1
MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER
Codex Suprasliensis – Mineia četia, Mart
(The Supraśl Codex – Menology, March)
Joint nomination submitted by Poland, Russian Federation and Slovenia
Ref N° 2006-37
PART A – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
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SUMMARY
Codex Suprasliensis – Mineia četia, Mart (The Supraśl Codex – Menology, March) is the
largest among just a few surviving manuscripts in Old Church Slavonic and the main source
for studying this language, along with common Slavonic writing and culture. It is also one of
the earliest testimonials to the reception of Orthodox Christianity among the Slavs.
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DETAILS OF THE NOMINATOR
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Name (person or organisation)
Relationship to the documentary heritage nominated
Contact person (s)
Contact details (include address, phone, fax, email)
1st part of codex (Ljubljana)
2.1 National and University Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia
2.2 The right holder of the 1st part (118 folios)
2.3 Mihael Glavan PhD, head of the Manuscript Department of the National and
University Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia
2.4 Turjaska 1 1000 Ljubljana
phone: 00 386 1 2001 191; e-mail: Mihael.Glavan@nuk.uni-lj.si
2nd part of codex (Saint Petersberg)
2.1 The Federal state institution, the National Library of Russia
2.2 The right holder of the 2nd part (16 leaves) of Codex Suprasliensis (operational
administration of state property)
2.3 Ekaterina Vladimirovna Krushelnitzkaya PhD, chief of the Old-Russian Funds
Sector at Manuscript Department, the National Library of Russia
2.4 18 Sadovaya str. 191069 Saint Petersberg, Russia
phone: (7-812) 312-28-63; fax: (7-812) 310-61-48 ; e-mail: e_krushel@mail.ru
3rd part of codex (Warsaw)
2.1 The National Library (Biblioteka Narodowa, Warszawa) WA N
2.2 The owner (depositary) of the 3rd part (151 folios)
2.3 Maria Wrede, head of the Manuscript Department, the National Library
2.4 Pl. Krasińskich 3/5 ; 00-207 Warszawa, Poland
phone +48 (0-22) 831 32 41/45 int. 245; e-mail: manus@bn.org.pl
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IDENTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE
3.1
Name and identification details of the items being nominated
Codex Suprasliensis – Mineia četia, Mart (The Supraśl Codex – Menology, March).
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3.2
Description
The codex was written in Old Church Slavonic, using the Cyrillic alphabet in Slavonic
majuscule. It was written in Eastern Bulgaria in the 1st half of the 11th century. The codex
consists of 285 (118+16+151) parchment folios. It describes the lives of saints and the
teachings of Fathers of the Church for readings in March (the final fragment of Mineja čet’ia).
It is especially valuable for linguists who study Old Slavonic languages because of its age and
extent. It does not possess illuminations; its decorations are very modest and it is made of inkpainted initials and narrow vignettes. The script is a very beautiful, regular, broad Cyrillic.
1st part of codex (Ljubljana)
consists of 16 quires (118 folios), unbound, kept in a special acid-free case. The text
contains 24 lives of saints and 23 homilies, separate for Lent and Easter cycles, and 1
prayer.
2nd part of codex (St. Petersburg)
consists of 2 quires (16 folios, number of bundles 17 and 18). The size of the folios is
variable: 31,7/30,5 x 25,0/23,7 cm; 3 folios with cut lateral margin are 20,2x19,1 cm
wide. Palnimetric initials of the Old Byzantine type (folios 4r, 8v) are written with pen
and ink, without a binding. The second part of the Codex includes: Colloquy on
Annunciation, assigned to John Chrysostom (without the beginning, folios 1r-4r);
Colloquy on Annunciation by John Chrysostom, 25th of March (folios 4r-8r); Saint
Irene’s Torment, 26th of March (folios 8v-9v); Torment of the Saint Iona and Saint
Varahisi, 29th of March (folios 9v-16v), without the end.
3rd part of codex (Warsaw)
consists of 151 (folios) leaves, dimensions: ca 30,5 x ca 22,5 cm, bound in the 20th
century, in a conservatory binding, wooden boards and leather. The third part of the
Codex contains: 6 lives of saints, 18 sermons of John Chrysostom, 1 sermon of Photius patriarch of Constantinople and 1 sermon of Epiphanius.
3.2.1 Call numbers:
1st part: NUK Cod. Kop. 2
2nd part: NLR, Q. p. I. 72
3rd part: WA N mss BOZ 201
3.2.2 Call numbers of Microfilms:
1st part: NUK, R 364
Digital version on the Internet: http://www.nuk.uni-lj.si/kopitarjevazbirka;
2nd part: Microfilm National Library of Russia MF P/1553 ;
3rd part: WA N Mf. A 213
3.2.3 Brief history of the manuscript:
The Codex was written by a monk named Retko in the early 11th century in one of the
monasteries near Preslav, the old capital of Bulgaria. In 1823 it was discovered by Poland’s
Professor Michał Bobrowski in the library of the Basilian monastery in Supraśl near
Białystok, Poland. Presumably, it had been brought there by monks from Athos, Greece. The
item was dispersed in 1838 and 1839.
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1st part of codex (Ljubljana)
In 1845 the first part of the codex, 118 folios, was handed over to Lyceal Bibliothek of
Ljubljana, the precursor of the present National and University Library.
2nd part of codex (St. Petersburg)
In 1856 the next 16 leaves were bought by A. F. Byčkov from Strel’bitskii; the the State
Public (now National) Library in St. Petersburg acquired this part in 1947 from I. A.
Byčkov’s widow (I. A. Byčkov was A. F. Byčkov’s son).
3rd part of codex (Warsaw)
The most extensive part, consisting of 151 leaves, was purchased by Władysław
Trębicki, whose collections were incorporated into the Library of the Zamoyski Estate
in 1869. During World War II it was seized by the Nazi invaders and taken to Germany
twice; from 1944 it was regarded as lost. In 1962 it was offered for purchase to
American libraries and was bought by one of them, then was bought by an American
trading company, which handed the manuscript over as a gift to the Polish Embassy in
Washington. In 1968 the codex returned to the collection of the Library of the Zamoyski
Estate held in the National Library, Warsaw.
3.2,4 Literature:
● Aitzetmüller Rudolf, Eine russisch-kirchenslavische Parallelhandschrift zum aksl. Codex
Suprasliensis. Materialen zu dessen Textgestalt (Suprasliensis- Materialien I-III), in:
Anzeiger für slavische Philologie 2, 1967 pp. 48-66; 3, 1969 pp. 102-117, 4, 1970 pp. 7282.
 Byčkov A. F., Izvestie o Suprasl’skoj rukopisi XI veka, Izv. AN ORJaS 5, 1856, 335-336.
● Dennis Rodney, Mr. Vlasov meets the Ham King, in: Harvard Magazine Mar.-Apr. 1996,
pp. 40-45.
● Kaszlej Andrzej, Kodeks supraski, Supraśl 2000.
● Marguliés A., Der altkirchenslavische Codex Suprasliensis, Heidelberg 1927, pp. XV + 253
+ 15.
 Miklosich F., Monumenta linguae paleoslavicae e codice Suprasliensi, Vindobonae 1851,
p. 456.
● Mošin Vladimir, Kopitarjeva zbirka slovanskih rokopisov in Zoisov cirilski fragment iz
Narodne in univerzitetne knjižnice v Ljubljani = La collection des manuscrits slaves de
Kopitar et le fragment cyrillique de Zois de la Bibliotheque nationale et universitaire de
Ljubljana, Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti 1971 (Dela/Slovenska akademija
znanosti in umetnosti, Razred za filološke in literarne vede = Opera/Academia scientiarum
et artium Slovenica, Classis II: Philologia et litterae 25, Inštitut za literature = Institutum
litterarum; 4).
● Monuments in old writing (No. 40), Issue 2, Saint Petersberg 1880, pp.141-145.
 Pamjatniki drevnej pis’mennosti. Nr 50 vyp. II
● Short review on new entries to Manuscript department from 1947-1949, Leningrad 1952,
pp. 24-25.
 Sereznevskij I. I., Drevnie slavjanskie pamjatniki jusovogo pis’ma [...]. IV Suprasl’skaja
rukopis’. Sbornik statej čitannych v otdelenii russkogo jazyka i slovestnosti imperatorskoj
akademii nauk, T. III, Sankt Peterburg 1869, pp. 27-26, 174-186, 225-240.
● Sever'yanov Sergey N., Suprasl'skaja rukopis', Sankt Peterburg 1904, (reprint Gratz 1956).
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● Srezvenskii I. I., The Old Slavonic Monuments in jus writing, Collected papers by the
Russian Language and Literature Department, V. 3. Saint Petersberg 1868, pp. 225-240.
● Zaymov Jordan, Kapaldo Mario, Supras'lski ili Retkov sbornik, Vol. I, Sofija 1982, p. 564,
Vol. II, Sofija 1983, p. 603.
3.2.5 Accessible modern researchers:
Vanda Babić PhD
Professor of the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Philosophy /Filozofska fakulteta/
Adress: Aškerčeva 2; 1000 Ljubljana / Slovenia
e-mail: vanda.babic@guest.arnes.si
Tatiana Vsevolodovna Rozhdestvenskaya PhD
Professor of the Russian language department of Philological faculty at Saint-Petersberg State
University
Official address: 11 Universitetskaya nab., 199064 Sankt Peterburg, Russia
Private address: 23-18 Nevskiy pr., 191186 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Tel.: (7-812) 312-73-49
Oleg Viktorovich Tvorogov PhD
Main scientific worker of Russian Literature Institution (The Pushkinskii Dom), the Academy
of Sciences of Russia
Official address: 4 Makarova nab. 199034 Sankt Peterburg, Russia
Private address: 110-19/1 Korablestroitelei ul., Sankt Peterburg, Russia
Tel.: (7-812) 356-43-89
Aleksander Naumow PhD
Professor of the Institute of Slavonic Philology, The Jagiellonian University
Official address: 31-120 Kraków; Al. A. Mickiewicza 9/11
phone.+48 (0-12) 633-63-77 ext.303
e-mail: anaumow@tlen.pl ; anaumow@poczta.onet.pl ; anaumow@hotmail.com
Leszek Moszyński PhD
Professor of the Institute of Slavonic Philology, The University of Gdańsk
Address: 80-308 Gdańsk, ul. Wita Stwosza 55
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JUSTIFICATION FOR INCLUSION/ ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA
4.1 Authenticity
The Supraśl Codex is a unique manuscript (divided into 3 parts, kept in three libraries: in
Warsaw, Ljubljana and St. Petersburg), written around 1014. Its authenticity has never been
questioned by any researcher.
4.2 World significance, uniqueness and irreplaceability
The codex is the oldest and the largest of the surviving manuscripts written in Old Slavonic
and using the Cyrillic alphabet. It is utterly irreplaceable as a testimonial to Orthodox
Christianity and Slavdom at the time when Old Slavonic was evolving into national languages
(Old Bulgarian, Old Slovenian, Old Polish). Being supranational and supraregional it is a
significant fragment of European and world culture. Moreover, it is an example of the cultural
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bridges between Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The codex can be considered as an example
of results of the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who created the alphabet, from which
Cyrillic was derived and which was used in the codex; they also led the Slavs into the
Christian culture. The codex shows the way, in which the Orthodox liturgy functioned in the
Middle Ages in the meeting of Western Christianity. Its importance could be compared to the
role that the 6th-century Codex Argenteus (Ulfilas Bible), kept in Uppsala, has played in
studies on Gothic, old German and modern German languages.
4.3 Criteria of (a) time (b) place (c) people (d) subject and theme (e) form and style
Time: Written at the beginning of the 11th century, it is one of the oldest documents in Old
Church Slavonic and a testimonial to the reception of the Orthodox Christianity by Slavs. The
introduction of a national language to the liturgy influenced the reception of a religion and
had a great significance for forming national languages. The discovery of the codex by
Michał Bobrowski in the 19th century in the monastery in Supraśl and its introduction to the
academic world by Jernej Kopitar, Slavicist and custodian in the imperial library in Vienna,
made the codex play a new role. The discovery had an important significance for both rapidly
developing Slavonic studies, Pan-Slavism idea as well as for the formation and strengthening
of national consciousness among the Slavs who were subjects of the Austro-Hungarian
Empire and the Turkish state (e.g., Bulgarians, Slovenians, Serbs).
Place: The codex was written in Eastern Bulgaria. It is the largest among the oldest texts in
Old Church Slavonic, which from the 6th to the 11th century became the basis for Slavonic
languages, both West-Slavonic and East-Slavonic (Polish, Czech, Russian and others).
People: The codex is a unique source for research on the reception by the Slavs of terms and
cultural, religious and legal patterns from the culture influenced by the monotheistic Christian
religion and Roman law. The codex is also a symbol of the mission of Saints Cyril and
Methodius and a testimonial that the liturgy created by those “Apostles of the Slavs” was
alive at that time.
Subject and theme: The codex is a testimonial to the reception by the Slavs of terms and
outlook of a world characterized by a culture created on the basis of the Christian religion and
Roman law. This is why it presents a very important moment of the development of the
history and culture of Central and Eastern Europe.
Form and style: The Supraśl codex is of great value for linguistic studies. The text was
translated from Greek by a few people and allows for a study of phenomena in syntax and
grammar characteristic of Old Slavonic languages. The variety of texts included into the
Codex, its different translators, their exceptions to rules of Old Slavonic language (Old
Bulgarian) provide the possibility of comparative study concerning the processes of change in
the syntax and grammar of Old Slavonic languages.
4.4 Issues of rarity, integrity, threat and management
Codex Suprasliensis – Mineia četia, Mart (The Supraśl Codex – Menology, March) is a
unique text, it forms a self-contained whole, although it has been divided in three parts, kept
in three different libraries in three countries, where Slavonic languages, derived from Old
Slavonic, are spoken. No part of the codex is endangered; all are protected against damage or
theft with all technically available methods. All three libraries have their management plans,
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as well as common plan of popularisation of the codex by digitisation and exhibitions (cf.
6.1).
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LEGAL INFORMATION
5.1
5.2
5.3
Owner of the documentary heritage
Custodian of the documentary heritage
Legal status:
(a) Category of ownership
(b) Accessibility
(c) Copyright status
(d) Responsible administration
(e) Other factors
1st part of codex (Ljubljana)
5.1 National and University Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia; the part was purchased in
Vienna in 1845 for the Lyceum Library in Ljubljana with a special state donation
5.2 Public property
5.3 Legal status: Defined by the State Library Law of 27th May 1992
(b) The original codex is only accessible in the Manuscript Department Reading room.
Scientific research should be proved to obtain a special permission to use it. Microfilm,
microfiche and digital versions are available for general public.
(c) Special permission for publishing or reproduction of the whole document or parts of
it is required by the library.
2nd part of codex (St. Petersburg)
5.1 Federal state institution, the National Library of Russia
18 Sadovaya str. 191069 Sankt Petersburg, Russia
5.2 Public property
5.3 (a) Protected by the Russian Federal law on archives affairs in the Russian
federation of 22nd October 2004 (No. 125-FZ)
(b) Access to the original is only available in the premises of Manuscript department of
the National Library of Russia after receipt of the special permit. Open access to the
source is provided by a microfilm and by the possibility to order copy (paper print-out
of a microfilm)
(c) Manuscript publishing and reproducing is only possible on condition of a permit
receipt from Manuscript Department Management and the Director’s Office of the
National Library of Russia
3rd part of codex (Warsaw)
5.1 Co-owners of the item:
Gabriela Bogusławska (residing at ul. Śmiała 39, 01-627 Warszawa)
Elżbieta Daszewska (residing at ul. Fałata 6, 02-534 Warszawa)
Maria Ponińska (residing at ul.Rakowiecka 59a m. 6, 02-532 Warszawa)
Agnieszka Rożnowska (residing at ul. Fałata 6 m. 21, 02-534 Warszawa
Marcin Zamoyski (residing at ul. Staszica 21 m. 2, 22-400 Zamość)
5.2 Custodian (depositary):
The National Library, Warsaw (deposit of Library of the Zamoyski Estate); Aleje
Niepodległości 213; 00-973 Warszawa
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5.3 (a) Public ownership: The Act of July 14, 1983 r. On the National Archival
Resource (The Journal of laws no. 38 of July 19, 1983); The National Library Statute
(b) On-site access exclusively at the Special Collection Reading Room upon receipt of a
special permission. General access to the item on microfilm.
(c) Permission to publish and reproduce the manuscript has to be obtained from the
Management of the National Library
(d) Biblioteka Narodowa, Aleje Niepodległości 213, 00-973 Warszawa
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MANAGEMENT PLAN
6.1
The National and University Library in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in cooperation with the
National Library of Russia, Sankt Petersburg and the National Library, Warszawa (Poland) is
preparing for 2008 a digital edition of the entire Codex Suprasliensis, for an international
conference and exhibition of all three parts of the codex.
1st part of codex (Ljubljana)
The treasury storeroom is located in the basement of the National Library building in the
city centre. It was built and equipped in 2000 and meets all climate and safety standards
(thick walls, special safe locks, no windows, air-conditioning, controlled humidity and
temperature). Potential earthquake threats are estimated as minimal.
2nd part of codex (St. Petersburg)
The original remains deposited in a hard folder made of acid-free cardboard and placed
in a metallic safe for high-value manuscripts. Manuscript condition is satisfactory. This
part of the codex has not been restored; it has damage caused before the time of its
purchase by A. F. Byčkov. The defects: 1) parchment has folds, that are especially deep
on folios 1, 2, 10, 12 ; 2) There are tears of different depth at the edges of several folios
of the manuscript: on folios 1- in the low margin 2,8 cm; on folios 2 – in the lateral
margin 3,5 cm; on folios 7 – in the lateral margin 3 cm; on folios 9 – in the low margin
2,1 cm; on folios 11 and 12 – a deep tear from upper margin through 8 texts lines to the
lateral margin; on folios 16 – in the low margin, oriented from crimp 0,7 cm. A partial
text loss is only observed on sheet 11 (rather unimportant part of three upper lines).
There are wax traces on many folios of the manuscript. Restoration research of the
manuscript is scheduled and necessary conservative and restoration as well.
3rd part of codex (Warsaw)
The manuscript is kept in a specially secured and graduated stack of manuscripts in a
special treasury. Conservation security is conducted on a regular basis. The temperature
and humidity of the leaves are measured and controlled. Installation of an airconditioning and alarm system is planned in the stacks.
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CONSULTATION
7.1 Provide details of consultation about this nomination with (a) the owner of the heritage (b)
the custodian (c) your national or regional Memory of the World committee
(a) The National Library, Warsaw (Biblioteka Narodowa)
(c) Approved by the Polish Memory of the World Committee UNESCO
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PART B – SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION
8
ASSESSMENT OF RISK
1st part of codex (Ljubljana)
The treasury storeroom is located in the basement of the National Library building in the
city centre. It was built and equipped in the year 2000 and meets all climate and safety
standards (thick walls, special safety locks, no windows, air-condition, controlled
humidity and temperature). Potential earthquake threats are estimated as minimal.
2nd part of codex (St. Petersburg)
Manuscript Department is located on the ground floor of the old edifice constructed
specially for the Library in the beginning of the 19th century with thick walls. The main
building of the Library is located in the centre of the city and windows overlook a street
with heavy traffic.
3rd part of codex (Warsaw)
The building, which houses the manuscripts, is situated in the centre of the city, which
poses a threat of contact with the city smog to the collection. It is not air-conditioned
and the windows are not weather-stripped. To a major degree the stability of the climatic
conditions is guaranteed by the structure of the building itself, featuring thick brick
walls, and the high quality of treasury shelving. Installation of an air-conditioning and
alarm system is planned in the stacks.
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ASSESSMENT OF PRESERVATION
9.1
1st part of codex (Ljubljana)
The manuscript is in a very good condition, it underwent conservation in 1950, the pad
of 16 bundles is unbound and kept in an acid free carton case, encapsulated in a metal
case. No major conservation measures are planned in the near future.
2nd part of codex (St. Petersburg)
The Manuscript Department is situated in the main building of the National Library of
Russia (the building was constructed in 1805). The humidity and temperature regime is
subject to control. The rooms are equipped with fire-warning and alarm systems.
3rd part of codex (Warsaw)
The condition of the manuscript is very good; it underwent complete conservation
treatment in 1993-1994 in the National Library’s department of Library Collections
Conservation. At that time the binding and the box for the codex was made. The
manuscript is kept in a special treasury. Conservation security is conducted on a regular
basis, and the temperature and humidity are measured. Access to the manuscript almost
exclusively on microfilm, access to the original requires special permission. Installation
of an air-conditioning and alarm system is planned in the stacks. The Head of the
National Library Special Collection Division is responsible for storage.
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SPECIAL RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION PROGRAMMES IN THE NEAR
FUTURE
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Currently a research, exhibition and publication project is in progress, initiated by the
National and University Library in Ljubljana. An exhibition of the entire codex, accompanied
by an international scientific symposium, participated by four states (Slovenia, Poland,
Russia, Bulgaria) as well as publication of both digital and classical facsimile edition is
planned in 2008 or 2009.
PART C - LODGEMENT
This nomination is lodged by:
(Please print name) Lenart Šetinc, MSc, Managing Director of the National and University
Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Vladimir N. Zaytsev, General Director of the National Library of Russia
Michał Jagiełło, Director of the National Library (Biblioteka Narodowa,
Warszawa)
(Signature) Prof. PhD Daria Nałęcz, Chairman of the Polish Committee of the “Memory of
the World” UNESCO Programme
(Date) 30.03.2006