. 204 from the St. Catherine's Monastery Library, written on thin white parchment in gold, a large uncial script in 2 columns. The codex contains 7 polychrome miniatures: images of the Savior, the Mother of God, 4 evangelists and the Monk Peter of Galatian.

Elijah the Prophet. Miniature.
Copy. Cairo. 1850. Drawing by P. Soloviev. Paints, tracing paper pasted on thick cardboard.
Ф. 1499. Собр. Порфирия Успенского (copies of fragments of manuscripts, miniatures, etc.). Греч., карт. 2, табл. 32.

An unpainted copy of miniatures from Greek Miscellany no. 2123, kept in the Sinai Monastery's metochion in Cairo, which contains the Psalter, New Testament (without the Apocalypse), the writings of St. Fathers, Akathist Hymn and the Canon to the Mother of God. The manuscript is small format, written in several very small handwritings and decorated with a number of polychrome miniatures.
The image of the prophet Elijah in the manuscript, according to one of the members of Porfyrius Uspensky's expedition (possibly the artist P. Solovyov), looks like this: "The beard and hair are gray; the fur coat is red-dark; the lower one is blue; the face is red, with deep shadows. The cave is dark, covered with ivy; the shadow of the stones is black; the light is white and blue. Above the cave and under the cave are green plants".

Sun, Moon and Earth. Miniature.
Copy. Sinai. 1850. Drawing by P. Soloviev. Paints, tracing paper pasted on thick cardboard.
Ф. 1499. Собр. Порфирия Успенского (copies of fragments of manuscripts, miniatures, etc.). Греч., карт. 3, табл. 2.

Copies of miniatures from the Christian Topography of Cosmas Indicopleustes, Greek manuscript no. 1186 from St. Catherine's Monastery, decorated with several dozen images, astronomical drawings and maps, and many ornamental elements.

Outline of the Earth and Paradise. Miniature.
Copy. Sinai. 1850. Drawing by P. Soloviev. Paints, tracing paper pasted on thick cardboard.
Ф. 1499. Собр. Порфирия Успенского (copies of fragments of manuscripts, miniatures, etc.). Греч., карт. 3, табл. 11.

Copies of miniatures from the Christian Topography of Cosmas Indicopleustes, Greek manuscript no. 1186 from St. Catherine's Monastery, decorated with several dozen images, astronomical drawings and maps, and many ornamental elements.

Mt Sinai Monastery // Egypt and Sinai. A[rchimadride] Porphyrius' Journey Views, Stories, Maps and Related Titles. St.Petersburg, 1857. Tab. XLII. (Christian East)
Church of Transfiguration in Mt Sinai Monastery// Egypt and Sinai. A[rchimadride] Porphyrius' Journey Views, Stories, Maps and Related Titles. St.Petersburg, 1857. Tab. XLIV. (Christian East)
Guest House at Mt Sinai Monastery // Egypt and Sinai. A[rchimadride] Porphyrius' Journey Views, Stories, Maps and Related Titles. St.Petersburg, 1857. Tab. XLIX. (Christian East)
Specimens of Uncial Writing Styles from Different Centuries in C.Tischendorff's edition "Codex Sinaiticus Petropolinanus".
Dedication Inscription of C. Tischendorff to Porfyrius Uspensky. Autograph. Without date.
Ф. 1499. Собр. Порфирия Успенского (copies of fragments of manuscripts, miniatures, etc.). Греч., карт. 5, табл. 1.