The scribes ancient copies of Dioptra by Philip Solitarius from Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Abstract

The article describes the 15th century copies of “Dioptra” by Philip Solitarius from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. “Dioptra” by Philip Solitarius was one of the most popular translations in the history of Russian-Slavic literature. Its translation from Greek was made in the middle of the 14th century in Mount Athos or in Bulgaria. The Translation of “Dioptra” became known in Russia quickly. The paper is based on the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery’s 15th century book inventory. The Inventory consists of three parts: inventory, provisional (roughing) inventory and finishing inventory. All three parts are preserved in the one 15th century manuscript. (National Library of Russia, St. Cyril-Belozersky collection, № 101/1178). The manuscript belonged to the disciple of Nil Sorsky, Herman Podolny. The script of the manuscripts is analyzed and it is concluded that the parchment manuscript “Dioptra” (National Library of Russia, OSRK, F. p.I. 43) was re-written by two scribes. The article contains the list of another scribes’ autographs. It is hypothesized that the manuscript was commissioned by St. Cyril in Moscow. The manuscript of “Dioptra” rewritten by sacristan Oleshko Pavlov in 1426 (State Historical Museum, collection Uvarov, № 369–4°) is also analyzed in the paper. Another manuscript of “Dioptra” (National Library of Russia, St. Cyril-Belozersk collection, № 20/1097) belonged to a monk of Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ignatius Matveyev. Ignatius was one of the monastery’s most respected monks in the middle of the 15th century. He repeatedly concluded legal transactions on behalf of Kirillo-Belozersky monastery during the abbacy of Trifon and Cassian (1530–60s). Probably before he became a monk, he had had a high social status. The monk had his own collection of books. The monastery inventory of the 1480s contain descriptions of three manuscripts belonging to Ignatius Matveyev. Arguments for the fact that the manuscript was copied in Moscow about 1448 are made by author of the article. Refs 18.