The Readings on St Menas in the (South)Slavonic Calendrical Collections

Summary: 

My paper, dedicated to the readings on St. Menas, aims at tracing which of the texts about the saint known in the Byzantine manuscript tradition were translated and became part of the Slavonic calendrical collections, as well as et identifying the specific types of manuscripts in which these texts are found. It is not only a survey of the narratives about the saint present in the Slavonic tradition but also attempts to examine the literary context in which the specific texts were placed. Given that calendrical collections differ to varying degrees (genealogically, chronologically, in composition, etc.), we sought to answer the question of the presence of a specific text in a certain type of collecton, while tracing the possible reasons that determined its appearance in such a type of collecton.

The two main texts of focus are the Passio S. Menae, BHG 1254, and the Miracula S. Menae by Timothy of Alexandria, BHG 1256–1269. As the present study shows, in the South Slavonic tradition these two texts occur in two different types of collections. The Passio is part of collections that in the Slavonic tradition are defined as “old-type panegyrics”/староизводни панигирици (corresponding to the panegyricomartyrologia in the Byzantine tradition), combining texts for the Menaion and Paschal cycles of feasts, while the Miracula are part of collections like the menaion-chetii /чети-минеи (corresponding to the menologia in the Byzantine tradition).

The main research conclusion of this article is that the Passio, which has features typical of the genre of martyria, is a liturgical reading and is more ritual-oriented; hence, it is found in collections of the panegyricomartyrologia type. In contrast, in the case of collections of the menology type, there is an expansion to include the Miracula of the saint – unquestionably more entertaining readings, which have been considered not only to reflect pre-Christian ideas and practices, but even in some cases to be shameful and disgraceful (Delehaye 1927: 153).

From the menology – one of the type of calendar collection that existed for the longest time in Slavonic tradition – these entertaining and even fantastic narratives of the miracles of the saint were adapted in the so called cheti-sborniki (another late medieval phenomenon) and became sought readings by laypeople due to their far more curious and entertaining features. This occurred in the late medieval period, when literate people did not read solely under the constraints of the Typikon’s prescriptions but also due to personal interests and “literary” tastes.

Diana P. Atanassova (Sofia, Bulgaria)
dipatanassova@gmail.com

References: 

A t a n a s o v a - P e n c h e v a, D. Cheti-mineyat i praktikite na chetene prez Slavyanskoto srednovekovie. –  В: Љубав према образовању и вера у Бога у православним манастирима. Зборник избраних радова. 5. Међународна хиландарска конференциjа. Књига прва. / Love of Learning and Devotion to God in Orthodox Monasteries. Selected Proceedings. 5th International Hilandar Conference. Volume one. Београд/ Columbus, 2006, p. 119–124.

A t a n a s o v a, D. Machenitsi, tekstove, konteksti. Sofia, 2008.

A t a n a s s o v a, D. Тhe Miracles of the Great Martyr Menas in the Medieval Slavic pre-Metaphrastic Menaia-četi (critical edition of the text, based on manuscript 1039 from the National Library “SS Cyril and Methodius” in Sofia. – Scripta & e-Scripta, 6 (2008), p. 305–324.

A t a n a s o v a, D. Prisposobyavane na svetostta (Martyrium S. Arethae et Sociorum i negovite yuzhnoslavyanski konteksti). – В: Słowiańska mozaika kultur wobec historii (nie)tolerancji i waśni religijnych. (Redaktorzy Dorota Gil, Marzanna Kuczyńska) (= Krakowsko-Wileńskie Studia Slawistyczne, 9). Kraków, 2014, р. 33–52.

A t a n a s o v a, D. Retorika na istorichnoto. Deyanie na sv. Nikola v yuzhnoslavyanski kontekst. Sofia, 2015.

A t a n a s o v a, D. (sast.) Agioslavika. Problemi i podhodi v izsledvaneto na Stanislavovia cheti-miney“ (Dokladi ot ednoimennata konferentsia, 21 may 2013).

A t a n a s o v a, D. Osobenosti na sastava (cheteneto, tipika i kalendara). – V: Stanislavov cheti-miney. T. 1. Izdanie na teksta. Sofia, 2018, s. 123–131.

A t a n a s o v a, D. Starobalgarska agiografia: modeli.  – V: Sbornik v chest na prof. d.f.n. Anna-Maria Totomanova. Sofia, 2021, s. 391–404.

Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents. Ed. by J. Thomas, A. Hero. Т. 1. Washington, 2000.

D e l e h a y e, H. L’invention des reliques de saint Ménas à Constantinople. – Analecta Bollandiana, 29 (1910), p. 117–150.

Delehaye, H. Sanctus. Essai sur le saints dans lantiquité. Bruxelles, 1927.

D m i t r i e v s k i y, A. A. Opisanie liturgicheskikh rukopiseĭ, khraniashchikhsia v bibliotekakh pravoslavnogo Vostoka. T. 1. Kiev, 1895 (fototip. izd. Hildesheim, 1965).

E f t h y m i a d i s, St. Greek Byzantine Collections of Miracles. A Chronological and Bibliographical Survey. – Symbolae Osloenses, 74 (1999), p. 195–211.

Ehrhard, A. Überlieferung und Bestand der hagiographischen und homiletischen Literatur der griechischen Kirche von den Anfängen bis zum Ende des 16. Jahrhunderts. 1. Leipzig, 1937.

F r a n g u l i a n, L. R.,  A. N. K r i u k o v. Mina. – V: Pravoslavnaia Entsiklopediia. T. 45. Moskva, 2021, s. 239–242. Publikuvano onlayn na 27.07.2021: https://www.pravenc.ru/text/2563238.html (posleden dostap 15.05.2024).

G e t o v, D. A Catalogue of the Greek Manuscripts in the National Library “Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Sofia. Turnhout, 2019.

G o s h e v, I. Pravilata na Studiyskia manastir: uvod, tekst, razsazhdenia. – God. SU. Fak. Balgarska filologia, 1939–1940, 6, s. 1–74.

H a l k i n, Fr. Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca. Troisième édition. Bruxelles, 1957 (=BHG).

I u f u, I.,  V. B r ă t u l e s c u. Manuscrise slavo-române din Moldova. Fondul mănăstirii Dragomirna. Iași, 2012.

I v a n o v a, Kl. Cheti-miney. – V: Kirilo-metodievska entsiklopedia. Sofia, 2003, s. 506–509.

I v a n o v a, Kl. Agiografskite proizvedenia na Simeon Metafrast v sastava na yuzhnoslavyanskite kalendarni sbornitsi. – V: Prevodite prez XIV stoletie na Balkanite. Dokladi ot mezhdunarodnata konferentsia. Sofia, 26–28 yuni 2003. Sofia, 2004, s. 249–267.

I v a n o v a, Kl. Bibliotheca Hagiographica Balcano-Slavica. Sofia, 2008.

I v a n o v a, Kl. Kam koy rakopis prinadlezhat shestte pergamentni lista ot sbirkata na Viktor Grigorovich № 22?. – Palaeobulgarica, 40 (2016), № 1, с. 3–24.

I v a n o v a, Kl. Kakvo znaem i kakvo ne znaem za knizhovnata deynost na sv. Patriarh Evtimiy. – V: Srebarniyat vek: Novi otkritia. Sofia, 2016, s. 61–90.

K a z h d a n, A. The Noble Origin of Saint Menas. – Byzantina, 13 (1985), p. 667–671.

K r u m b a c h e r, K. Miscellen zu Romanos. – Abhandlungen der k. Bayer. Akademie, 24 (1907), № 3, p. 31–43.

K r u m b a c h e r, K. The History of Byzantine Literature: from Justinian to the end of the Eastern Roman Empire (527–1453). Translated by D. Jenkins, D. Bachrach. University of Notre Dame, 2001.

M a i, A. Novae patrum bibliothecae. T. 5. Rome, 1849.

M i l t e n o v, Ya. Belezhki varhu istoriyata i sastava na rakopis № 1039 ot Natsionalnata biblioteka „Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy“. – V: Agioslavika. Problemi i podhodi v izsledvaneto na Stanislavovia cheti-miney“ (Dokladi ot ednoimennata konferentsia, 21 may 2013). Sast. D. Atanasova. Sofia, 2016, s. 61–77.

M i r c h e v a, E. Germanov sbornik ot 1358–1359 g: izsledvane i izdanie na teksta. Sofia, 2006.

M i r c h e v a, E. Staroizvodnite i novoizvodnite sbornitsi – prevodi, redaktsii, prerabotki, knizhovnoezikovi osobenosti. Sofia, 2018.

M i r c h e v a, E. Suprasalskiyat sbornik i starobalgarskite cheti-minei. – Palaeobulgarica, 43 (2019), № 3, с. 13–44.

O. V. L.,  M. A. M a k h a nʹ k o. Mina. Slavianskaia traditsiia. Agiograficheskie pamiatniki. – V: Pravoslavnaia Entsiklopediia. T. 45. Moskva, 2021, s. 239–242. Publikuvano onlayn na 27.07.2021: https://www.pravenc.ru/text/2563238.html (posleden dostap 15.05.2024).

P e n t k o v s k i ĭ, A. M. Tipikon patriarkha Aleksiia Studita v Vizantii i na Rusi. Moskva, 2001.

P e t k o v, G.,  M. S p a s o v a. Tarnovskata redaktsia na Stishnia prolog. Tekstove. Leksikalen indeks. Tom 3, mesets noemvri. Plovdiv, 2009.

P o m i a l o v s k i ĭ, I. V. Zhitie prepodobnogo Paisiia Velikogo i Timofeia patriarkha Aleksandriĭskogo povestvovanie o chudesakh sv. velikomuchenika Miny. Izd. po rukopisiam Mosk. sinodalʹnoĭ biblioteki I. Pomialovskiĭ. Sankt-Peterburg, 1900.

Pravoslavnaia Entsiklopediia. T. 45. Moskva, 2021. Publikuvano onlayn na 27.07.2021: https://www.pravenc.ru/text/2563238.html (posleden dostap 15.05.2024).

S e r g i ĭ, arkhiep. (Spaskiĭ). Polnyĭ mesiatseslov Vostoka. 3. Sviatoĭ Vostok. Moskva, 1876 (2. izd. Vladimir, 1901, fototip. izd. Moskva, 1997).

S p a s o v a, M. Novi shtrihi kam tekstovata istoria na starobalgarskia prevod na Slovo za otsichane na glavata na Yoan Krastitel. – Palaeobulgarica, 41 (2017), № 3, с. 19–62.

S p a s o v a, M. Gramaticheskite arhaizmi i redki dumi kato pokazatel za parvoobraza na tekst (Neprouchen srabski prepis na Slovo za Rozhdestvo na Yoan Predtecha, schitan za veroyatna tvorba na Kliment Ohridski). – V: Sv. Kliment Ohridski v kulturata na Evropa. Sofia, 2018, s. 525–555.

S p a s o v a, M. Neizvesten arhaichen prevod na slovo 5 ot Lestvitsata na Yoan Sinayski v srabski rakopis ot XIV v. – Poznańskiе Studia Slawistyczne, 2018, № 14, p. 221–248.

S p a s o v a, M. Ezik na prevod i ezik na prepis (Sravnitelno prouchvane na prevoda na Slovo 97 ot Parenesisa po tri prepisa). – V: Sapere Aude. Sbornik v chest na prof. dfn Iskra Hristova. Sofia, 2019, s. 217–236.

S p a s o v a, M.,  K. D i m i t r o v. Vtoro slovo na Rozhdestvo Hristovo v rakopis NIM 24 – kompilativen prevod na Yoan Ekzarh. – Preslavska knizhovna shkola, 17 (2017), s. 49–90.

S t o y k o v a, A. Sveti Georgi Pobedonosets. Agiografski proizvedenia v yuzhnoslavyanskata srednovekovna traditsia. Sofia, 2016.

T h o m s o n, Fr. J. Abercius, the Principal Scribe of the Hilandar Menologium, the Largest Extant, South Slavic Menologium. – Presented at the Sixth International Hilandar Conference: Medieval Slavic Text and Image in the Cultures of Orthodoxy, July 19–21, 2013, at: <http://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/58439?show=full>, 15.10.2013.

T o t o m a n o v a, A.-M.,  D. A t a n a s o v a. Stanislavov cheti-miney. Т. 1. Izdanie na teksta. Sofia, 2018.

T v o r o g o v, O. V. Perevodnye zhitiia v russkoĭ knizhnosti XI–XV vekov. Katalog. Moskva–Sankt-Peterburg, 2008.

V a r a l d a, P. Il ricco Eutropio e i piatti. La versione greca di uno dei Miracula sancti Menae (BHG 1258). – Bollettino della Badia Greca di Grottaferrata, III s., 18 (2021), p. 207–250.

V e d e r, W. Yuzhnoslavyanski izborni prepisi na Skitskia paterik. – Preslavska knizhovna shkola, 17 (2017), s. 11–23.

Velikie Minei Chetii, sobrannye vserossiĭskim mitropolitom Makariem. Noiabr, dni 1–12. Sankt-Peterburg, 1897.

V e l i n o v a, V.,  N. V u t o v a. Slavyanskite rakopisi v sbirkata na Natsionalnia istoricheski muzey (Predvaritelni belezhki). – Starobalgarska literatura, 45–46 (2012), s. 283–304.

V e l i n o v a, V.,  N. V u t o v a. Opis na rakopisite, staropechatnite, redkite i tsennite izdania v Natsionalnia istoricheski muzey. T. 1. Slavyanski rakopisi, kirilski pechatni knigi i periodichni izdania. Sofia, 2013.

V i n o g r a d o v, V. P. Ustavnyia chteniia (propovedʹ knigi). Sergiev posad, 1914.

V u k o v i ć, M. Byzantine Metaphrastic Hagiography among South Slavs: A Quantitative View. – Byzantinoslavica, 79, (2021), № 1–2, p. 80–101.

Y u f u, Zl. Za desettomnata kolektsia Studion (Iz arhiva na rumanskia izsledvach Yon Yufu). – V: Studia Balkanica. Prouchvania po sluchay Vtoria mezhdunaroden kongres po balkanistika. Sofia, 1970, s. 299–343.