ECA 8 (2011), p. 121-147; doi: 10.2143 / ECA.8.0.2961369

“… will have their day!” The Collection of the Christian Arabic Manuscripts of Gregory IV of Antioch in St Petersburg*

Yuri PYATNITSKY

INTRODUCTION dredth birthday3; and a second one in ECA4) and gave a talk at Leiden University in 2009. Life is abounding in strange coincidences, and The triptych from the Monastery of Our Lady those that should happen, will happen sooner or at Saydnaya was not the only object presented to later. Walking along the lovely streets of Leiden on the Russian tsar by Gregory IV. He had also handed the eve of my talk at the Paul van Moorsel Centre a rare embroidered epitaphios (katapetasma in at Leiden University, I inadvertently thought about Greek), which once belonged to the famous Bala- the vicissitudes of life. The subject of my talk was mand Monastery in Syria (now it is kept in the a rare Byzantine triptych with cloisonné enamels Hermitage collection)5, two gravestone reliefs from kept in the Melkite Monastery of Our Lady in Palmyra6, three Early Christian clay lamps, and a Saydnaya in Syria for many years. In 1913 it was large collection of Syrian glass of the 3rd-6th centu- brought to Russia by Gregory IV, the Patriarch of ries consisting of 51 objects7. Among the gifts Antioch, as a gift to the Russian Tsar Nicholas II. brought to the Russian tsar was a collection of From 1956, the triptych is preserved in the Byzan- ancient Christian Arabic manuscripts. Initially, the tine collection of the State Hermitage Museum. At collection was kept in the Winter Palace in St one time, it was a subject of research of my teacher, Petersburg, and, after the Bolshevik revolution in Professor Alisa Bank, curator of the Byzantine February 1919, it was transferred to the Asiatic collection of the Hermitage from 1930 to 1984. In Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 1969, Bank published an article about the Sayd- Ignaty Krachkovsky, the renowned Russian naya triptych in which she suggested that it was Orientalist, studied the manuscripts, at first in the brought to Russia by Gregory IV, but at the time Winter Palace, and later in the Academy of she was unable to support her hypothesis with doc- Sciences. In 1908-1910, when Krachkovsky was umentary evidence1. studying the Arabic manuscripts in the libraries In 1980, I worked in the archives of St Peters- of Syria and Egypt, he was unable to convince burg (still Leningrad at that time) and Moscow, Gregory IV to show him the manuscripts from the trying to trace the provenance of the Byzantine patriarchal library in Damascus. But fate arranged objects preserved in the museums of Russia, then it in such a way that he could later study them in the Soviet Union. Bank was greatly interested in the motherland. Krachkovsky was preparing a my work and asked me to find any information on detailed scholarly catalogue of this collection, for the Saydnaya triptych. Unfortunately, for a long which he worked in the libraries in Germany and time my efforts were fruitless. Only after many the Netherlands, including Leiden’s University years, when Bank was not with us anymore, did it become possible to support her assertion with doc- umentary evidence2. It was in this way that my first * Translated by Jacob Izbitser, New York. 1 ‘meeting’ with Gregory IV took place. The prepara- Bank 1969, 177-182. 2 Pyatnitsky 1999, 51-54. tion of the Hermitage catalogue of the Byzantine 3 Pyatnitsky 2008, 182-203. and Old Russian cloisonné enamels once again 4 Pyatnitsky 2010, 87-118. brought me to the Saydnaya triptych and the Patri- 5 Pyatnitsky 1998, 110-111, 124-125, no. 161. 6 arch of Antioch. As a result, I published two articles Saverkina 1965, 168-179. 7 There are only a few objects from this collection that have (one in the Hermitage edition of the Alisa Bank been scholarly published: Kunina 1997, nos 158, 412, Festschrift, issued on the occasion of her one-hun- 430; Zizina/Khodza 2010, 249, no. 233.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 121121 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 Library. However, the outbreak of the First World My poems, written early, when I doubted War prevented Krachkovsky from finishing the that I could ever play the poet’s part, research, and he was forced to leave all his notes erupting, as though water from a fountain and materials in Leiden. As a result, in 1920, or sparks from a petard, Krachkovsky was only able to publish a short description of the manuscript collection of Gregory and rushing as though little demons, senseless, IV in Russian; later, in the 1960s, it was reprinted into a sanctuary, where incense spreads, in his Selected Works8. my poems about death and adolescence, For various reasons and due to changing circum- – that still remain unread! – stances, both Krachkovsky’s article and the collec- tion of manuscripts of Gregory IV are little known collecting dust in bookstores all this time, beyond a narrow circle of scholars. The details of where no one comes to carry them away, the history of how the manuscripts came to Russia my poems, like exquisite, precious wines, are even less known. For this reason, I would like will have their day! 9 to illuminate this story in my article using the orig- inal archival documents, and also to provide some THE ELECTION OF GREGORY IV HADDAD information about the content of the manuscripts taken from Russian scholarly publications, but On 26 January 1906, His Excellency Malatios II, mainly from the works by Krachkovsky. the Patriarch of Antioch, passed away. His demise In the spring of 2009, I wandered along the shocked the Orthodox Orient, since Malatios was beautiful streets of Leiden, probably the same ones the first patriarch of Syrian Arab origin who took that Krachkovsky walked along in the summer of the Antioch communion table after a yearlong 1914. Perhaps our boots even stepped on exactly interruption. His death put before the Church of the same stones. Though the decades separate the Antioch the painful question of the ethnicity of the two of us, a common interest in the persona of future pastor. The obstinate and ardent struggle Gregory IV and his collection of the ancient between the Greeks and Syrian Arabs that followed Christian Arabic manuscripts binds us. I walked the placement of the deceased Patriarch Malatios in along a narrow medieval street that led to a church 1899 was still well remembered10. In fact, a move- on a small square. A corner house hosted a book- ment for the ‘triumph of the Hellenism all over the store pompously named Templum Salomonis, and Orthodox Orient’ broke out in Athens, Jerusalem, above the store’s windows, on the white wall of and Alexandria after the death of Malatios, includ- the house, I suddenly saw the lines of a text in ing the Patriarchate of Antioch. The Patriarch Pho- Russian. These were the rhymes by Marina Tsve- tius of Alexandria and the Patriarch Damian of taeva, the famous Russian poetess, which she wrote Jerusalem appealed to the Oecumenical Patriarch in May 1913. It is a programme poem of all of her Ioakim III with letters on this issue. However, the work and in it, she wrote about her poems, but the latter did not support them at the time and last line – “… will have their day!” – was an answered with a document which, as I. Pomerant- answer to my thoughts about Patriarch Gregory sev wrote in an article, “should serve as an example IV, Orientalist Ignaty Krachkovsky, Byzantinist of peaceful archpastoric’s writings of our times, Alisa Bank, the ancient Byzantine objects in the because it is similar to the type of old patriarchal Hermitage collection, and the unique collection of encyclicals enunciated everywhere peace, brother- the manuscripts brought to Russia by the Patriarch hood, and love by its touchy sprit of love and har- of Antioch. mony, by its even and quite tone, and by its con- vincing argumentations”11. Patriarch Ioakim’s letter, accepted with joy by the Orthodox population of Syria, stirred up harshly negative reactions among the supporters of the philhellenism. Meanwhile, the Antiochene 8 Krackovskij 1960a, 427-428. 9 Cvetaeva 1979, 51. Church, following the Statutes of the Orthodox 10 On Patriarch Malatios, see Pomerantcev 1906, 246-288. Church of Antioch elaborated during the Patriarch 11 Pomerantcev 1907, 121. Malatios’ time, elected on 6 February 1906 the

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 122122 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 Kaymakan of the patriarchal throne. It was the Metropolitan Athanasios of Emes, the oldest serv- ing archpastor in the Church of Antioch (Syrian Arab by origin). After that, in April and June, the elections of a new patriarch were conducted. There were two meetings (on 20 April and 5 June), and also, the approval of the original list of the candi- dates by the Turkish administration in Istanbul. As a result of this procedure, Gregory Haddad, the Metropolitan of Tripoli, was elected as the Patri- arch of Antioch (Pl. 1). Information about Haddad’s election was sent to Istanbul, and on 6 August 1906, a sultan’s irade, which approved Gregory in the rank of the patri- arch, as well as the Berat on his rights and privi- leges, was received. The ritual of enthroning of ‘the Most Blessed and Holiest Gregory IV, the Patriarch of the Great Divine city of Antioch, Syria, Arabia, Cilicia, Iberia, Mesopotamia, and All the East, Father of Fathers, and Pastor of Pastors, Bishop of Bishops, the thirteen of Apostles’12 was conducted on 13 August in Damascus, in the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Gregory IV Haddad was born on 1 July 1859 in Abayh, a village of the Shuf district of Mount Lebanon. He was born in an ordinary Arabic Pl. 1. Patriarch Gregory IV Haddad family and had the secular name of Ghantus. His (photograph: State Hermitage Museum) parents recognized that the boy liked to study and put him in a local elementary school that was maintained by the American Protestant Mission. newspaper ‘The Gift’ (Al-Haddiyah), and was its Ghufara’el, the Metropolitan of Beirut, noticed editor from 1883. Despite his young age, hierodea- the boy’s gifts and took him under his patronage; con Gregory won the sympathy of the local Syrians in 1872, when Ghantus turned thirteen, Ghufara’el for his education, eloquence, and passion. In 1890, made him his pupil and placed him in an ecclesi- he was elected to the position of Metropolitan of astical school in Beirut. This school was the only the archdiocese of Tripoli. At first, on 6 May 1890, religious school in Syria, and it was the end of the he was ordained into the rank of hieromonk; later, education of the future patriarch, but he contin- he was consecrated as bishop, and elevated to the ued his self-education during all his life being rank of the metropolitan by Gerasimos, the Patri- actively interested in theology, philosophy, and arch of Antioch. For fifteen years, Gregory Haddad literature. The Metropolitan Ghufara’el made successfully led the dioceses. He paid great atten- Ghantus Haddad his secretary when he was six- tion to the religious and moral education of his teen years old. At the age of eighteen, Ghantus flock, fought Catholic and Protestant propaganda, took the monastic vows, accepted the name of and developed charity activities while establishing Gregory, and lived for some time in the Nuriyyah several charity brotherhoods at churches. He was Monastery. Later, he was a member of the clergy loved and respected in Tripoli and his activity and of the Metropolitan Ghufara’el in Beirut, and in moral qualities made him a rather popular figure in 1879, ordained into the rank of hierodeacon. Syria. Gregory was greatly engaged in all activities of the diocese; he was the head of the religious and cultural organization ‘St Paul Society’, wrote poems 12 This is the official title of the Patriarch of Antioch (Sokolov of a religious and moral nature for the Orthodox 1913, 147, 161-162).

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 123123 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 On 13 August 1906, Gregory IV stepped up Gregory IV was finally recognized as the lawful into managing the Church of Antioch and, accord- head of the Church of Antioch. Slightly later, on ing to tradition, sent the peace epistles to all the 14 August, during the Synod of the Church of heads of the autocephalous Oriental churches ask- Alexandria, the Patriarch Photius had to recognize ing to “accept him into the brotherly relations and Gregory IV as well. mutual prayerful unity”. The heads of the Slavic It is interesting to note that Nikolay Charykov, Orthodox Churches were the first to answer this the Russian ambassador in Istanbul, made his message. The relationship with the Greek patriarchs impact on the positive resolution of the issue. On continued to be rather complicated, however13. In 23 July 1909, Charykov made his first official visit 1908, the journal Reports of the Imperial Orthodox to the Oecumenical Patriarch, and discussed with Palestine Society, in the section ‘News from the Ori- him the problem of his relationships with the Patri- ental Orthodoxy’, mentioned the following: arch of Antioch, noting the interest of Russia to the cause of the Oriental Orthodoxy. After the meeting The blessed Gregory IV, the new Patriarch of Anti- with the Russian ambassador, the Patriarch Ioakim och, is still outside of the canonical relationships called an urgent meeting in the Synod, and the with the rest of the patriarchs of the Oriental next day made the reciprocal visit to Charykov. On Orthodoxy, of Constantinople, Jerusalem, and 25 July, the Synod of Constantinople held its regu- Alexandria. The peace epistle [from Gregory IV] lar scheduled meeting where the ‘Antioch issue’ was is left without reply to this day. This means that discussed. It was clarified that all of the main disa- the Greek patriarchs do not recognize the election greements between the patriarchates of Antioch of Gregory IV as lawful […] and do not want to and Constantinople were already settled. In par- enter into brotherly relationships with him. […] ticular, the Church of Antioch had to use both the Only the Russian Church and the heads of the Arabic and Greek languages during the liturgical Slavic Churches […] recognized him as the lawful mass. Taking this into account, and after listening patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Antioch14. to all the information regarding the issue, the Patri- arch Ioakim III and members of the Synod unani- The metropolitans of the Antiochene Church mously decided to recognize Gregory IV as the appealed to the Greek patriarchs with a special canonical patriarch of the Church of Antioch. A note in which they stressed the canonical elections corresponding telegram signed by Ioakim III was of Gregory IV and the abnormality of his isolated sent to Damascus and in several days, on 29 June, status. In reaction to this note, the Synods of the the answer of gratitude from Gregory IV was Jerusalem and Constantinople Churches offered received. An exchange of telegrams took place also some conciliatory toward adjusting the situation. between Gregory IV and the Patriarch Damian of Patriarch Photius of Alexandria, on the other Jerusalem. Upon the insistence of the Synod of hand, maintained a strictly negative position. Alexandria, the Patriarch Photius also joined the Photius proclaimed that he would restore the con- positive resolution regarding the Antioch issue16. tacts with the Church of Antioch only “when a Reconciliation of the patriarchs made the Greek, not a Syrian, will sit on the patriarchal utmost favourable impression all over the Ortho- throne”15. This complicated situation was only dox world. It was treated as the beginning of new resolved in 1909, three years after the enthroning religious and secular relationships, about which of Gregory IV. On 25 July 1909, reconciliation reported the Damascus journal Al-Ni’man, Greek was established between the Patriarch Ioakim III newspapers Próodov and Tò Krátov, and the Rus- of Constantinople and the Patriarch of Antioch. sian newspaper The Orthodox Herald. There is no doubt that the Russian religious and secular administrations, in supporting Gregory IV, played a positive role in solving this decade-long conflict. 13 Pomerantcev 1907, 115-159; Sokolov 1913, 158-161, The patriarch himself did not hide his ‘Russophi- 177-180; Krimskij 1974, 619-622; Vasilij 1954, 54-69; lism’ and intention to establish more close contacts Pancenko/Sarab’ev 2006, 607-609. 14 Svetovostokov 1908, 176. with Russia, both religious and political. In the 15 Svetovostokov 1908, 177-179. 1890s, Gregory Haddad began his collaboration 16 Pomerantcev 1909, 568-572, 583-584, 589-599. with the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society. He

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 124124 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 participated in the openings of the society’s schools The development of the stavropegial [i.e., patriar- throughout Syria and the Levant, the Tripoli dio- chal – Yu. P.] monasteries; the restoration and ceses in particular. Between 1895 and 1910, 77 decoration of churches; the organizing of the par- schools were opened to accommodate 10.000 stu- ishes; resistance to Freemasonry and Socialism dents, 27 of them in northern Syria, 45 in south- which, along with the Western European culture ern Syria, and 5 in Beirut. Leading the Patriarchate began to penetrate into Syria; the pursuit to restore of Antioch, Gregory IV continued his energetic and strengthen the brotherly relationships of the moral and educational activity. Church of Antioch with other autocephalous Still being the Metropolitan of Tripoli, Gregory churches of the Oriental Orthodoxy, Greek and was appointed the Epitrop of the Balamand Theo- Slavic, are some of the goals of the archpastoric logical Seminary established by the Patriarch Mala- service of His Beatitude Gregory IV 20. tios. The Metropolitan Gregory ardently followed the teaching and upbringing conducted in the The stories about a famous private library of the seminary. He looked after its financial situation, rare manuscripts collected by Gregory IV were cir- and literally bore the responsibilities before the culated over the Middle East (and far beyond it as Church and society for all aspects of the seminary’s well). Gregory Haddad began to build the library activities. When Gregory IV became the patriarch, at the time of being the Metropolitan of Tripoli, he gave even more attention to the Balamand Sem- but he collected the manuscripts especially actively inary planning to reorganize it into the Theological when he became the patriarch. Gregory IV even Academy, which would prepare the high-ranked sent people to the distant monasteries, churches, clergy for the Church of Antioch17. The best stu- and private libraries of the Orthodox Orient with dents of the Balamand Seminary were sent to con- the only mission to search for manuscripts. tinue their education at the Russian theological The journal Reports of the Imperial Orthodox institutions and in the Greek school on the island Palestine Society, in its section ‘News from the of Halki near Istanbul. Oriental Orthodox’, informed that the Patriarch There is no doubt that the Balamand Seminary, Gregory IV spent five months (until 7 December which later became the Academy, made a great, real 1912) in the Balamand Monastery, where he contribution to the national and cultural revival of worked on the improvement of the monastery and Syria. The patriarch directly participated in the the Balamand Theological Seminary. Particularly, organization and everyday activities of the semi- he personally participated in bringing into order nary. According to the Russian press, “His Beati- the Seminary’s library, where “there are old Arabic tude, with his authoritative directions and explana- manuscripts”21. Gregory Haddad loved the old tions greatly assisted to the higher organization of manuscripts and understood them well, being able the inner structure of the Seminary, and in the to evaluate their real historical and scholarly sig- establishing in the School the close relationships nificance. However, there was no precise informa- between the administrations, teachers and stu- tion about the manuscripts or inventories of his dents”18. Due to the help of the patriarch, elemen- personal library, because only on rare occasions tary schools were opened in many towns and vil- someone was lucky to see the manuscript treasures lages. Gregory IV applied great energy to the of the patriarch. But at that time hardly anyone religious and moral education of his flock. In 1909, could assume the best parts of the patriarch’s library Gregory IV founded the biweekly magazine Al- would eventually come to the shores of the Neva Ni’man and issued it on his own means. The mag- River in faraway Russia. azine published articles on the themes of theology, church history, pedagogy, and moral, as well as the reviews of the religious life in Syria19. The print shop established in Damascus issued popular books and brochures of a religious and moral content. 17 Pomerantcev 1907, 156-157; Svetovostokov 1909a, 116- At the same time, Gregory IV actively fought 119. 18 Vesti 1913, 102-103. against Catholic and Protestant propaganda. In this 19 Svetovostokov 1909b, 639. respect, the Russian scholar Sokolov observed the 20 Sokolov 1913, 161. following: 21 Vesti 1913, 102-103.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 125125 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 PATRIARCH GREGORY IV AND TSAR NICHOLAS II and Joseph Abu-Tabar, doctor David Abu Shar, Protopsaltis Dimitrios Murr, pearl craftsman Abdo In December 1912, Gregory IV raised a question Nahat, Levantian merchant Ivan Abupharakh; about the travel to Russia in connection to the 300- George, the interpreter; and Susanna Haddad, an year anniversary of the dynasty of the Romanovs unmarried sister of the patriarch24. “in order to express the gratitude for the charities From Odessa to St Petersburg the patriarch and provided to the poor Syrian Church at different his suite traveled on the railroad, and numerous times”22. The negotiations about an official visit of delegations of Russian clergy solemnly greeted the the patriarch to Russia were made through Boris honoured guest during his route at the stations. Shakhovskoy, the Russian consul in Damascus. Gregory IV arrived at St Petersburg on 20 February The Tsar Nicholas II gave his consent for the visit 1913. He was met by the high-rank clergy of the of the Patriarch of Antioch, and, by the recom- Russian capital headed by Metropolitan Vladimir mendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affaires, an of St Petersburg, as well as the ministers and the official invitation was sent to the patriarch. It said city administration. The special apartments in the the following: Alexander Nevsky Lavra were prepared for the patriarch. When the ceremonial procession of the Because of the strong historical relations which patriarch and his mission arrived from the railroad existed between our predecessors, the tsars of Russia, station, they were met by officials in special coaches and the patriarchs of Antioch, we have decided to and carriages. While in the Lavra, the patriarch vis- extend an invitation to His Beatitude, Patriarch ited the cathedral, bent to the relics of Alexander Gregory of Antioch to preside over the religious Nevsky, and met the members of the Holy Synod. ceremonies which will begin on February 21, After a short rest, at 15.00, the patriarch was pre- 1913, commemorating three hundred years of sent at the solemn requiem service in the Sts Peter Romanov rule in Russia 23. and Paul Cathedral in the Fortress, where the tsar’s family was also present. According to the published In turn, Gregory IV, as a citizen of the Ottoman chronicle of the anniversary, when the tsar and his Empire, received permission to visit Russia from family stepped into the cathedral: the Turkish government. Moreover, during his travel, the patriarch gained special audience with […] the clergy led by His Beatitude Gregory, the Sultan Muhammad V in Istanbul. A special steam- Patriarch of Antioch and All-Orient, and metro- boat was sent from Russia to Istanbul in order to politans, holding a cross and holy water, came out bring the patriarch and his mission to Odessa, in silver clothes to meet His Majesty. The metro- where a special delegation of the Holy Synod of the politans stood in a row in front of the commemora- Russian Orthodox Church met them. The names tive table with the Holy crucifix. The Patriarch of the people who accompanied the patriarch are was in the middle of the row flanked by all the known from an official telegram sent from Odessa others: Vladimir, the Metropolitan of St Peters- to St Petersburg in the name of Vladimir Iatsk- burg; Flavian, the Metropolitan of Kiev; Alexan- evich, the director of the Office of the Chief Proc- dros, the Metropolitan of Tripoli (who came with urator in the Holy Synod. Besides Gregory IV, the the Patriarch); Antony, the Archbishop of Volyn; following people came to Russia during this official Sergey, the Archbishop of Finland; Nikolay, the visit: Alexandros, the Archbishop of Tripoli; Archi- Archbishop of Warsaw; Evsevy, the Archbishop of mandrit Ghufara’el Kardus; Exarchos Nicholas Vladivostok; Michael, the Bishop of Grodno; Shehadie (the white priest); Priest Ignatius, Arch- Agapy, the Bishop of Ekaterinoslav; Vladimir, the deacon Thomas Dibo, Deacons Sophronius Khouri Bishop of Omsk, and Nikon, the Bishop of Vologda 25.

Those who accompanied Gregory IV remembered 22 Vesti 1913, 105. that “Following the service, His Beatitude went to 23 Tarrazi 1997, 21. the tsar’s deputy’s residence where he received the 24 RGIA, fond 797, opis’ 83 (2 otdelenie, 3 stol), delo 46, pp. 23, 30. Vicars of the Patriarchs of Constantinople and 25 Romanovskie 1913, 9-10. Jerusalem, Members of the Duma as well as top

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 126126 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 Russian notables”26. It is interesting to note that began. The court choristers sung. The Grand Nicholas II did not mention in his dairy the pres- Duchesses and Grand Dukes came during the mass. ence of the Patriarch of Antioch at the service; he At 1 o’clock in the afternoon, Their Majesties came briefly recorded that “by 3 o’clock, the whole fam- out the Winter Palace. All clergy headed by His ily gathered in the Fortress. A solemn requiem Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch and Metropolitan mass, in memory of all tsars and monarchs of the Vladimir of St Petersburg took part in the prayer Romanov Family was held there. I came back home service that followed the arrival of the Tsar and the at 4 o’clock”27. Family. The clergy stretched from the altar to the Gregory IV took part in all the official ceremo- bishop cathedra by two silver bands30. nies celebrating the 300-year anniversary of the dynasty of the Romanovs; he was also honoured On 21 February, in the second half of the day, the with several audiences with Tsar Nicholas II in the patriarch, together with Archbishop Alexandros, Winter Palace in St Petersburg and in the Tsar- the Archimandrites Antonios and Ghufara’el, and skoye Selo, the country residence. Information Archdeacon Thomas, went to the Winter Palace, about these visits is preserved in various official where the tsar’s family accepted the official con- archival documents, as well as in a private diary of gratulations. Grand Duke Gavriil Konstantinovich Tsar Nicholas II28. The Patriarch of Antioch was remembered this ceremony: present during the ceremonial prayer in the Cathe- dral of the Icon of the Kazan Virgin on Thursday It was interesting to watch the congratulations of 21 February 1913. Later, upon his return to His Majesty by the suite, courtiers, and various Damascus, he published a detailed and colourful deputations. The ceremony took place in the [Con- description of the liturgical mass in the Kazan cert] hall near the Malachite Room. The Family Cathedral in the journal called The Grace. He wrote was standing behind the Tsar and Tsarinas. There about the miracle-making icon of the Kazan Virgin were many congratulating persons; each of them at with especially touchy tenderness: first went to Tsarina Aleksandra Fedorovna, bowed to her, kissed her hand, and bowed again. After The icon was decorated with the cloth appropriate that, he, in the same manner, went to Tsarina to the glory of the Great Tsarina and Mother Vir- Maria Fedorovna [the Tsar’s mother –Yu. P.], gin, that bears altogether the artistry, the majesty and only after that, he went to Tsar Nicholas II. in its appearance, and splendor – gold, silver, and Aleksandra Fedorovna was sitting but Maria precious stones 29. Fedorovna was standing the whole time31.

For this solemn ceremony, the other honoured icons In this part of his diary, the grand duke does not were also temporary brought to the Kazan Cathe- mention the Patriarch of Antioch. On the same dral. For example, there was the miracle-working day, the tsar himself wrote: “At 3.45 everyone gath- icon called ‘The Savior Not Made by Hand’ from ered in the Malachite [reception room], in the the chapel in the Peter the Great Summer House, Concert [Hall] the congratulations were taken up the icon called ‘Apostles Peter and Paul’ from the to 5.30 hours, there came about 1500 p[eople]”32, Fortress, the icon of St Prince Alexander Nevsky and, again, the patriarch is not mentioned. How- from the Lavra, and also the miracle-working icon ever, the chronicle of the celebration provides an of the Virgin of Pochaevskaya from Ukraine. interesting detail about the ceremony. The accept- ance of congratulations, in fact, was held in two It was not even 10 o’clock in the morning, as the rooms, the Concert Hall and the Malachite Room higher clergy from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra located next to it: came to the Kazan Cathedral. To the altar came: His Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch, Metropolitan 26 Tarrazi 1997, 22. Vladimir, Metropolitan Flavian, Metropolitan 27 Kozlov 1991, 384. Dimitry of Belgrade, Alexandros of Tripoli, arch- 28 Kozlov 1991, 384, 387, 393. 29 bishops, and members of the Holy Synod […]. At Vesti 1914, 130-131. 30 Romanovskie 1913, 17-19. 11 o’clock in the morning, the Holy Mass held by 31 Gavriil Konstantinovich 2001, 163. Vladimir, the Metropolitan of St Petersburg, 32 Kozlov 1991, 384.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 127127 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 Till 3 o’clock, everybody who arrived at the Palace ‘I am only a sinner, my lord’, said the Patri- occupied the seats in the Concert Hall. Closest to arch. ‘May God reward you according to your faith the entrance stood the highest members of the clergy and good heartedness; may He fulfill all your hopes headed by the Metropolitan Vladimir; next to and support your throne forever’. On hearing this, them were members of the clergy of other Christian the Tsar was pleased and kissed the Patriarch’s faiths. […] Around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, His right hand again. The Patriarch then presented the Beatitude Patriarch of Antioch Gregory and His Tsar several gifts which included a chip of the True Grace Dmitry, the Metropolitan of Serbia, offered Cross, Chrism, a Gospel, an icon, incense, relics their congratulations to Their Imperial Majesties from John the Baptist, and silk cloth [epitaphios in the Malachite Room. […] At 4 o’clock, the Tsar from the Balamand Monastery – Yu. P.]. The and His family went into the Concert Hall. Their Tsar expressed his gratitude following which the Majesties were in Russian dress, and Tsar Nicholas Patriarch respectfully bade his host farewell and II and the Heir wore the uniform of the Streltsy of departed. the Royal family, with the ribbon of the Order of During the interview, the Patriarch read a St Andrew33. short speech in Arabic, which was translated into Russian by Archbishop Alexandros. The speech was Gregory IV also left us with a quite detailed descrip- written on parchment, which also included the pic- tion of the ceremony: tures of Saints Peter and Paul. When the Patriarch finished reading his speech, he presented it to the The Russian custom entailed that only two persons Tsar. The Tsar, in turn, decorated the Patriarch at the time could enter to meet with the Tsar. with Saint Alexander Nevsky’s medal, first class34, Accordingly, His Beatitude and Archbishop Alex- and gave him a gold cross inlaid with diamonds. andros went in. Waiting in the hall were His As the Patriarch and the Archbishop bade the Tsa- Imperial Majesty, the Tsar, the Tsarina, the rina, the Crown Prince and others farewell, they Crown Prince, the Tsar’s mother, along with his all kissed their hands35. four daughters and other members of the royal fam- ily as well. Tsar Nicholas was sitting on his throne, On Sunday 24 February, the last day of the celebra- at the top of which was the icon of the Mother of tion, the Patriarch of Antioch met with the Russian God. The Patriarch glanced at her, then took a tsar. This meeting is not mentioned in the diary of bow and chanted her hymn, ‘It is truly meet…’. Nicholas II. In fact, the entry for this day mentions Then he respectfully greeted the Tsar who climbed the following: down from his throne to receive the Patriarch and bowed before him. His Beatitude blessed and kissed him on the shoulder in accordance with Russian A beautiful, light day. At 11 o’clock, on the way to tradition. The Tsar, in turn, kissed the Patriarch’s the church, all our people attending our stables and head first and then his right hand. As the two managers of suburban palaces brought to us the remained standing for a while, the Tsar congratu- icons and bread-salt. After breakfast, I went to the lated the Patriarch on his safe journey and then People’s House […]. To 7 o’clock, we gathered in invited him to take a seat next to the throne. The the Malachite [reception room of the Winter two talked for a while, after which the Tsar said, Palace] and went in procession. In the Nicholas ‘I learned some time ago that you wanted to see me. Hall, there were many peasants representing vari- ous unions. The Official dinner was served in three I, too, wanted very much to see you. I also know of 36 your piety and holiness. Please pray for me’. halls and the 1812 War Gallery .

The tables were set in the St George Throne Hall, the Armorial Hall, Alexander Hall, and in the 1812 33 Romanovskie 1913, 19-20. War Gallery. The tsar and the high clergy were 34 In reality, the Order of St Alexander Nevsky did not have lodged in the St George Throne Hall. However, classes. See Piatnitsky et al. 2000, 352-353, no. R-124 the Patriarch of Antioch was invited to this official (M. Dobrovol’skaya). 35 Tarrazi 1997, 22. dinner. His description of the event has a slightly 36 Kozlov 1991, 385. ‘exaggerated Oriental nature’:

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 128128 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 […] the Patriarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy. or private negotiations of the patriarch40) and Rus- He read the Gospel and prayed for the Tsar in sian consul in Damascus, Boris Shakhovskoy; the Arabic. Following the Divine Liturgy, a banquet chief procurator of the Holy Synod Vladimir Sabler was held in the imperial palace in his honor and informed about the tsar’s assent to the Minister of was attended by 2.500 dignitaries, all seated at the Imperial Court Vladimir Frederix in an official eighteen tables. The utensils were made of gold, silver and expensive china. The Tsar occupied the main seat at the head table, flanked by the Tsarina on his right, his mother on his left, then the mem- 37 Tarrazi 1997, 22. The design of the menu for the Official bers of the royal family and cabinet ministers. The dinner in the Winter Palace on 24 February 1913 was Patriarch sat directly opposite the Tsar, while his created by the famous Russian artist Ivan Bilibin. It is done entourage and top clergy sat at his sides. The menu in the shape of the vertically prolonged rectangle, with a two cartouches inside. Within the top one, decorated with was written on a piece of paper which had the two-headed eagle, there is a title, ‘Description of Meals’, pictures of an eagle and those of two sixteenth- and within the bottom one, decorated with two figures of century commanders. Three toasts were made. The warriors dressed in Old Russian style, is listed the musical first was that of the Tsar, his wife and his mother; programme performed by the court orchestra during the dinner. The menu of the dinner looks very beautiful and the second was that of the Crown Prince and the festive and, undoubtedly, is one of the highly artistic royal family and the third was that of the Patri- graphic examples made in Old Russian style. The content arch and the clergy. Music played and the palace of the menu is quite interesting. The following dishes were guns fired after each toast37. served during this dinner: turtle soup and game soup (both were offered with pastries with various fillings); the Dvina sterlet prepared in champagne; fillet of the Moscow veal; THE CHRISTIAN ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS OF duck in aspic, with orange juice; punch Victoria; roast – GREGORY IV French paillards and pheasants, with green salad and fresh cucumbers; truffles in champaign; peaches à la Emperor; ice cream. The hymn to the Dynasty of the Romanovs, by After the formal events held in celebration of the composer Bronevsky, was played at the beginning of the 300-year anniversary of the dynasty of the dinner. After that, the programme lists the concert overture Romanovs, Gregory IV had several more audiences by Lvov; the chorus of folk from the opera ‘Prince Igor’ with Nicholas II. One of them was set for 7 March by Borodin; elegy and waltz by Tchaikovsky; the musical fragment (‘Dawn on the Moscow River’) from the opera 1913. At first, it was suggested that the meeting ‘Khovanshchina’ by Musorgsky; the concert waltz by should take place in the Winter Palace and would Glazunov; the duet was performed from opera ‘Dubrovsky’ be a farewell, since the patriarch was planning to by Napravnik (after a novel by Aleksandr Pushkin); girls leave St Petersburg38. But in reality, the audience chorus from the opera the ‘Rogdana’ by Dargomyzhsky; at the end, two musical fragments were played from the opera took place in the Alexander Palace of the Tsarskoe ‘The Snow Maiden’ by Rimsky-Korsakov. Selo, and it was not the last one. Gregory IV left 38 RGIA, fond 472, opis’ 49, delo 1203, p. 65. the Russian capital only in April and, according to 39 Kozlov 1991, 393. the entry in the tsar’s diary, the patriarch organized 40 Archbishop Alexandros was born in Damascus; he received his basic education in a patriarchal school; in 1886, he took a farewell audience in the Tsarskoe Selo on his monastic vows and was sent to the Theological School 16 April: on the Island of Chalki, where he learned French, Turkish, Greek, and Latin to perfection. After he finished this school It was the last exchange of kisses with brothers in in 1891, Alexandros was consecrated as hierodeacon and returned to Syria, to the diocese of Emesa. Enjoying the faith, Old Believers, and the regional officials of patronage of Metropolitan Athanasios of Emesa, in 1897, three local districts. After that, we accepted the he received permission from the Holy Synod of Russia to Patriarch of Antioch; bid him farewell, because he study in the Kiev Theological Academy. In three years, in was leaving 39. 1900, Alexandros was called to Damascus, consecrated into hieromonk, and made the father superior of the Antioch Church, where in 1902, he was raised to the rank of archi- Thus, on 7 March 1913, in the Alexander Palace of mandrite and elected the Archbishop of Cilicia. In 1903, the Tsarskoe Selo, the audience of Gregory IV took he returned to Syria but went to the eparchy only in the place. Tsar Nicholas II set time for it as 12 o’clock beginning of 1905, where he received a negative reception and agreed to accept the patriarch accompanied by from the Greek population. As a result, in the summer of 1907, he had to willingly give up the control of the Epar- Archbishop Alexandros of Tripoli (the archbishop chy of Cilicia. In January 1908, he was elected to the knew Russian and interpreted during the important vacant cathedra of Tripoli (Vesti 1908, 323-326).

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 129129 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 letter (no. 23561) from 2 March 191341. The tsar the Patriarch of Antioch. Both early lists used ‘to be recorded this event in his dairy on the evening of presented’, while the later list from 5 March 1913 7 March 1913: has the verb ‘presented’. Two earlier lists are more interesting and informative. The first list includes […] between the reports both of us [the tsar and 36 points for the manuscripts’ description and the his wife Tsarina Aleksandra Fedorovna – Yu. P.] second one has 6 points in it. They include the accepted the Patriarch of Antioch and accompa- titles of manuscripts, authors’ names, dates, and, in nied him with the Archbishop of Tripoli. We some cases, important notes. We reproduce these received gifts from him of the Arabian crafts and two lists according to the originals kept in the Her- many old valuable manuscripts and books 42. mitage archive. Notably, these two lists have a few errors, which were correct by Krachkovsky in his The ‘Arabian crafts’ mentioned by the tsar included list (see add. I). furniture, jewelry boxes, and frames made of wood with mother-of-pearl inlay crafted in traditional The first document: Oriental taste. The short list of these gifts is pre- served among the archival documents in the The list of books to be presented to His Majesty National Historical Archive in St Petersburg43. Emperor by the Blessed George, the Patriarch of There is also a list of the ‘manuscripts and books’ Antioch that Gregory IV presented to the Tsar Nicholas II. The list is dated to 5 March 1913, and titled The 1. Old Testament, part I. list of books presented by His Beatitude Patriarch of Date: 6744 Anno Mundi (1236 A[nno] Antioch Gregory. It includes 41 points, but five of D[omini]). them are skipped (nos 6, 11, 29, 30, 33)44. The 2. Old Testament, part II. same list is preserved in the archive of the State Her- Date: 6745 Anno Mundi (1237 A[nno] mitage Museum, since the collection of the manu- D[omini]). scripts of Gregory IV, by the will of Nicholas II, 3. New Testament and a part of the Old Testament. was delivered for keeping to ‘His Majesty Personal Undated, but with a note mentioning that the Libraries in the Winter Palace’ in St Petersburg45. book was copied in Damascus before the Patriar- The above-mentioned list was based on the two chate was transferred to this city. other lists of the collection of Gregory IV that were 4. Four Gospels in Greek on 308 leaves of parch- made earlier, when the audience of 7 March 1913 ment. The book was donated to the Cathedral was still in discussion. It is clear from the titles of Church of Sts Sergius, Bacchus and Leontius in these two documents: The list of books to be pre- Bosra in 6852 Anno Mundi (1344 A[nno] sented to His Majesty Emperor by Beatitude Gregory, D[omini], and restored by the Patriarch Joachim in 1418). 5. The Gospel (calligraphic copy). Undated. On the basis of its paleographic features, it can be dated th 41 RGIA, fond 797, opis’ 83 (3 otdelenie, 4 stol), delo 4, to the 9 century. p. 29. 6. The Gospel. Date: 6744 Anno Mundi (1236 42 Kozlov 1991, 387. A[nno] D[omini]). 43 There is a list of these gifts, compiled on 5 March 1913: ‘To the Emperor Nicholas II – the round table; to the 7. The Acts and the Epistles of the Apostles (there is Empresses Aleksandra Fedorovna – the dress table; to the no division by chapters). The book was presented Empresses Maria Fedorovna – the book cabinet; to the in 837 A[nno] D[omini]to the Church of Sts Ser- Heir – étagère; to the Great Duchess Olga Nikolaevna – gius and Bacchus in Sadade. the toilet box with mirror and secret lack; to the Great Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna – the album; to the Great 8. The Acts and the Epistles of the Apostles. Duchesses Maria and Anastasia – on frame to each’ (RGIA, Date: 742 Hijri (1341 Anno Domini). From fond 472, opis’ 49, delo 1203, p. 66). the library of the Consul Jacoma (probably 44 RGIA, fond 472, opis’ 49, delo 1203, pp. 61-63. from Genoa). 45 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1913, delo 1 (part 1), pp. 55-57. The Winter Palace had several Imperial libraries 9. The Book of Psalms on 168 leaves of parch- under the general management, and for this reason, the ment, with parallel text in Arabic and Greek. plural form was used in the official title. Date: 11th century.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 130130 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 10. Commentary on the Book of Psalms by Abd- 22. Anti-Catholic writing by Gerasimus, the Patri- Allah Abu’l-Faraj, son of Atayeb. arch of Alexandria, to the citizens of Tripoli 11. Commentary on the Book of Genesis, titled by and Aleppo. Date: 1702. the first words ‘Hexameron’ by St John Chrys- 23. Correspondence of the Metropolitan Cyril of ostom. The book is written by Joachim, the Aleppo46 with Paul, a Catholic monk from the Patriarch of Antioch, who visited Russia and Order of St Lazar (by Materials to the History helped in the establishing there the Patriarchy of Propaganda of Catholicism in Syria in the and in making Ioav the first patriarch. Date: 19th century). (1579 A[nno] D[omini]). 24. ‘The Garden of Faith’, a treatise of religious- 12. The Ladder of Virtue, a work by St John moral content, by Abd Allah, son of al-Fadl. Climacus and a treatise by St Varsonofi on 25. Tacticon and various homilies, collections of monasticism. Date: 574 Hijri (1178 A[nno] panegyrics (issued by the Dominicans). D[omini]). Undated. 13. A collection of apologetic treatises, including: 26. ‘The Joy of a Believer’, a work by Abd Allah, 1) The Epistle of St Sophronius, the Patriarch son of al-Fadl. Date: 1052 A[nno] D[omini]. of Jerusalem, on Christian faith; 2) The Epistle 27. Collection of articles on theology, philology, of St Cyril of Alexandria to John, the Patriarch and history, including the history of the Patri- of Antioch and to Nestorius, and his other archate of Antioch. treatises against Nestorius. 28. A Travel of Macarius, the Patriarch of Anti- 14. The Epistle of Gennadius Scholarius to och, to Russia;[the manuscript of] 1765 (pho- Mehmed II, the conquer of Constantinople, notype of the manuscript from the London on Christian faith, and a collection of apolo- Museum, translated into Russian by Prof[essor] getic and dogmatic articles by Paul, the Bishop Murkos) in two volumes. of Sidon, and others. 29. A Big Journey to Hidjaz, a work by Sheikh 15. A dogmatic treatise by Abd Allah, son of al- Abdul Ghani Nabulusi. Fadl (Chronology of the patriarchs of Antioch 30. The Arabic Explanatory Dictionary by Herman is given at the end). Copied by Archdeacon Farkhat, recorded by Acacius, the Metropolitan Paul of Aleppo. Date: A.H. 1062. of Beirut. Date: 1773 A[nno] D[omini]. 16. Anti-Catholic treatise (The answer to an 31. A Manual to the Study of Arabic Language by encyclical by a Roman Pope, end of the Iskhakh Tarabulusi. 16th century). The book is copied by Paul of 32. Commentaries by Sheikh Rady of ‘Aal-kafaat’, Aleppo, a famous Archdeacon. At the end, the a treatise on grammar. Date: 739 Hijri (1338 book tells the story about the fire in the A[nno] D[omini]). Church of the Blessed Virgin in Damascus (in 33. Collection of poems by Suleiman, son of Has- A.H. 1052). san from Gaza. Date: 1556 Anno Domini. 17. Unicum. A small collection by St Nikon, the 34. Commentaries by Seid Sherif of Tavali Ali Father Superior in the St Simeon Monastery Esfahani, a Muslim scholastic theology (Uni- near Antioch. Date 1088 A[nno] D[omini]. cum). 18. A treatise against the Catholics, a work by Ilia 35. Atmospheric Influences, a work by Abdallah Fakhr, the Logophet, 1744 A[nno] D[omini]. Antaki. Date: 7156 Anno Mundi (1648 Anno 19. A treatise on how the Holy Spirit proceeds Domini). from the Father (against a Catholic study on 36. A Medical Treatise, by the Archdeacon Said, the Filioque), a work by Ilia Fakhr (18th c.). son of Abdul-Khair 47. 20. A treatise on how the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (against a Catholic study on the Filioque), a work by Ilia Fakhr, the Logophet of Antioch Patriarchate (1760 A[nno] D[omini]). 46 It is written over ‘of Alexandria’, which has been crossed- 21. On the Holy Mysteries. A work by Ilia Fakhr, out. the Logophet of Antioch Patriarchate. Date: 47 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1913, delo 1 (part 1), pp. 52-53 1747. (the typewritten original).

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 131131 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 The second document: were transferred to the Asiatic Museum of the Academy of Sciences. In his book Among Arabic The list of books presented to His Majesty Emperor by Manuscripts. Memories of Libraries and Men, first the Blessed Gregory, the Patriarch of Antioch published in 1945, Krachkovsky wrote: “On a frosty winter day, in February of 1919, accompa- 1. The Gospel. Date: 7163 Anno Mundi (1655 nied by a pupil and assistant, I personally trans- A[nno] D[omini]). In the handwrighting of ported on a hand-sleigh through the deserted streets the Archdeacon Paul of Aleppo. Copied by of depopulated Petrograd all forty manuscripts, him in the stone fortress called Kolomna, near carefully wrapped in sheepskin to the former rooms the capital (Moscow) in the year of the cam- of the Asiatic Museum building near the Academy paign of the Grand Duke Aleksei Mikhailovich building with columns”49. against the Poles. The Asiatic Museum was soon transferred to the 2. The Book of Psalms with 301 leaves, with par- new building of the Library of the Academy of Sci- allel texts in Arabic and Greek. Date: 11th cen- encies on the Birzhevaya Line of the Vasilievsky tury. Ostrov. Later, the museum was reorganized into 3. An important unicum: Historical evidence on the Oriental Institute and moved to a new location the Antioch Patriarchate and about Georgia. on Dvortsovaya Naberezhnaia 18, not far from the The book is written in the hand of the Patri- Winter Palace. There, in the Oriental Institute of arch Macarius and his grandson the Patriarch the Academy of Sciences, in the former Novo- Cyril (18th century). Mikhailovsky Palace of the Grand Duke Mikhail, 4. Unicum: 1) Chronology of the Patriarchs and the collection of the manuscripts of Gregory IV is Metropolitans of Antioch from St Apostle presently kept50. Peter to the Patriarch Macarius (17th c.); 2) Vladimir Shcheglov, the head of His Majesty’s The story of St John Damascene about Bar- Personal Libraries in the Winter Palace, was the laam and Josaphat written by the hand of the first to recognize the scholarly value of the gift from Archdeacon Paul of Aleppo. the Patriarch George IV. He included information 5. A travel of Macarius the Patriarch of Antioch about the manuscripts in his 1917 book devoted to to Russia (the original, copies made from those the Library: in Russian libraries). Date: 7208 Anno Mundi (1700 A[nno] D[omini]). In 1913, His Majesty’s Personal Libraries were 6. Ten medical treatises, works by Ali, grandson enriched by rather valuable gifts from Gregory, the of Bakhtishu, Galen, Hunain, Yahya, son of Patriarch of Antioch, who presented to His Majesty Masabiha, Fabeth, son of Kurr, and others. The Emperor a significant number of manuscripts writ- book is written in 551 Hijri (1157 A[nno] ten in Arabian languages, namely: Gospels, Acts by D[omini])48. Holy Apostles, Epistles, treatises of the religious- moral content, travels, and alike, among which As mentioned above, the collection of old manu- there are several rare lists. For example, the Chro- scripts presented in 1914 by George IV to Nicholas nology of the Antioch patriarchs and metropolitans, II was added to ‘His Majesty’s Personal Libraries in the Small collection of Epistles by St Nikon, the the Winter Palace’, where it was kept until Febru- story by St John Damascene about Josaphat and ary 1919. In the beginning of 1919, on petition Barlaam written by hand of the Archdeacon Paul from the Academy of Sciences and thanks to the of Aleppo, and others. personal activity of Krachkovsky, the manuscripts Shcheglov also mentioned: “By the request of His Majesty Emperor, photographs were made from the rarest manuscripts, bound with book covers that imitated the originals, and sent to the Patriarch 48 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1913, delo 1 (part 1), p. 54 [George IV – Yu. P.]”51. As far as I know, this (the typewritten original). important fact was unknown to scholars. 49 Krachkovsky 1953, 37-38. 50 Chalidov 1986, 495-512; Polosin et al., forthcoming. 51 Scheglov 1917, 80-81.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 132132 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 IGNATY KRACHKOVSKY

After the collection of manuscripts came to the library of the Winter Palace, it attracted the attention of Russian scholars. As pointed out by Shcheglov, the first of these scholars was Countess Praskovia Uvarova, the president of the Imperial Moscow Archaeological Society, who studied the collection as early as 191352. Ignaty Krachkovsky (Pl. 2), working at St Petersburg University at that time, was the second scholar who got the chance to study the manuscripts. He made the first and still only scholarly description of this col- lection of manuscripts. In his book Among Arabic Manuscripts, Krachk- ovsky described his unsuccessful attempt to see the famous library of Gregory IV during his travel to the Orient in 1908-1910 to study Arabic and old manuscripts as follows:

The most fantastic rumors circulated about this library. Many people named to me all kinds of rarities which it was supposed to contain but they always added with a strange smile that Haddad was crafty and clever enough to prevent anyone from seeing his treasures. […] My first visit to Pl. 2. Ignaty Krachkovsky (photograph: State Hermitage Museum) Damascus, however, was unsuccessful; the Patri- arch was away. I was later told, not without mal- ice, that he had returned on the very day of my When at last I lost patience and told him outright departure. what we had heard in Russia about the 1700 manuscript of [the patriarch – Yu. P.] Macarius’ In the summer of 1909, before going back to Rus- journey [it was thought that the manuscript per- sia, Krachkovsky made his second trip to Damas- ished in a fire during the massacre of the Chris- cus, purposely to meet Gregory IV, with the hope tians in Damascus in 1860 – Yu. P.] his lips to see the manuscripts from his library. For this, he twitched faintly and he remarked cryptically: ‘After asked Prince Boris Schakhovskoy, the Russian con- all, not all the manuscripts were lost in the fire, sul in Damascus, for assistance and was officially Thus on that day too I was shown nothing on the received by the patriarch; during the meeting, pretext that the room was being redecorated and Krachkovsky secured the second, this time private, that the books had been packed away in boxes. reception: However, Krachkovsky made the patriarch promise Haddad could no longer avoid talking about man- to show him his library. The patriarch said: “We are uscripts and in the course of our conversation all at your command – I shall order the boxes to be evinced a genuine knowledge of literature, espe- opened tomorrow, and on Thursday I shall show cially of the literature of Christian Arabic which you everything with which Allah has blessed was particularly important to me at that time. Yet the dwelling of this poor man [Patriarch Gregory IV to my questions, which I sometimes put very bluntly, he only gave evasive answers with an occa- sional slight sneer which annoyed me. He would 52 Scheglov 1917, 162. I was unable to find any evidence say: ‘I think I have got it’ or ‘I have heard that it among the archival documents about the Praskovia Uvaro- may be in Aleppo’, or ‘somebody did show it to me’. va’s studies.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 133133 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 – Yu. P.]”. But Gregory Haddad was known as a important: the point is that two scholars who came cunning person for a reason. When Krachkovsky to the congress, the senior curator of the Imperial came to the patriarch’s residency on the appointed Hermitage, Eugene Pridik, and the above-men- day, he was politely told that “His Beatitude left tioned Boris Farmakovsky, had a special unofficial yesterday for the northern districts of the Patriar- mission from Baron Vladimir Frederix, the minis- chate and, fearing that in his absence no one would ter of the Imperial Court. After the congress in be able to show you the manuscripts properly, has Cairo, they had to visit Damascus and meet with ordered that they should not be unpacked”53. Gregory IV. In 1913, when Gregory IV came to St Peters- In early 1909, the patriarch addressed a request burg to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the to visit Russia at the Russian Consul in Damascus dynasty of the Romanovs, he expressed his desire to by Prince Boris Shakhovskoy. The formal reason meet Krachkovsky several times. However, the was a desire to express “the deep gratitude of the scholar, remembering the story in Damascus, did Antioch Church for all Highest benefactions pro- not answer the patriarch’s invitation. vided to it, and also to present to His Majesty some It was an account of his relationship with the local productions and old handwritten Gospels”57. Patriarch of Antioch that Krachkovsky gave in his In addition, Gregory IV offered to organize a spe- book. The reality was slightly different than this cial “Department of Antiquities of the Antioch romantic, literary description. The first visit to see Patriarchy in one of the Russian museums, where the library of Gregory IV was in fact unsuccessful, chiefly all church antiquities and rare items of the since the patriarch was not in Damascus. In the Antioch Patriarchy, presently looted by the Jesuits, spring of 1909, Krachkovsky traveled to Egypt. or flouted by the Muslims, would go, as well as Besides the work in the libraries of Cairo and historical antiquities of the Patriarchy’s area [i.e., Alexandria, there was another reason to go. He Damascus – Yu. P.], and in this Department, all participated in the Second International Archaeo- these antiquities would be assesable to all who logical Congress held in Cairo from 28 March to study the history of the Oriental Churches”58. 3 April, and all participants were eligable for some The prepositions of Gregory IV were favourably discounts. The trip gave Krachkovsky the oppor- greeted in Russia. There were no doubts about the tunity to meet with his compatriots, who also reasons for the visit of a special delegation from the took part in the congress: his teacher, Professor Antiochene Patriarchate to Russia, but a proposal Boris Turaev, and a member of the Imperial to create a special ‘Department of Antiquities’ Archaeological Committee, Boris Farmakovsky, sparked discussion and controversy. The Ministry who was accompanied by his sister-in law, Vera of the Imperial Court, taking advantage of Farma- Farmakovsky (a wife of his brother, ingeneer kovsky’s and Pridik’s planned trip to Cairo, offered Vladimir Farmakovsky), and her sister Ekaterina them “to collect information and find out, to what Miakotina54. extent the desire in organizing, in one of the Rus- Krachkovsky returned to Syria and Lebanon sian museums, the Department named ‘Depart- together with Farmakovsky and his companions, as ment of Antiquities of the Antiochian Patriarchy’ we know from Krachkovsky’s letter to Turaev from expressed by the Patriarch Gregory is possible and 11 June 190955. Krachkovsky resumed his research acceptable in regard to the local conditions and cir- in Beirut that was interrupted “for a short time cumstances”59. because of a trip to Damascus with several Russian Upon their return to St Petersburg, senior cura- participants of the congress”56. This brief remark is tor Pridik presented his report to the director of the Hermitage, Ivan Vsevolozhsky, stating that:

53 Krachkovsky 1953, 33-34. The audience with the Patriarch lasted about three 54 Dolinina 1994, 84. hours, and during it, His Beautitude roughly 55 Sharov 2009, 10. offered the following reasoning of his motion: His 56 Krackovskaya 1954, 114. Beatitude said that he is quite lamentable to see 57 RGIA, fond 472, opis’ 43 (501/2733), delo 140, p. 1. 58 RGIA, fond 472, opis’ 43 (501/2733), delo 140, pp. 1-1 that the monuments of the Orthodox Church, and reverse. ancient objects in his Patriarchy in general, have 59 AGE, fond 1, opis’ V-1909, delo 20, p. 51. been ruined due to the ignorance of the pastors

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 134134 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 themselves and due to the rapacious encroachments I am myself staying almost a month and a half in on them by the Jesuits, American missioners, and the winter residence, in Beirut, but I spent the Western European collectors, not even mentioning summer traveling through northern Lebanon, and the Muslims. For example, a bulk of the Syrian in a fruitless search in the libraries of numerous manuscripts were burned in the Seidnaya Monas- monasteries. I did not see there anything interest- tery out of fear that the Syrians could lodge their ing, except several new works of the well-known rights on the monastery. Furthermore, the minia- deacon Paul of Aleppo, the author of Macarious’ tures from the beautiful manuscript of the 12th journey to Russia. I drew attention of the Patriarch century were cut and kept now in the Jesuit colle- of Damascus that he should bear them in mind gium in Beirut, and the manuscript is in the Patri- while making his donations to Russia. Maybe they archy without miniatures. will get to us62. His Beatitude pointed out that the rights of the Orthodox Church on the ownership of certain In this way, Krachkovsky contributed to the bring- pieces of land in Syria could be proved only if the ing of the manuscripts by Paul of Aleppo to Russia. records made in the books that belonged to the The facts mentioned above, allow us to assume that churches from which there is no trace left after the the unwillingness of Gregory IV to show his library horrible annihilation of the Christians in the 60s to Krachkovsky was mainly dictated by the patri- of the last century in Syria. All these precious docu- arch’s desire to keep his willingness to disclose the ments are in danger of being destroyed, because the ancient manuscripts to Russia a secret from the Christians in Syria, as His Beatitude told us, like Turkish government. sheep are always in danger to be perished from In 1913, after Gregory IV left St Petersburg, the either fire or sword. If His Majesty wishes to come rumors that the patriarch presented to the Russian for help to the Orthodox Church and permits the tsar some old books and manuscripts that went to keeping of the ancient objects of the Patriarchy of the library of the Winter Palace, began to persis- Antioch in one of the Imperial Russian museums, tently circulate. As we know, these rumours hap- the Orthodox Church in Syria will be extremely pened to be true. Krachkovsky wrote: happy with this Tsar’s kindness. […] So far, only several objects have been collected. His Beatitude It was no easy matter for a young Privat-Docent showed us the aforementioned Gospel on parch- like myself to gain admission there [to the library ment, from which the miniatures were cut; also, of the Winter Palace – Yu. P.]; but the support the Arabic Gospel written by Paul, the son of and insistence of the Academy of Sciences helped to Patriarch Joachim, in Kolomna at the time of overcome all the obstacles set up by the Ministry of Aleksei Mikhailovich and bound in Russian cover the Court, the police and the palace guard. I was of that time, with silver setting; also, the Gospel granted permission to present myself at stated hours, from a church that no longer exists, ancient glass, of course only when the royal family was not in and several other objects of antiquity. But His residence. Accompanied by a special guard, I was Beatitude already gave instructions to all centers of conducted by winding subterranean passages to the the Patriarchy to collect all old objects that would library where I was handed over to the supervision be seen, and after receiving the kindness of His of the library staff. The library was under the Majesty consent for holding of the antiquities in direction of a chamberlain [Hofmeister – Yu. P.] Russia, all these things will be sent to Russia, V. Shcheglov, who did not attend every day; his though His Beatitude is hoping to collect them assistant was a colonel [the assistant head was rather in great number 60. L.A. Bogdanovich, and Lieutenant-Colonel I.H. Ostankov was a staff member; Krachkovsky, The patriarch handed to Pridik the personal letter probably, is talking about the latter – Yu. P.]; to Tsar Nicholas II and a box with 58 antiquarian objects (ancient glass and several clay vessels)61. Krachkovsky certainly knew about this project of 60 AGE, fond 1, opis’ V-1909, delo 20, pp. 90-91. Gregory IV and the special mission of Pridik and 61 The objects were passed to the Hermitage. See Pyatnitsky, Farmakovsky. It follows from a remark in his letter forthcoming. to Turaev from 1 November 1909: 62 Sharov 2009, 11.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 135135 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 neither of them had any clear idea of the object of Besides that, according to the existing rule, the my work, which probably explains why a secretary minister of the Imperial Court had to get a special used to seat himself opposite me at the table, armed permission for the description of the manuscripts with a French novel, and watched my movements. by Krachkovsky from Nicholas II, since the manu- The conditions were not favourable for work: the scripts were personal property of the emperor. manuscripts were issued only one at a time and Information about the granted emperor’s permis- those which I had already examined were never sion was sent on 11 February to both the Office of issued a second time. The pages were of course not the Ministry of the Court and the Academy of Sci- numbered, which greatly hampered reference. For ences. In accordance to this, on 13 February, the some reason I was not allowed to measure the man- directive to allow Krachkovsky to study in the uscripts. The library possessed no reference books Library was given to Prince Ivan Ratiev, the chief and I was not allowed to bring anything with me. of police of the Winter Palace. After that, on 4 All the notes which I made were carefully exam- March 1914, the Academy of Sciences issued a cer- ined and sometimes returned only after a delay, in tificate about sending Krachkovsky for work in the order, as I eventually learnt, to give time for an libraries of the Winter Palace. Finally, in the spring expert to make sure that my notes in Arabic did of 1914, Krachkovsky was able to begin studying not contain some secret cipher. But all these restric- the manuscripts brought by Gregory IV. Let us tions were forgotten from the moment when I illustrate these facts with documents from the Her- opened the first manuscript and began to examine mitage archive (see Appendix I). it with feverish haste so as to hurry on to the sur- As a result of Krachkovsky’s studies in the library prises of the next one; […] my work in the Winter of the Winter Palace in the spring of 1914, he com- Palace progressed but slowly: it was often inter- piled a preliminary description of the collection: rupted by the return of the Imperial family or by my not being able to present myself at the appointed The outstanding significance of the collection con- hours which were different every time. Neverthe- vinced me of the worth having to produce a detailed less, […] by the summer of 1914 the preliminary catalogue, with a separate analysis of each manu- list of the palace collection was more or less com- script and with more or less broad excerpts from the pleted. I could not help feeling that the Winter most valuable. Specifically, a number of unknown Palace was a most unsuitable place for it 63. or obscure works by the Patriarch Macarius made me gather information about his other works that The archival documents reveal the real situation there are in Western Europe. Taking advantage of around Krachkovsky trying to obtain permission to the summer business trip of 1914, in June, I exam- work on the manuscripts in the Winter Palace. The ined some individual manuscripts of Macarius pre- documents show that there were no special difficul- served in Leipzig and Halle 64. ties with it; however, the bureaucratic procedure of transferring the documents to various offices took Krachkovsky worked on this catalogue in “the mod- over a month. The first time, the Imperial Academy est quarters of the Deutsche Morgenländische of Sciences applied to the Ministry of the Imperial Gesellschaft in Halle”, where, according to his mem- Court with a request to allow Krachkovsky to make oirs, he “was often the only visitor, and upon leaving the description of the Oriental manuscripts of Greg- had to place a key on the agreed spot, and [worked ory IV on 20 January 1914. In its turn, the Office – Yu. P.] in a comfortable, quite room of the Legati of the Ministry of the Imperial Court sent the Warneriani in Leiden”65. “By mid-July, during my request of the Academy of Sciences to Vladimir stay in Leiden, the catalogue was completely fin- Shcheglov, the head of His Majesty Personal Librar- ished”, recollected Krachkovsky, “but the circum- ies in the Winter Palace on 30 January, and received stances of the war time forced me to leave it, with all an affirmative answer on 1 February. my luggage and my other works, in Holland”66. News of the war reached Krachkovsky and his wife in The Hague. They had to return to Leiden, 63 Krachkovsky 1953, 35-37. quarter in a boarding house, and seek a way to 64 Krackovskij 1960a, 427-428. 65 Krachkovsky 1953, 37. return to Russia. After making the financial arrange- 66 Krackovskij 1960a, 427-428. ments, on 10 August 1914, Krachkovsky left Leiden

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 136136 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 for Stockholm through London, New-Castle, and theological polemical treatises by Ilias Fakhr, a Bergen. They had to leave their books and manu- prominent figure in the Patriarchate of Antioch at scripts in Leiden, with Slavist van Veick67. It is not the time of the Union with Rome. Historical geo- clear, whether Krachkovsky’s manuscripts were ever graphical literature is even more richly represented; sent to Russia. No traces of the catalogue mentioned among it is the description of a travel to Russia of by Krachkovsky were found in his archives68. the Patriarch Macarius, which is the oldest manu- Krachkovsky returned to the question of the sig- script believed to be perished in the 1860 fire in nificance of the collection of the manuscripts of Damascus [but which survived the fire despite Gregory IV and its fate during the revolutionary rumours to the contrary – Yu. P.]. Another man- period of 1917-1918. He composed a special report uscript consisting of historical and geographical to the Academy of Sciences, which, as we remem- works by the same Patriarch Macarius, for several ber, in 1914, petitioned for his access to the study- reasons, could be considered as his autograph. For ing of these manuscripts in the Winter Palace. The the first time, thanks to this collection, come to note said: Russia the old manuscripts of some writings on which the Bishop Porfiry Uspensky used to work: In 1913, Gregory IV, the Patriarch of Antioch, the history of Michael Brek, and others. The hom- who came for the celebration of the dynasty of the iletics are represented by a manuscript of the hom- Romanov anniversary, presented to the Emperor ilies by the Nestorian Patriarch Abu Khalim III; Nicholas II a collection of Arabic manuscripts. religious poetry – by the collection of poems by the This collection was placed in His Majesty’s Per- Metropolitan Suleiman of Gaza, the works of sonal Libraries in the Winter Palace and until which still has not reached Europe. The secular recently was accessible with great difficulty, even literature of the Christians is not forgotten as well: for specialists; moreover, their work there was com- the collection includes several philological writings plicated by the absence of any kind of manuals in by Herman Farkhat, a Maronite metropolitan, the mentioned library. and an extremely important collection of treatises The collection is not large in quantity; it on oculistics compiled by a Christian doctor, and includes only 40 volumes; however, it represents includes several unicums. the only collection of Christian Arabic writings in The outstanding scholarly value of the collection the world. The manuscripts were collected by the insistently requires from Russian science to place it Patriarch throughout his life; he was an expert in in the conditions favourable for its examination by this literature and only by this circumstance can we specialists. The Asiatic Museum of the Academy of explain that the quality of the collection leaves Sciences, the Public Library, and the [Library of behind those of the Berlin, London, and Paris the] University, of course, satisfy most to these con- libraries, and is not even inferior to the unique in ditions 69. their kind collections of the Vatican and Beirut. The manuscripts represent almost all fields of the On 8 March 1917, Nikolay Marr read this note at Christian Arabic writings. the meeting of the Division of History and Philol- In the section of the Holy Writings, a three- ogy of the Academy of Sciences. On the request of volume Bible of the 11th century, the earliest com- Krachkovsky, Marr raised a question of the possi- plete version among those known to specialists, bility to transfer the collection of the Oriental deserved a special mentioning. One manuscript of manuscripts of Gregory IV from the library of the the Gospel is an autograph of Paul of Aleppo, the Winter Palace to the one of the national repository author of the description of the journey of Patriarch of Oriental manuscripts, the Asiatic Museum or the Macarius, who visited Russia at the time of [the Public Library. The Academy of Sciences made a Tsar] Aleksei Mikhailovich. Among the theological writings, a number of works of Abdallah of Anti- och, an author of the 11th century, greatly unknown until now in most cases, are notable. No less impor- 67 Dolinina 1994, 133. tant is a translation of the ‘Taktikon’ by Nikon of 68 Polosin 2009, 74 n. 11. the Black Mount, the manuscript existing only in 69 ARAN, fond 1, opis’ 1a-1917, delo 164, protocol 5 from one copy in the Vatican. Of the later period are the 8 March 1917.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 137137 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 decision to “ask the Provisional Government about curator of the Near Eastern Department. In his transferring the mentioned manuscripts to the Asi- book Among Arabic Manuscripts, he wrote about atic Museum”. The corresponding letter (no. 941) this transfer: was sent on 15 April 1917 by Sergey Oldenburg, the permanent secretary of the Academy of Sciences All the manuscripts [brought by Gregory IV – to the Provisional Government. Yu. P.] literally passed again through my hands. A reply to this letter was read aloud at the meet- I could work on them to my heart’s content in con- ing of the Division of History and Philology on ditions quite different from those in the Winter 19 April 1917: Palace. […] My joy was clouded only by the fact that the original list with all the quotations The Comissar of the Provisional Government in remained in Holland […] and other works pre- charge of the former Ministry [Imperial – Yu. P.] vented me from continuing with the planned cata- Court and Principalities from April 17, no. 0911, logue raisonné, so I published only a brief descrip- informed the Permanent Secretary: […] I consider tion 73. it my duty to inform You that Your request regard- ing the transfer of the Arabic manuscripts from the In the preface to his description, Krachkovsky Libraries of the former Emperor to the Asiatic explained the reasons why he was not able to come Museum of the Academy of Sciences, and about back to his work on a compilation of the detailed making Mr. Sreznevsky, the librarian of the Acad- scholarly catalogue. He wrote that “it was psycho- emy, a member of the Commity for the reviewing logically too difficult to do the same work again, of the Libraries will be taken into account timely, and besides that, despite all my efforts, it would be when the fate of the mentioned Libraries has been incomplete without the materials left in Holland”74. decided 70. However, as the first published information about the rare examples of Christian Arabic literature, However, there were no further real actions taken Krachkovsky’s article had a great scholarly signifi- by the Provisional Government at all. After the cance even in its concise version. Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 (or ‘The October The text of the ‘short list’ was supposed to be Coup’, as the Academy of Sciences called it until published in volume 7 of the Khristiansky Vostok 1924), the Academy of Sciences repeated its (‘The Christian Orient’) in 1924. The pre-publica- request, and it was finally approved in the fall of tion version of the volume was prepared but it was 191871. Through the decision of the library secion not printed. However, Krachkovsky had 95 off- of the Komissariat for Protection of the Art and prints of his article from this unpublished volume. Antiquity Monuments from 8 February 1919, no. Later, in 1927, he submitted this text for volume 2 183/15, the Arabic manuscripts were transferred of the Izvestiia Kavkazskogo istoriko-arkheologich- from the Winter Palace to the Asiatic Museum of eskogo instituta v Tiflise (‘Proceedings of the Cauca- the Academy of Sciences. The transfer was done sus Institute for History and Archaeology in Tiflis’), according to the list made by Krachkovsky, which the journal that absorbed Khristiansky Vostok. The is preserved in the Hermitage archives72. article was included in Krachkovsky’s Selected In the beginning of February 1919, the manu- Writings published in six volumes in 1955-1960 by scripts were taken to the Asiatic Museum by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The text was Krachkovsky, who at that time held the position of revised for the latter publication and enhanced with personal notes of Krachkovsky, which he wrote on the margins of the 1924 offprint that has been pre- served in his personal library75. Since this article was published only in Russian, 70 ARAN, fond 1, opis’ 1a-1917, delo 164, protocol 7 from 19 April 1917. it is worthwhile to provide an overview of the main 71 Krackovskij 1960a, 424. conclusions made by the scholar (see Appendix 2). 72 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1919, delo 1, pp. 1-2 reverse Krachkovsky valued the gift of Gregory IV very (the original copy). highly. He believed that thanks to the patriarch, 73 Krachkovsky 1953, 38. 74 Krackovskij 1960a, 428. St Petersburg received a unique collection of Chris- 75 Krackovskij 1960a, 423-444, 626. tian Arabic manuscripts that in his view equaled

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 138138 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 the collections in Paris and the Vatican. Of particu- 6744/A.D. 1235 at the end of the Genesis (vol- lar interest are the works of Abdallah ibn al-Fadl of ume 1, leaf 35). There are similar inscriptions: at Antioch and the manuscripts related to Macarius, the end of the Book of Leviticus with the date of the Patriarch of Antioch. The collection of Gregory 4 January A.M. 6744/A.D. 1236 (volume 1, leaf IV includes one Greek parchment manuscript of 76); in the Book of Prophets with the date of the Gospel (no. 4; present call number D 227)76, 21 January A.M. 6745/A.D. 1237 (volume 2, leaf probably of the eleventh century; it has a note from 144); in the Book of Iyov from mid-February of A.D. 1344 on its donation to the Church of A.M. 6745/A.D. 1237 (volume 2, leaf 158); and Sergius, Bacchus, and Leontius in Bosra, and a note an inscription from February A.M. 6746/A.D. from A.D. 1418 about the restoration of this man- 1238 at the end of the second book of the Mac- uscript by Patriarch Joachim. cabees (volume 3, leaf 16v). The manuscripts of Christian and Islamic nature The majority of the third volume of the Bible, should be mentioned among the works in the Ara- beginning from the Book of Tobit, and almost the bic part of the collection; it also includes several whole New Testament were copied by a different manuscripts that include both Christian and Islamic scribe, who also called himself ‘a citizen of Damas- writings. In this respect, item no. 42 (present call cus’ in two undated insciptions on the leaves 214 number C 875), which contains treatises on oph- and 258. Besides that, the leaves of this three-vol- thalmology, is especially interesting. A Jerusalem ume handwritten Bible bear several interesting doctor compiled it in A.H. 551/A.D. 1155. The notes of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; Muslim part of the collection is modest and includes they inform the reader that the manuscript was in the commentaries by Radi ad-din of Astrabad to the Tripoli around 1600, in the possession of a local grammatical treatise Al-Kafi by Ibn al-Khadjib ‘magnate’ and afterwards stayed with his descend- (no. 37; present call number C 873) dated to A.H. ants. In addition, there are two inscriptions in vol- 739/A.D. 1338; the description of his journey in ume 1 on leaf 59v (A.M. 7047/A.D. 1539 and Syria, Egypt, and Arabia by Abd al-Ghani al-Nab- A.M.7069/A.D. 1561), one inscription in volume ulusi, a Damascus mystic (no. 34; present call num- 2 on leaf 222 (A.M. 7117/A.D. 1609), and two ber B 1231) dated to A.H. 1204/A.D. 1789; the more in volume 3 on leaf 145v (A.M. 7061/ Synonyms dictionary by Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al- A.D. 1553 and A.M. 7116/A.D. 1608). Adjdabi (no. 36; present call number B 1232) of The inscription in volume 2 informs us that in the nineteenth century; the notes by al-Djurdjani January A.M. 7126/A.D. 1618, the Bible was to the commentaries by al-Isfahani to the Metaphys- donated to the Monastery of Balamand by Suley- ics by al-Baidavi (no. 39; present call number man Djurdji, a secretary to Yusuf Pasha Sif and the B 123) of the nineteenth century. founder of the famous literary dynasty of al-Yaziji. Arguably the most important and valuable part The second volume includes two interesting notes: of the collection are the distinctly Christian manu- a large inscription about the internecine conflicts in scripts. They include manuscripts of the Bible and Damascus in A.M. 7196/A.D. 1688 is placed on works on dogmatics, apologetics, church history leaves 144-145; and 158v has an inscription about and geography, religious poetry, philology, natural events in the Balamand Monastery in A.M. 7198/ history, and medicine. It should be emphasized A.D. 1690. In general, the leaves of the three vol- that the dated manuscripts prevail, and this is umes of the Bible bear numerous notes and autho- extremely important for Arabic Christian paleogra- graphs of historical figures; they are of great interest phy. for the history of this Bible, stretching from the One of the unicums is a three-volume Bible thirteenth to the beginning of the twentieth (nos 1-3; present call number D 226)77 written in century, and for the history of the Patriarchate of A.D. 1235-1238 in Damascus by Savva Lavriot Antioch. In particular, it could be mentioned that (Pimen of Damascus). He copied a more ancient leaf 99 in volume 1 has an A.M. 7180/A.D. 1672 original, the Bible of A.D. 1022, written in Anti- och. Savva Lavriot made several notes that include the dates when he finished his work (the copying 76 The numbers are given according to the list compiled by of the text) on the leaves of the Bible. There is an Krachkovsky. inscription with the date of 17 December A.M. 77 Chalidov 1986, 495, no. 10367.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 139139 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 autograph of Hanania, a grandson of Macarius, the year A.H. 496/A.D. 1102-1103 and was a copy famous Patriarch of Antioch. from the original from A.D. 109282. This copy of Volume 1, which includes the texts from the the Book of Psalms was apparently used during the Genesis to the Book of Psalms (inclusively), has mass, because it was divided into ‘Glories’ (dóza). several miniatures made in a crude manner on Another Book of Psalms, no. 11 (present call num- leaves 77v, 100, 219v, and 236v. Krachkovsky ber B 1215), is written on paper and dates from the wrote a special article about this Bible, which was twelfth century. It was also used during the mass, first published in 1925 and reprinted in 196078. In as it is divided into ‘Kaphismas’ and ‘Glories’. Both this article, the scholar discussed the possibility that books were studied by Nina Pigulevskaya83. Manu- this tree-volume Bible was the source for the Arabic script no. 12 (present call number B 1216) is of Bible written in A.M. 7087/A.D. 1579 in Tripoli great interest. It includes the first part of the Com- by Priest David at the order of Giovanni Battista mentaries by the East Syrian hieromonk Abd-Allah Eliano, a Jesuit sent to Syria. The manuscript of Abu’l-Faraj Ibn al-Tayyib (died in A.D. 1043) to 1579 is kept in the Vatican and in 1671 it served the Book of Psalms. Krachkovsky noted that the as the model for the publishing of the first com- manuscript is undated84. In a recent publication, plete Bible in Arabic79. The discussion raised by Francuzov dated it to the sixteenth century85. Krachkovsky was recently continued by Valentin Several manuscripts are connected to the names Polosin80. It should be noted that in his article, of Macarius, the Patriarch of Antioch, and his son Krachkovsky compiled a summary of the evidence Paul of Aleppo86. In the first place, the Damascus about Savva Lavriot further enriched by Polosin81. manuscript of A.D. 1700 containing ‘The Travel Undoubtedly of great interest is the luxurious of Patriarch Macarius to Russia’, the same copy copy of ‘The Acts and Epistles of the Apostles’ of that was believed to have perished in flames during A.H. 742/A.D. 1341, with headpieces and gold the massacre in Damascus in 1860 (no. 33; present décor, which was probably written for Genoa’s call number B 1230). This also holds true for the Consul Jacoma (no 9; present call number D 228), four Gospels (no. 6; present call number B 1214), and the parchment Book of Psalms with parallel a fine manuscript copied by Paul of Aleppo in Greek and Arabic texts, that probably dates from A.D. 1654 in Kolomna, where he and Patriarch the eleventh or early twelfth century (no. 10; pre- Macarius had to spend several months because of sent call number C 868). According to Sergey an epidemic of the plaque in Moscow. The manu- Frantsuzov, the last manuscript was written in the script’s binding is ornamented with silver décor, a seventeenth-century work of a Russian workshop87. Paul of Aleppo, with his own hand, copied ‘a col- 78 Krackovskij 1925, 84-87; idem 1960b, 472-477, 627. lection of works by Abdallah of Antioch’ (no. 17; 79 Krackovskij 1925, 84; idem 1960b, 472. present call number B 1219) with annotations on 80 Polosin 2009, 71-91. the activities of Patriarch Macarius and on the his- 81 Polosin 2009, 76-78. tory of the Patriarchate of Antioch. 82 Francuzov 2008, 129-154, especially 130-131 and note 13. 83 Pigulevskaya 1954, 77-89. The work of Abdallah of Antioch is also included 84 Krackovskij 1960a, 430-431. in another collection completed and copied by Paul 85 Francuzov 2008, 142-143. of Aleppo (no. 18; present call number B 12120). 86 Paul of Aleppo (ca 1627-late 1660s) was a clergyman, an He also copied a collection by St Nikon (no. 19; archdeacon. He was born in Aleppo (modern Haleb, Syria) to the family of the Patriarch of Antioch, Macarius. In present call number B 1221) and a collection of 1654-1656, Paul of Aleppo accompanied Patriarch Macarius writings of A.M. 7164/A.D. 1656 with the excerpts on his journey to Russia (through Turkey, Bulgaria, and on the history of the patriarchs of Antioch and Walachia) and left extensive notes about it. The greater Alexandria, and The Story of Barlaam and Josaphat part of his writings is devoted to the natural landscape, customs, and rites of peoples, but they also include descrip- (no. 30; present call number B 1228). tions of political events, the monasteries and churches, civil and religious ceremonies, etc. The notes left by Paul of CONCLUSION Aleppo are a valuable source on the history of Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova of the mid-seventeenth century. As a book, they were first published in Russia in 1896, trans- As we have seen, even this brief overview of the lated from Arabic by Prof. Murkos. collection of manuscripts gathered by Gregory IV 87 Morozov 2009, 275-286. shows its significant scholarly value. There are no

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 140140 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 doubts that Krachkovsky, the eminent specialist in For this reason, each gift to the Russian tsar was, in Middle Eastern Studies, should be credited for the fact, paid off by the tsar. discovery of the collection. Krachkovsky not only Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch was not an made the first, though brief, scholarly description exception to this rule. The archival documents of the manuscripts, but thanks to his efforts, the mention compensations provided to the people renowned Russian academic tradition in Middle who accompanied the patriarch, as well as to the Eastern Studies was preserved during the post-Rev- priests and monastic superiors who sent the gift to olutionary and Soviet periods. Owing to this, the Russian tsar with Patriarch Gregory. Unfortu- Russian scholars were able to continue the research nately, I have not found a similar document regard- started by Krachkovsky, including the study of the ing the compensation for the collection of old Christian Arabic manuscripts brought to Russia by manuscripts presented by the patriarch. Neverthe- the Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch88. Meanwhile, less, such compensation was given to the patriarch. the scholarly potential of this collection has not A famous Russian scholar, philologist-Orientalist been exhausted, and many interesting discoveries Agafangel Krimskij (1871-1942) mentioned this are awaiting their future researchers. fact in his book The History of New Arabic Litera- ture: Nineteenth-Beginning of the Twentieth Cen- INSTEAD OF AN EPILOGUE tury. Krimskij extensively traveled through the Orient, and met with Patriarch Gregory IV numer- When this article was already finished, I came ous times. When in his book Krimskij wrote about across an interesting remark about the manuscripts ‘The Gift’ (Al-Haddiyah), the journal established by of Patriarch Gregory IV, which uncovers another the patriarch, he made a note that in 1913, the side in the history of the patriarch’s gift. According patriarch presented to the Russian tsar the best part to the tradition of the Russian Imperial Court, a of his library, and that, according to Krachkovsky, tsar could not possibly accept any gifts. The proce- these 42 important manuscripts put St Petersburg dure went as follows: when a person desired to pre- on the same level as Paris and the Vatican. After sent a private gift to a tsar, he should send a written that Krimskij added: “surprisingly, the Minister of request to the Ministry of the Imperial Court. The the [Imperial] Court compensated this gift nig- minister reported it to the tsar in person, and the gardly, at least, the Patriarch confidentially told me tsar gave either his approval or rejection. However, so”89. Though we do not know the exact amount before sending the report, the ministry usually col- received by the patriarch for his gift, taking into lected information about both the person present- account the enormous scholarly significance of the ing the gift, and the value of the gift in question. manuscripts, I believe that in that case he was Competent experts established not only the signifi- undeniably right. Thanks to the gift of Gregory IV, cance of a certain gift but also estimated its com- Russia got enriched with treasures to which the mercial value. If the tsar agreed to accept a gift, monetary equivalent is impossible to estimate. simultaneously, according to the report of the Ministry of the Imperial Court, a value of the ‘tsar’s BIBLIOGRAPHY charity’ – a symbolic financial equivalent of the accepted gift – was determined. Rings with dia- AGE Archiv Gosudarstvennogo Ermitaza. monds and other precious stones, snuff boxes and ARAN Archiv Rossiiskoj Academii nauk v Sankt-Peterburg. watches decorated with gems, the tsar’s portraits set Bank, A.V. 1969, ‘Vizantijskii skladen’ s peregorodcatimi emalyami iz Saidanaiskogo monastirya’, Palestinskij Sbornik in gold and silver frames richly embellished with 19(82), 177-182. diamonds, or other valuable ‘trinkets’ were usually Chalidov, A.B. (ed.) 1986, Arabskie rukopisi Instituta vostoko- given as such ‘charity.’ All this jewelry was bought vedeniya Akademii nauk SSSR. Kratkij catalog, T. 1, yearly by the Ministry of the Imperial Court spe- Moscow. cifically for this purpose, and was kept in the treas- Cvetaeva, M. 1979, Stichotvoreniya i poemi, Leningrad. ury of the ministry. If a donor wished, he, instead Dolinina, A.A. 1994, Nevolnik dolga, St Petersburg. of a precious article, could receive a monetary equivalent, in accordance with an estimate made by the experts. The ministry strictly controlled the 88 Polosin et al., forthcoming. described procedure, not allowing any breach in it. 89 Krimskij 1974, 619 n. 38.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 141141 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 Francuzov, S.A. 2008, ‘Arabskie psaltiri v Peterburge’, in: mitage Readings in Memory of V. Levinson-Lessing (1893- Vostocnie rukopisi. Materiali Mezdunapodnoj naucnoj kon- 1972). Summarized Reports, St Petersburg, 51-54. ferencii (Saint-Petersburg, 14-16 iyunya 2005 goda), Pyatnitsky, Yu. 2008, ‘The Byzantine enamel triptych from the St Petersburg, 129-154. Saidnaya convent in the Hermitage collection: The prov- Gavriil Konstantinovich, Grand Duke 2001, V Mramornom enance and history of research’, in: Byzantium within the dvortce, Moscow. Context of World Culture: Dedicated to the 100th Anniver- Kozlov, V.P. (ed.) 1991, Dnevniki Imperatora Nikolaya II, sary of Alisa Vladimirovna Bank’s Birth: 1906-1984. Mate- Moscow. rials of the Conference, St Petersburg, 182-203. Krackovskaya, V.A. 1954, ‘Krackovskij na Livane i v Palestine’, Pyatnitsky Yu. 2010, ‘A Byzantine Cloisonné Triptych in Palestinskij sbornik 1(63), 106-124. the State Hermitage Museum: From the Monastery of Krackovskij, I.Yu. 1925, ‘Original Vatikanskoj rukopisi arab- Saydnaya to St Petersburg’, ECA 6, 87-118. skogo perevoda Biblii’, in: Dokladi Akademii nauk SSSR, Pyatnitsky, Yu., ‘Proekt museya drevnostej Antiochijskogo Seriya V, 84-87. patriarchata v Rossii’, in: Christianskij Vostok, St Peters- Krackovskij, I.Yu. 1960a, ‘Arabskie rukopisi iz sobraniya burg, forthcoming. Grigorijya IV, patriarcha antiochijskogo (kratkaya opis’)’, Pyatnitsky, Yu., O. Baddeley, E. Brunner, M. Mundell Mango in: I.Yu Krackovskij (ed.), Izbrannie socineniya, T. 6, (eds) 2000, Sinai, Byzantium, Russia. Orthodox Art from the Moscow/Leningrad, 423-444. Sixth to the Twentieth Century, London. Krackovskij, I.Yu. 1960b, ‘Original Vatikanskoj rukopisi arab- RGIA, Rossijskij Gosudarstvennij Istoriceskij Archiv, St Peters- skogo perevoda Biblii’, in: I.Yu Krackovskij (ed.), Izbrannie burg. socineniya, T. 6, Moscow/Leningrad, 472-477, 627. Romanovskie 1913, ‘Romanovskie yubilejnie dni (chronika Krachkovsky, I.Yu. (trans. T. Minorsky) 1953, Among Arabic prazdnestv 21-23 fevralya 1913 goda)’, Istoriceskij Vestnik, Manuscripts. Memories of Libraries and Men, Leiden. Mart 1913, 9-46. Krimskij, A.E. 1974, Istoriya novoj arabskoj literature, Moscow. Saverkina, I.I. 1965, ‘Portretnaya skulptura Palmiri (II-IIIvv.)’, Kunina, N. 1997, Anticnoe steklo v sobranii Ermitaza, St Peters- Sovetskaya archeologiya 1, 168-179. burg. Sokolov, I.I. 1913, ‘Antiochiiskaya cerkov. Ocerk sovremen- Morozov, D.A. 2009, ‘Arabskie istocniki XVII v. iz Kolomni’ nogo ee sostoyaniya’, Soobscheniya Imperatorskogo Pravo- in: A.G. Melnik, S.V. Sazonov (eds), Kolomna i kolomens- slavnogo Palestinskogo Obschestva 24(2), 145-148. kaya zemlya. Istoriya i kul’tura. Sbornik statei, Kolomna, Scheglov, V.V. 1917, Sobstvennie Ego Imperatorskogo Velicestva 275-286. Biblioteki i Arsenali. Kratkij istoriceskij ocerk: 1715-1915, Pancenko, K.A., A.V. Sarab’ev 2006, ‘Grigorij IV (Chaddad)’, Petrograd. Pravoslavnaya Enciklopediya 12, Moscow, 607-609. Sharov, A.V. 2009, ‘Iz perepiski I.Yu. Krackovskogo s B.A. Pigulevskaya, N.V. 1954, ‘Greko-siro-arabskaya rykopis’ IX Turaevim’, Christianskij Vostok Novaya seriya 5(11), 3-20. veka’, Palestinskij sbornik 1(163), Moscow/Leningrad, Svetovostokov, I. 1908, ‘Vesti s Pravoslavnogo Vostoka’, Soo- 77-89. bscheniya Imperatorskogo Pravoslavnogo Palestinskogo Polosin, Val. 2009, ‘Starejschaya rukopis’ polnoj Biblii na Obschestva 19(1), 142-181. arabskom yazike (vozvracshenie k davnischei diskussii)’, Svetovostokov, I. 1909a, ‘Vesti s Pravoslavnogo Vostoka’, Christianskij Vostok Novaya seriya 5(11), 71-91. Soobscheniya Imperatorskogo Pravoslavnogo Palestinskogo Polosin, Val., Vl. Polosin, S. Frantsouzoff, N. Serikoff, Obschestva 20(1), 101-153. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Christian Arabic Manuscripts Svetovostokov I. 1909b, ‘Vesti s Pravoslavnogo Vostoka’, Preserved in the St. Petersburg Branch of the Institute of Soobscheniya Imperatorskogo Pravoslavnogo Palestinskogo Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leuven, Obschestva 20(4), 633-639. forthcoming (Corpus of Illuminated Manuscripts 13). de Tarrazi, P. 1997, ‘Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch’, The Pomerantcev, I. 1906, ‘Blazenneischij Meletij, patriarch Anti- Word Magazine, December 1997, 15-23. ochiiskij. Nekrolog’, Soobscheniya Imperatorskogo Pravo- Vasilii, S. 1954, ‘Antiochijskij patriarchat i ego vzaimoot- slavnogo Palestinskogo Obschestva 17(2), 246-288. noscheniya s Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkov’yu’, Zurnal Pomerantcev, I. 1907, ‘Blazenneischij Grigorij IV, novij patri- Moskovskoi Patriarchii 5, 54-69. arch Antiochiiskij’, Soobscheniya Imperatorskogo Pravo- Vesti 1908, ‘Vesti s Pravoslavnogo Vostoka’, Soobscheniya slavnogo Palestinskogo Obschestva 18(1), 115-159. Imperatorskogo Pravoslavnogo Palestinskogo Obschestva Pomerantcev, I. 1909, ‘Primirenie vostocnich patriarchov’, 19(2), 313-342. Soobscheniya Imperatorskogo Pravoslavnogo Palestinskogo Vesti 1913, ‘Vesti s Pravoslavnogo Vostoka’, Soobscheniya Obschestva 20(4), 568-599. Imperatorskogo Pravoslavnogo Palestinskogo Obschestva Pyatnitsky, Yu. 1998, ‘Zivopis’ Siro-Palestinskogo regiona’, in: 24(1), 102-128. Christians in the Holy Land: The Art of the Melchites and Vesti 1914, ‘Vesti s Pravoslavnogo Vostoka’, Soobscheniya other Denominations of the Orthodox Church, St Petersburg, Imperatorskogo Pravoslavnogo Palestinskogo Obschestva 108-117. 25(1), 126-141. Pyatnitsky, Yu. 1999, ‘K istorii postupleniya v Ermitag vizan- Zizina, N.K., E.N. Khodza 2010, Steklyannaya feeriya. Antich- tijskogo tripticha iz monastirya Saidanaiya’, in: The Her- noe steklo v Ermitage, St Petersburg.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 142142 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 APPENDIX 1 Correct with original: as the Office Secretary of the Office of the Ministry of the Imperial Court Letter of the Office of the Ministry of the Fedenko91. Imperial Court, 30 January 1914 The Ministry of the Imperial Court The letter of the Head of His Majesty’s Personal Office Libraries Vladimir Shcheglov, 1 February 1914 30 January 1914 No. 35 No. 1359 1 February 1914 With enclosure City of S[aint] P[etersburg] To the Head of His Majesty’s Personal Libraries To the Office of the Ministry of the Imperial Court The Office, by the order of the Ministry of the Impe- On the account of the Office of the Ministry of the rial Court, has the honour to ask you not to dismiss Imperial Court from 30 January 1914, no. 1359, I the informing on the response to the request described have the honour to inform you that Privat-Docent of in the enclosed copy of a letter from the Imperial the Imperial Saint Petersburg University, Ignaty Academy of Sciences, 20 January of this year, no. 352. Iulianovich Krachkovsky, is granted access to His Maj- As for Head of Office, the deputy-head of Office esty’s Personal Libraries* for the description of the Hofmeister P[rince] S[ergey] Gagarin. Arabic manuscripts presented to His Majesty Emperor As the Office Secretary Fedenko90. by the Antioch Patriarch Gregory, there are no objec- tions from me. The Head of His Majesty’s Personal Libraries The signed copy of the letter of the Imperial Hofmeister [V.V. Shcheglov – Yu. P.]92. Academy of Sciences, 20 January 1914

The Imperial Academy of Sciences in St Petersburg * crossed out ‘in the Winter Palace’. From the Permanent Secretary 20 January 1914 No. 352 The letter of the Head of the Office of the Ministry of the Imperial Court A. Mosolov, To the Minister of the Imperial Court 11 february 1914 Upon the instruction of the Conference of the Imperial The Ministry of the Imperial Court Academy of Sciences, I have the honour to appear to The Office Your Excellency, with a humble request from the 11 February 1914 Academy, do not refuse to ask His Majesty Emperor No. 1892 for his permission to make the description by the Sec- retary of the Oriental Department of the Imperial To the Head of His Majesty’s Personal Libraries Russian Archaeological Society, the Privat-Docent of His Majesty the Emperor, according to the ever-faith- the Imperial S[aint] Petersburg University, Ignaty ful report of the Minister of the Imperial Court, Iulianovich Krachkovsky of the Arabic manuscripts approved the access of the Secretary of the Oriental presented to His Imperial Majesty by the Antioch Patriarch Gregory which are kept in His Majesty’s Personal Libraries. These manuscripts are of a signifi- cant scholarly interest, and it would be extremely 90 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1914, delo 11, page 5; the desirable to include their desciption in the Imperial original is written on the paper with letterhead of the Academy of Sciences publication Khristiansky Vostok Office of the Ministry of the Imperial Court. Notes: no. st [‘The Christian Orient’ – Yu. P.]. 33: ‘1 of February, 1914’, ‘Inform the Office that there is no opposition on my side’ (the last note is an autograph of Signed: the Permanent Secretary, Ordinary Academi- V.V. Shcheglov). 91 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1914, delo 11, page 6 – the cian Sergey Oldenburg. signed copy. Ratified: the Head of the Conference Office A. Rud- 92 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1914, delo 11, page 4 – the nev. duplicate copy.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 143143 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 Department of the Russian Imperial Archaeological The letter of the Policemeister of the Winter Society, Privat-Docent of the Imperial Saint Peters- Palace, Prince Ivan Ratiev, 14 February 1914 burg University, Krachkovsky, to His Majesty’s Pri- The Ministry of the Imperial Court vate Libraries, in order to examine the Arabic manu- Policemeister of the Imperial Winter Palace scripts presented to His Imperial Majesty by the 14 February 1914 Patriarch of Antioch Gregory. No. 236 Reporting the aforementioned for the appropriate Sankt Petersburg instructions, the Office, by the order of the Minister of the Imperial Court, has the honour to add that the To His Excellency V.V. Shcheglov Imperial Academy of Sciences has been informed on the matter. Your Excellency Gracious Sir Vasily Vasilievich, To your letter from 13 February of this year, no. 54, I Head of the Office General-Leitenant [A.A.] Mosolov have the honour to inform You that I issued the order As the Office Secretary Fedenko93. on the access into the Winter Palace, in His Majesty’s Private Libraries, the Secretary of the Oriental Depart- ment of the Imperial Archaeological Society, Privat- The letter of the Head of His Majesty’s Personal Docent of Sankt Petersburg University, Krachkovsky. Libraries Vladimir Shcheglov, 13 February 1914 Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my No. 54 full respect and devotion, I am honoured to be at your 13 February 1914 service, C[ity] S[ankt] P[etersburg] Prince Ivan Ratiev95. To His Excellency Prince I.D. Ratiev The certificate issued by the Imperial Academy Your Gracious Sir, Prince Ivan Dmitrievich, of Sciences to Ignaty Krachkovsky on The letter of the Office of the Ministry of the Imperial 4 March 1914 Court from 11 February of this year, informed us on the permission issued by His Majesty the Emperor for Imperial Academy of Sciences the access of the Secretary of the Oriental Department Permanent Secretary of the Imperial Russian Archaeological Society, Privat- 4 March 1914 Docent of Saint Petersburg University Krachkovsky to No. 1134 His Majesty’s Private Libraries, in order to examine Saint Petersburg the Arabic manuscripts. Certificate Informing You on the aforementioned for the required directions from You, I am humbly asking to The presenter of this, the Secretary of the Oriental allow access for Mister Krachkovsky without delay, to Department of the Imperial Russian Archaeological His Majesty’s Private Libraries in the Winter Palace, Society, Privat-Docent of the Imperial Saint Peters- if it is so possible. burg University Ignaty Iulianovich Krachkovsky has Accept G[racious] S[ir] assurance in my full respect been sent by the Imperial Academy of Sciences to study and devotion in His Majesty’s Private Libraries with the goal of [V.V. Shcheglov]94. describing the Arabic manuscripts presented to His Imperial Majesty by the Patriarch of Antioch Gregory. The Imperial Academy of Sciences, according to the letter of the Head of the Office of the Ministry of the Imperial Court from 11 February th[is] y[ear], no. 1891, presented the Department of His Majesty’s Pri- vate Libraries with the humble request to not refuse 93 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1914, delo 11, page 9 – the in the enlightened help to the Privat-Docent Krachko- original copy, inscriptions: ‘no. 46’, ‘February 13, 1914’. vsky during the fulfillment of the scholarly mission 94 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1914, delo 11, page 8 – the duplicate copy assigned to him by the Academy. 95 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1914, delo 11, page 10 – the Permanent Secretary, Ordinary Academician Sergey original copy; inscriptions: ‘February 17, 1914’, ‘File no. 12. 1914’. Oldenburg 96 AGE, fond 2, opis’ XIV-A, 1914, delo 11, page 11 – the Head of the Conference Office Andrey Rudnev original copy; inscriptions: ‘March 10, 1914’, ‘115’. As the Office Secretary Ivan [an illegible signature]96.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 144144 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 APPENDIX 2

List of the manuscripts from the collection of Patriarch Gregory IV of Antioch, according to the article by Ignaty Krachkovsky

No. Current Author and title Date Page Number of Size of ms. with and P/P no. no. lines on without margins page 1 D 226 Bible. Volume 1: Old Testament (Genesis to Book A.D. 1236. Notes by Savva of 257 26, 23 31 ≈ 24 (27 ≈ 18) of Psalms) with miniatures on pages 77v, 100, Lavriot on pp. 35 (17 Decem- 219v, 236v. Copied by Savva of Lavriot (Pimen of ber A.D. 1235/A.M. 6744), 76 Damascus) in Damascus after the Antioch model of (4 January A.D. 1236/A.M. A.D. 1022. 6744). 2 D 226 Bible. Volume 2: Old Testament (Proverbs to Book A.D. 1236. Notes by Savva of 234 26, 23 31 ≈ 24 of Nehemiah). Copied by Savva of Lavriot in Lavriot on pp. 144b-145a (27 ≈ 18) Damascus after the Antioch model of A.D. 1022. (21 January A.D. 1237/A.M. Inscription of January A.D. 1618/A.M. 7126 men- 6745), p. 158 (mid of February tions that it was donated to the Monastery of Bala- A.D. 1237/A.M. 6745). mand by Suleyman Djurdji, a secretary to Yusuf Pasha Sif. A large inscription about the internecine conflicts in Damascus in A.D. 1688/A.M. 7196 (pp. 144-145) and inscription about events in the Balamand Monastery in A.D. 1690/A.M. 7198 (p. 158). 3 D 226 Bible. Volume 3: Old and New Testament (Book A.D. 1238. Note by Savva of 274 26, 23 31 ≈ 24 of Maccabees to Book of Tobit) and New Testa- Lavriot on p. 16v (February (27 ≈ 18) ment (The Gospel according to St Matthew to Rev- A.D. 1238/A.M. 6746). Part of elation). Copied by Savva of Lavriot (Pimen of the manuscript is written by Damascus) in Damascus after the Antioch model of another hand. A.D. 1022. 4 D 227 Four Gospels in Greek on parchment. It has a note 11th century (G.F. Cereteli) 318 from A.D. 1344 on its donation to the Church of Sts Sergius, Bacchus, and Leontius in Bosra. In A.D. 1418/A.M. 6926 it was restored by Patriarch Joachim. 5 C 866 Four Gospels 11-12th century (?) 208 18 24 ≈ 17 (19 ≈ 11)

6 B 1214 Four Gospels, a fine manuscript copied by Paul of A.D. 1654/A.M. 7163 (note on 151 17 18,5 ≈ 12,5 (14 ≈ 8) Aleppo in Kolomna, near Moscow. p. 70); on p. 5 there is an inscription with date A.D. 1662. 7 A 506 Gospel with commentary in the first part. Pages Probably A.D.1436/A/M. 6944 343 14 18 ≈ 13 (13,5 ≈ 9) with the collection of poems by Al-Mutanabbi were used for the binding. 8 C 867 Acts and Epistles of the Apostles with Syriac inscrip- Undated 155 26 ≈ 18 (21 ≈ 12) tions on the margins of the pages. There is a label with a Russian inscription: ‘This book is donated in 837 Anno Domini to the church of Sts Sergios and Bacchus in Sadade’. According to Krachkovsky, this date is problematic because the ms. seems of a later date. 9 D 228 Acts and Epistles of the Apostles. Luxury copy with A.H. 742/A.D. 1341 237 13 28,5 ≈ 20,5 (22,5 ≈ 14) headpieces and gold décor. Written for Jacomo, the European Consul in Damascus. 10 C 868 Book of Psalms with parallel Greek and Arabic 11th century (?) 170 16, 17 22 ≈ 16 (16 ≈ 13) texts, on parchment and paper. Two columns 11 B 1215 Book of Psalms with parallel Greek and Arabic texts 12th century (?) 308 20 19,5 ≈ 14,5 (14 ≈ 11) on paper. Ms. is destroyed at the beginning and the end of the codex.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 145145 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 No. Current Author and title Date Page Number of Size of ms. with and P/P no. no. lines on without margins page 12 B 1216 Commentary on The Book of Psalms by Abd-Allah Undated 287 15 21 ≈ 15,5 (16 ≈ 10) Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-Tayyib. 13 C 869 Commentary on the Book of Genesis, titled by the A.D. 1579/A.M. 7087 138 27 28 ≈ 18,5 (21 ≈ 12,5) first words ‘Hexameron’ by St John Chrysostom. Inscription on p. 135 mentions that ms. was written by Dorotheus, Metropolitan of Tripoli, in the St Michel Monastery in Jerusalem. 14 B 1217 Ladder of the Virtue, a work by St John Climacus Ladder: A.D. 1178/A.H. 574 340 15, 17 21 ≈ 15 (17 ≈ 11) (pp. 1-222) and a treatise by St Varsonofi on after the model of A.D. 931/ monasticism (pp. 223-349). A.H. 319. 15 C 870 Collection of apologetic treatises: 1) Epistles of A.D. 1833-1834 204 21 25 ≈ 17 (20 ≈ 12,5) St Sophronius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, on Chris- tian faith (pp. 1-108); 2) Epistles of St Cyril of Alexandria (pp. 119-155); 3) Dispute between St Masimus and Pirrus (pp. 159-198). Written by Sarruf. 16 B 1218 Collection of dogmatic articles: 1) Epistles by 19th century 133 19 20 ≈ 16 (17 ≈ 10) Bishop Paul of Sidon (pp. 1-52); 2) Epistles by Athitha ibn Al-Makina on Christians (pp. 52-63); 3) fragments of dogmatic article by Abbot Gerasi- mus of the St Simeon Monastery (pp. 64-68); 4) collection of the sibyl’s cites by Germanus Farchat (pp. 68-69); 5) and 6) Treaties by Abd Allah, son of al-Fadl about Christian fait (pp. 75-114, 114- 124); 7) Epistle of Gennadius Scholarius to Mehmed II, on Christian faith (pp. 125-129); 8) Akathistos of the Virgin (pp. 129-130). 17 B 1219 Dogmatic treatise by Abd Allah son of al-Fadl. 17th century 208 15 21 ≈ 16 (15 ≈ 8) Copied by Archdeacon Paul of Aleppo. Ms. con- tains several notes by Paul about Patriarch Macarius before his trip to Russia in A.D. 1652/A.H. 1062. 18 B 1220 Dogmatic treatise. Copied by Archdeacon Paul of A.D. 1642/A.H. 1052. With 135 13, 15 20 ≈ 14,5 (16 ≈ 8) Aleppo. The end of the ms. contains the story about inscription of A.D. 1645-1646/ a fire in the Church of the Blessed Virgin in A.H. 1055. Damascus. 19 B 1221 A small collection by Abbot Nikon of the St Simeon 17th century 122 17 22 ≈ 15,5 (15 ≈ 8,5) Monastery near Antioch. Copied by Archdeacon Paul of Aleppo. 20 B 1222 Collection of treatises against the Catholics. Auto- A.D. 1744 209 19 21 ≈ 16,5 (15,5 ≈ 9,5) graph of Ilia Fakhr, the Logophet. 21 B 1223 Treatise on the Holy Spirit (against a Catholic study A.D. 1731 423 21 22 ≈ 16 (16 ≈ 10) on Filioque). Autograph of Ilia Fakhr, the Logo- peth. 22 B 1224 Two treatises on the Holy Spirit (against a Catholic A.D. 1760 96 19 20 ≈ 15,5 (14,5 ≈ 8,5) study on the Filioque). Autograph of Ilia Fakhr, the Logophet. 23 C 871 Two treatises on the holy Mysteries. Autograph of A.D. 1743 58 17, 19 22,5 ≈ 16,5 (16 ≈ 10) Ilia Fakhr, the Logophet. 24 A 507 Anti-Catholic treatises of the beginning of 18th cen- A.D. 1702 and A.D. 1714 105 17 15,5 ≈ 10,5 (11 ≈ 6) tury, including the Epistles by Gerasimus, the Patri- arch of Alexandria, to the citizens of Tripoli and Aleppo; the Epistle of nuncio from Jerusalem to Cyril, the Patriarch of Antioch; the description of Rome made from different sources by Macarius, the Patriarch of Antioch.

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995300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd5300_ECA8(2011)_08.indd 146146 227/02/137/02/13 15:2615:26 No. Current Author and title Date Page Number of Size of ms. with and P/P no. no. lines on without margins page 25 A 508 Polemic correspondence of the Metropolitan Cyril A.D. 1846-1847 174 17 18 ≈ 13 (14 ≈ 10) of Aleppo with Paul, a Catholic monk from the Order of St Lazar, a nuncio in Aleppo. 26 B 1225 ‘The Garden of Faith’ by Abd Allah son of al-Fadl. Undated 101 15 21 ≈ 15 (17 ≈ 10)

27 A 509 Collection of different works, including the Tacti- Undated 242 11, 14 17,5 ≈ 13 (14 ≈ 9) con of Constantinople, Jerusalem and Antioch, various homilies and panegyrics. 28 B 1226 ‘The Joy of a Believer’ by Abd Allah son of al-Fadl. 1851 334 19 21 ≈ 15 (16 ≈ 10) Copied by Sarruf. 29 B 1227 Collection of ca 50 articles, including the Historical 17th and 18th century 150 22, 24 21,5 ≈ 15 (15 ≈ 9,5) evidence on the Antioch Patriarchate, the list of Antioch Patriarchs, the description of Georgia. Written by the Patriarch Macarius and his grandson the Patriarch Cyril. 30 B 1228 Collection of historical articles, including the Chro- A.D. 1656/A.M. 7164 153 25 21,5 ≈ 15 (18 ≈ 11) nology of the Patriarchs and Metropolitans of Anti- och from St Peter to the Patriarch Macarius; frag- ment of the history of the Patriarchs of Alexandria; the story of St John Damascene about Barlaam and Josaphat. Copied by Archdeacon Paul of Aleppo. 31 B 1229 Collection of articles on theology, philology, phi- 19th century 245 17 22 ≈ 15,5 (16,5 ≈ 10,5) losophy, and history, including a list of the patri- archs of Antioch. 32 B 108 Travel of Patriarch Macarius of Antioch to Russia 19th century (?) 105 + in two volumes. The phonotype of ms. B.L. Add. 82, 18427-18430 of A.D. 1765. 88 + 104 33 B 1230 The Travel of Patriarch Macarius of Antioch to A.D. 1700 366 20,5 ≈ 15 (15,5 ≈ 9,5) Russia, written in Damascus in A.D. 1700. 34 B 1231 Description of his journey in Syria, Egypt and A.D. 1789/A.H. 1204 480 23 21,5 ≈ 15,5 Arabia by Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi, a Damascus (frame 17,5 ≈ 10) mystic. 35 C 872 Arabic Explanatory Dictionary by Herman Farkhat. A.D. 1773/A.M. 7281 292 23 22 ≈ 16 (17 ≈ 11,5) 36 B 1232 Synonyms Dictionary by Abu Ishaq Ibrahim 19th century 37 17 21 ≈ 15,5 (15,5 ≈ 10) al-Adjdabi. 37 C 873 Commentaries by Radi ad-din of Astrabad to the A.D. 1338/A.H. 739 304 31 23,5 ≈ 15,5 grammatical treatise ‘Al-Kafi’ by Ibn al-Khadjib. (27,5 ≈ 11,5) 38 C 874 Collection of poems by Suleiman son of Hassan A.D. 1557/A.M. 7065 106 13 22 ≈ 16 (15,5 ≈ 10) from Gaza and by Metropolitan Ilii of Nisibii. 39 B 123 Notes by al-Djurdjani to the Commentaries by al- 19th century 21 21 21,5 ≈ 16 (16 ≈ 10) Isfahani to the Metaphysics by al-Baidavi. 40 B 1234 ‘Atmospheric Influences’ by Abdallah Antaki. A.D. 1648/A.M. 7156 83 17 21 ≈ 15 (16 ≈ 10) 41 B 1235 Medical treatise by Archdeacon Said son of Abdul- 19th century 74 15 21 ≈ 13 (15 ≈ 7) Khair. 42 C 875 Treatises on ophthalmology compiled by a Jerusa- A.D. 1155/A.H. 551 248 23 25 ≈ 15 (20,5 ≈ 12,5) lem doctor. Unicum.

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