Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage

Volume 29 June 2011

The Ohio State THE HILANDAR RESEARCH LIBRARY Columbus University THE RESOURCE CENTER FOR MEDIEVAL SLAVIC STUDIES Ohio Historic Visit of Archimandrite Metodije – Father Abbot of Hilandar Monastery On 27 December 2010, Archimandrite manuscripts, and through this work, the Metodije, Father Abbot of Hilandar Mon- potential for preservation and the creation astery on the Holy Mount, Greece, made of wider access to their cultural heritage. a visit to the Hilandar Research Library, Ultimately, the elders’ letter and invitation that “idea and seed” fostered by the mon- led to the establishment of both the Hilan- astery that, in truth, found fruitful soil here dar Research Library and the Resource at The Ohio State University. Remarkably, Center for Medieval Slavic Studies at OSU. the Abbot’s visit came almost forty-one This could not have been accomplished Photo by Helene Senecal years to the day that my father, the V. Rev. without my father’s efforts, as well as the Dr. Mateja Matejic, first set out for Mount vision and support of Leon I. Twarog and Athos and Hilandar Monastery. William J. Studer, among others at Ohio State. It also needed the commitment of Distinguished guests Father Abbot, many Serbian-American and other donors, Fr. Loncˇar and Mr. Randji‹ view as well as the continuing support of the HRL materials University. Abbot Metodije was accompanied by Heirodeacon Arsenije, also of Hilandar INSIDE FEATURES Monastery and Mr. Milivoj Randji‹, CEO

Photo by Helene Senecal of the “Foundation of The Holy Monas- tery Hilandar” in Belgrade, Serbia. They Director’s Desk – Page 2 were driven to Columbus through the kind- ness of V. Rev. Milorad Loncarˇ , the Dioc- New Associate Director – Page 3 esan Secretary of the “Serbian Orthodox Diocese of New Gracanicaˇ and Midwest- HRL & RCMSS News Notes – ern America.” Pages 4 and 5 Abbot Metodije, Father Matejic and This was the first trip to the United Predrag Matejic view HRL exhibit States by an Abbot of Hilandar Monas- Expanding Cultural Ties – Page 6 My father began his journey to the tery. Of necessity, the trip was brief, and Holy Mount at the end of 1969. This came the itinerary was limited. We were, thus, A Pilgrim’s Tale: Part II – by in response to a letter and invitation from especially honored that he wished to visit Daria Safronova – Pages 8 and 9 the administrators/elders (epítropes) of us. the monastery and its pro-abbot, Fr. Nika- Among the Abbot’s other purposes Michael W. Curran Collection nor. Now, decades later, he was welcom- while in America was, first of all, bringing Donated to HRL – Page 7 ing the Abbot to Ohio State. It is at our from the Holy Mount a commissioned new Recent Acquisitions – Page 10 University that the hopes of the monas- original icon, a copy of Hilandar Monas- tery elders expressed in their letter were tery’s most famous icon – the Tricherousa Gifts in Kind, Donors – Page 11 realized: microfilming of Hilandar Slavic Continued on page 3 2 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage June 2011

Director’s Desk Dr. Predrag Matejic

The phone call from my father in late This was not what they had expected Several readers complimented the “Ivan December and the news he related came to see. The isolated, self-contained, cozy the Terrible” article in our last issue. I should as a shock. Metodije, Abbot of Hilandar but crowded and tucked-away-in-a-corner note that the dates for the St. Lazar fresco Monastery was Hilandar Research Library that previous re- in the Archangel Cathedral are corrected visiting this coun- searchers and visitors to the HRL may to 1564/1565 in the online version. Also, try and wished to have described to them was not there to for more on Anastasia’s embroidered cur- see the “Hilandar be seen. tain, Isolde Thyret (Kent State University) Room” in Colum- But, they came to understand that the has published a recent study of the Hilan- bus. My father had obvious presence of this Hilandar Research dar katapetasma with her analysis of its just been called by Library was enhanced and improved. This role in Russian-Serbian relations under the V. Rev. Milorad HRL and the culture and scholarship it pre- Ivan: “The Katapetasma of 1555 and the Lonˇcar, who was serves and makes accessible was more visi- Image of the Orthodox Ruler in the Early to drive them here. ble, more secure. Now, in the renovated Reign of Ivan IV,” in The New Muscovite As wonderful Thompson Library, this “Hilandar Room” Cultural History. A Collection in Honor as this news was, was better positioned within the OSU Libra- of Daniel B. Rowland, ed. Valerie Kivel- this meant that the ries and the University, better prepared to son, (Bloomington, IN: Slavica, 2009), 43- visit would come at a time when there were continue and promote its mission and ad- 62. so very few people on campus. And, al- dress the scholarly needs of the future. In conclusion, we had cause to once though we did not yet know this, it would We spent several hours with our visi- more remember the foresight of the elders be on the day that a malfunctioning camera tors, showing them more of Thompson of Hilandar Monastery: the fire this year sensor would make the recording of this Library and answering their various ques- on April5/6 at St. Panteliemon Monastery historic event challenging. tions. Their visit of only a few hours con- on Mount Athos was, fortunately, relatively Our guests arrived from Cleveland, cluded with a brief visit to St. Stevan of small. Throughout history, all the mona- where they had been present and partici- Deˇcani Serbian Orthodox Church in steries on the Holy Mount have suffered pated in the Sunday liturgy at the Serbian Columbus, where a lenten luncheon was fires, often devastating in scope. In the past, Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sava, the parish organized by its priest, Fr. Isak Kisin. little could be done. Now, thankfully, better of Fr. qivojin Jakovljevi‹ (who, coinci- communication, equipment, and planning dentally, had just recently defended his provide the possibility to greatly reduce dissertation on Hilandar Slavic manuscript The HRL often benefits from donations potential destruction and damage. 280 at OSU). From there, they would visit of books and even partial libraries by scho- us before again turning west. lars, collectors, and supporters. In this This visit would be an undreamt of issue, we acknowledge the generous dona- CYRILLIC MANUSCRIPT opportunity to show the Abbot and other tion of Ann Salimbene from the library of HERITAGE guests how we at Ohio State preserve and her late husband, Michael W. Curran, for- make accessible to students and scholars mer Professor of History and Dean at OSU. Director: PREDRAG MATEJIC the monastery’s 800-year-old manuscript The list of gift-in-kind donors in this Assistant Curator: LYUBOMIRA and related cultural heritage. We could newsletter includes several scholars who PARPULOVA GRIBBLE show and explain how this heritage is an used our resources in their research and Managing Editor: HELENE SENECAL integral part, the origin and “heart” of what who, in turn, donated the publications re- Media Consultant: LORRAINE NETRETI‹ has become our collection of thousands sulting from this research. It is uplifting to Contributing Editor: DARIA SAFRONOVA of Slavic Cyrillic (and other) manuscripts see that the “seed” that led to the HRL on microform. continues to flourish and the many ways Hilandar Research Library We were able to show them how the in which these materials contribute to scho- Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies microfilms are now kept in “cold storage,” larship. During this visit, we showed The Ohio State University as well as the highly secure stacks, where Abbot Metodije and Hierodeacon 119 Thompson Library our 10,000 reference volumes are located. Arsenije many offprints of articles we had Columbus, Ohio 43210-1286 They saw our offices, and the wonderful, received from scholars who utilized spacious Reading Room with its “Hilan- Hilandar manuscripts on microfilm in their Telephone: 614-292-0634 dar” corner of ready-reference materials. research. We were preparing to send these Fax: 614-688-8417 They also saw the special rooms for offprints to Hilandar Monastery, in E-mail: [email protected] microforms, other audio-visual materials, accordance with the original agreements Website: seminars and teaching, all of which were and understandings between Hilandar www.cmrs.osu.edu/rcmss/ located within that secure Reading Room. Monastery and The Ohio State University. June 2011 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage 3

New Associate Director for Special Collections

Lisa R. Carter has been appointed as the new Associate Director for Special Collections and Area Studies. She began her duties on 1 April 2011, coming to Ohio State from the North Carolina State University Libraries, where she was Head of the Special Collections Research Center. In that capacity, Lisa provided leadership, administration and strategic direction for their Libraries’ special collections program, including university archives, manuscripts, rare books, digital programs and research services. Recently, the OSU Libraries had an opportunity to restructure their organization. As the new Associate Director for both the ten special collections and area studies, Lisa will manage the special collections and area studies operations, services and resources of the Libraries, and enhance and promote the unique research opportunities that these collections offer to OSU faculty, students and staff, as well as to scholars and other researchers around

the globe. Photo courtesy of Univrsity Libraries In addition to the Hilandar Research Library, the ten current Special Collections consist of the Byrd Polar Archives, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, William Charvat Collection of American Fiction, Historic Costume and Textiles Collection, Medical Heritage Center, Ohio Congressional Archives, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, and University Archives. Lisa’s division will also include the distinctive international area studies collections for Chinese and Korean, East European and Slavic, Japanese, Jewish, Latin American, and Middle Eastern studies. Here only a few weeks, Lisa continues to show the same enthusiasm and drive with Lisa Carter, Associate Director for Special Collections and which she arrived. We welcome her, and we look forward to a shared future of continued Area Studies success.

“Historic Visit,” continued from page 1 serve the microfilms of the manuscripts of held in honor of the 800th anniversary of Hilandar Monastery, our vast reference the founding of Hilandar Monastery in collection, and to discuss the preserva- 1198. The events then also marked the 20th tion, academic promotion and support of anniversary of the Hilandar Research Li- the culture related to the Hilandar Monas- brary and acknowledged its founders. tery and Mount Athos, and the Byzantino- Slavic culture of which Hilandar and its Editor’s Note: Archimandrite Metodije Photo by Helene Senecal manuscripts are such an integral part. (Markovi‹) was elected as Abbot of Hilan- While this was the first visit of an ab- dar Monastery on April 18, 2010, upon the bot of Hilandar Monastery to the United passing at age 87 of Abbot Mojsije (qar- States, it was the third visit by Hilandar kovi‹), on March 21 of that year. Prior to monks to OSU and “Hilandar in America,” this, Fr. Metodije had been appointed to as our special collection is often character- lead efforts for the renovation of Hilandar HRL Assistant Curator Lyubomira Gribble Monastery following the devastating fire points to images of Hilandar Monastery ized. Father Mitrofan, Elder of the monas- tery, made two prior visits (1978 and 1998). there in March of 2004. (Trojeruˇcica = “Three-Handed”) Mother For the first, he was present at the dedi- of God – to New Graˇcanica, as well as visits cation of the “Hilandar Room”on Decem- to Serbian Orthodox churches in Scherer- ber 2. At that time, he presented an icon ville, Indiana, Cleveland, Ohio, and else- of St. Sava commissioned by the Monas- where. tery as their gift to the “Hilandar Room.” He had also expressed a desire to Fr. It is this icon that has now become a sym- Lonˇcar to visit what, in his own words, bol of the Hilandar Research Library: visi- the monks still call the “Hilandar Room” tors to the renovated Thompson Library Photo by Helene Senecal (the name by which the HRL was officially see a large copy of this icon as part of the known from December 1978 to 1984). We description of the HRL and RCMSS. were greatly honored to be able to spend Twenty years later, in August, Father Fr. Loncˇar, Heirodeacon Arsenije, Father some time with him and delighted to be Mitrofan again traveled here to attend the Abbot and Mr. Randji‹ view able to show all the guests how we pre- Third International Hilandar Conference, recent acquisitions 4 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage June 2011

RCMSS & HRL News Notes:

of the Alexander Romance in Slavic within Former MSSI the framework of the project La création Margarita Mazo Student Appointed d’un mythe d’Alexandre le Grand dans Recently Honored les littératures européennes (XIe siècle - to Faculty Position début XVIe siècle). The project is directed Recently, the School of Music of The by Catherine Gaullier-Bougassas and will Ohio State University, together with Ohio Susana Torres Prieto, a participant appear shortly in the series Alexander redi- State’s Center for Slavic and East Euro- of the 2008 MSSI, has been recently ap- vivus (Brepols) together with a new edi- pean Studies and the Department of Slavic pointed as Associate Professor in Old tion of the Slavic text. and East European Languages and Litera- Church Slavonic and Greek at the Facul- tures, hosted a special event, “Crossing tad de Literatura Cristiana y Clásica ‘San Boundaries: A Symposium and Concert Justino’ (Madrid). Apart from teaching in Honor of Margarita Mazo,” celebrating these languages in the department, Susana one of the United States’ foremost experts has now become a member of two interna- “Physiologus” on both the art and folk music of her na- tional research projects. Within the frame- Website Mounted tive Russia and the founder of the Univer- work of AELAC (Association pour l’étude sity’s program in ethnomusicology. de la littérature apocryphe chrétienne), she Dr. Ana Stoykova of the Institute of is preparing the bilingual edition of the Literature of the Bulgarian Academy of Slavic Acta Pilati. This will be the first of sciences has mounted a new high-speed a series in a new collection, Apocrypha website, “The Slavic Physiologus of the Slavica (ApSlav), that, under her direc- Byzantine Recension: Electronic Text tion, will aim at bringing new and updated Edition and Comparative Study.” The bilingual editions of the most relevant apo- Physiologus was a very popular medieval cryphal texts for Slavic and non-Slavic theological work. Its oldest redaction ap- scholars. peared in Greek, probably in the 2nd cen- tury. It represented 50 chapters that de- Margarita Mazo’s books and photographs Photo courtesy of School Music scribed beasts, plants and stones, often displayed in the Music/Dance Library mythological in origin. Due to its fantas- tic images of animals, both real and mytho- The symposium, held at the Blackwell logical, this type of manuscript is often Hotel and Conference Center, was orga- referred to as a “beastiary.” nized into three sessions: Russian Opera, Dr. Stoykova’s site contains a useful Music, Mind and Body, and Russian Art introduction about the origin and history Music in the Twentieth and Twenty-First of the Physiologus and its Slavic trans- Centuries. A Saturday afternoon concert lations, a short description of manuscripts featured works by composers Sophia Gu-

Photo courtesy of S. Torres Prieto of S. Torres Photo courtesy containing texts of the Physiologus, and baidulina, Alfred Schnittke, Dmitri Shos- a detailed survey of all copies dating from takovich and cellist Mstislav Rostropo- After publishing a number of chapters the second half of the 14th to the early vich performed by OSU students and fac- on Slavic heroic poetry – “Arthurian Lit- 19th century. All copies and chapters about ulty, with guest artist Alexander Ivashkin. erature in the Slavic Realm,” The Arthur of the beasts and birds are given as original The concert ended with a performance the North: The Arthurian Legend in the medieval South Slavic texts, as well as in by Rusalka, the Russian chorus at Ohio Norse and Rus’ Realms, M. Kalinke (ed.), English and Modern Bulgarian translation. State, and then a reception and banquet. University of Wales Press, 2011; “Slavic The selection of 50 illuminations from Among her achievements, Margarita Epic: Past Tales and Present Myths,” in Latin manuscripts in the website section Mazo is the founder of OSU’s unique pro- Epic and History, K. Raaflaub and D. Kon- Gallery illustrates the properties of the gram in cognitive ethno-musicology. She stan (eds), Blackwell, Malden (Mass.) and beasts and birds. These images are quite has also created a new interdisciplinary Oxford, 2009; and “Found in Translation? colorful and often delightful to view. Study Abroad program on Russian Opera Heroic Imported Models in Slavonic,” in Dr. Stoykova’s website is of potential and Identity Today. Medieval Slavic Studies: New Perspec- interest to a wide range of students and Margarita Mazo has been an active tives for Research, J. A. Álvarez-Pedrosa, scholars of the Middle Ages as well as to member of the OSU Advisory Board to and S. Torres Prieto, (eds.), Institut d’ individuals who enjoy learning more about the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic études slaves, 2009 – Susana is prepar- medieval culture in general. The website Studies for several years. We congratu- ing a series of articles on various aspects is at http://physiologus.proab.info/. late her and wish her “Many Years”! June 2011 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage 5

“News Notes,” continued from page 4 Cologne, Germany and other academic in- stitutions, and publication related to this Graduate Associate discovery are forthcoming. Among these, Teaching Awards the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Modern Technology Studies has provided a partial subvention Announced Reveals Dramatic to the publisher, Dr. Rudolf Habelt Verlag GmbH, Bonn, Germany, to facilitate the pub- Spencer Robinson, graduate student in Discovery lication of this discovery, research, and Slavic languages and a participant in the related images as a monograph in color. 2008 MSSI, re- A visiting researcher in the Department The book will be available prior to the 22nd ceived the Gra- of Greek and Latin, Dr. Stefan Alexandru International World Congress of Byzan- duate Associate (University of Heidelberg, Germany), has tine Studies, which is, remarkably and Teaching Award made a dramatic discovery using different coincidentally, to be held in Sofia, Bul- (GATA), the microfilms, including one of ours. A hith- garia, this August 22-27. highest recogni- erto undeciphered palimpsest with Byzan- For the past two years, Dr. Alexandru tion at Ohio State tine texts, some of which relate to the circa has frequently used the resources of the of exceptional Photo by Helene Senecal 342 Church Council in Serdica (present- OSU Libraries, especially those of the HRL teaching pro- day Sofia, Bulgaria) was revealed. Among and of Rare Books & Manuscripts. He will vided by gradu- the resources he used was a 1975 micro- soon leave Ohio State to accept an invita- ate students. From the approximately 3,000 film of a manuscript in Zograf Monas- tion from Harvard. We wish him continued graduate teaching associates who teach tery on Mount Athos, Greece. The few scholarly success. classes at Ohio State each year, 10 are hon- Zograf manuscripts on microfilm available ored as GATA winners by the Graduate in the HRL were filmed by the V. Rev. Dr. School. Each winner receives a $1,500 Mateja Matejic. MSSI Update award. Congratulations to Spencer on this distinguished honor! We have been planning and preparing for this summer’s MSSI, to be held from June 27-July 22. Of the several inquiries and applications, ultimately, ten highly Request from qualified candidates will attend. Five participants are from Ohio State, with the Russian Urals others from the University of Michigan, Heiromonk Iov is a Russian monk pur- Brown University, University of Arizona suing a doctorate degree. He has requested and the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. and received copies of certain texts found We are again fortunate that Jenn Spock in Hilandar Slavic manuscripts that relate (Eastern Kentucky University) and David to his dissertation topic: the disciples of Birnbaum (University of Pittsburgh) have St. Paisii Velichkovskii. Father Iov is also a agreed to deliver guest lectures for the monk in St. Kosma Blazhenny Verkhotur- MSSI. Their respective lectures, on prac- skii Monastery, located almost 200 miles tical cursive paleography and several new, north of Ekaterinburg in what is traditional- groundbreaking applications of “computer- ly an especially significant spiritual center Book cover printed with assisted analysis” of medieval Slavic texts, of the Urals. This monastery, established permission of the publisher are popular among participants. Planning in the early 18th century, follows the The palimpsest, in what is now a Zograf for additional guest lectures and special stricter tradition associated with Mount Slavic manuscript, was known to exist, but events is still in progress. Athos and is closed to women. the actual texts had not been deciphered Remarkably, he heard of the Hilandar and made accessible to scholars. The Research Library and its resources when Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foun- Raška Conference sharing a mini-bus with Stella Rock (MSSI dation very generously supported the so- 1999), who was herself on her way to a six- phisticated technology and related de- Update week stay at the convent of Novo-Tikhvin velopment that made it possible to reveal M. A. (“Pasha”) Johnson has gra- (Ekaterinburg), where she has been con- much of the underlying textual layer of the ciously agreed to complete the editing of ducting her continuing research on con- manuscript, even when using microfilms. Volume II of the Raška Proceedings... of temporary pilgrimage. For more informa- Otherwise, the underlying text was essen- the 5th International Hilandar Conference. tion on her research, see her brief article tially not visible to the naked eye, even We expect the volume to be prepared for on Novo-Tikhvin, its historic role in Russia, with study of the original manuscript. publication by the end of this year and we its re-opening in 1994 with 25 nuns, and The discovery by Dr. Stefan Alexandru look forward to announcing additional subsequent remarkable re-building and has been presented at the University of details in our next newsletter. growth in History Today 59/2 (2009): 4-5. 6 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage June 2011 Expanding Cultural Ties Photo courtesy of Patricia González Almarcha

Participants of the First Transcaucasian Spanish as Concorde Language Colloquium include Ángel Conde Muñoz, first row far left, and Patricia González Almarcha, first row far right

Patricia González Almarcha, a 2006 guages at Azerbaijan University, she has geography, politics, and medieval litera- MSSI participant, recently defended her recently helped organize the First Trans- ture. For example, Georgia has long been dissertation “Reception of Proverbs At- caucasian Spanish as Concorde Lan- a bridge among neighboring cultures, dis- tributed to Menander in the Slavic Medi- guage Colloquium, which was held 18 – ciplines, and religions: between Christian eval Cultural Milieu” (University Complu- 20 March 2011 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Col- and Hellenistic Byzantium, Orthodoxy tense in Madrid). She is now expanding loquium was initiated, organized and pro- and Western Christianity, between Euro- her earlier research to work on and better moted by Spanish AECID lecturers at pean humanisms. In addition to preserved understand the Azerbaijani and Georgian Azerbaijan University of Languages in old Slavic copies, the Georgian National cultures, while she continues to apply her Baku and at Ilia Chavchavadze Univer- Manuscripts Institute has many Georgian academic and practical knowledge of Slavic sity in Tbilisi. translations from original works which languages and cultures. Together with Georgian and Azerbaijani students were otherwise would have been lost (mainly Ángel Conde Muñoz, professor of Lan- given the task of presenting topics on their from Greek). respective cultures in Spanish to Cauca- Editor’s note: We were delighted to learn sian and Hispanic-speaking audiences. of Patricia’s desire to expand and comple- The conference was also an opportu- ment the experience and academic train- nity to allow students to share their inter- ing in part facilitated by her earlier expe- est in studying the Spanish language and rience of the 2006 MSSI, conferences of to elaborate on the fact that their cultures the Association for the Study of Eastern have existed in proximity and often under Christian History and Culture held at Ohio the influence of some Slavic language. State, and her experience at Ohio State in There were fifty-seven papers pre- general. We look forward to learning more sented at the conference. Among the vari- about this. This experience may provide ous topics, there were papers on the Geor- her with a different perspective and greater gian and Azeri languages, Tbilisi or Baku opportunities for involvement, under- histories, dances, contemporary cinema, standing, and appreciation of the diverse Photo courtesy of Patricia González Almarcha Attendees listen to a paper on music, painting, history of education in history and culture of Eastern Christian- Georgian folk dancing presented Georgia or Azerbaijan, the arts, as well as ity, integrally associated with the Caucuses by Tamar Tsintsadze the Orthodox religion and sacred places, and their cultures. June 2011 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage 7

Michael W. Curran Collection Donated to HRL

Recently, the last of the materials from many of these volumes, was its head, the private library of former OSU Professor Morag E. Boyd. of History and Dean, Michael W. Curran, WorldCat® is now the world’s largest were reviewed and accepted by the Hilan- online catalog, with the holdings of 72,000 dar Research Library. The gift, consisting libraries in the US and elsewhere. More of almost 500 volumes from this collection, than a billion records are presently found was donated by his widow, Ann M. Salim- there. Therefore, when we hold an item that bene, Assistant Dean of the Graduate is unique, that is, not found in WorldCat®, Photo by Helene Senecal School at Ohio State. The patient process it is quite remarkable. A number of the items of several months to search lists kindly pro- in the Michael W. Curran collection, inclu- vided by her for items needed by the Hilan- ding several volumes that will be added to dar Research Library and other collections the Hilandar Research Library, were quite of the OSU Libraries concluded on May 12 rare. Others were unique. with a special event, organized by director Among the unique items was the 1881 of Library Development, Gay Jackson, and St. Petersburg Russian edition of the Ser- hosted by the OSU Friends of the Libraries vice and Akathist for St. Alexander Nevsky, and Library Development. which will be added to the HRL collection. Carol Diedrichs, Ann Salimbene, We were also surprised by Predrag Matejic and Slavic and East European Studies graduate the Russian 1779 [third student Christopher Fort edition] of the Decrees of Empress Catherine II from June 28, 1862, through loging Department, it would be the first 1763. Her son, Emperor copy in the billion records of WorldCat®. Paul I, finding one of these In addition to the Hilandar Research Library, other volumes from this collection

Photo by Helene Senecal decrees (“Obstoiatel’noi Manifest”) objectionable, will be cataloged for Rare Books, Fine Arts, ordered that all copies of Music, Slavic and East European, and this edition have removed even the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and pages 13-20. As a result, Museum. These books, which represent this particular edition is only a portion of the rich personal library listed as quite rare in Rus- Michael Curran collected over 40 years, Ann Salimbene discusses the joys and challenges of will be a permanent, living contribution to reviewing the collection of books for donation sian publications of cata- logs of rare books. When the libraries and university he supported Guests in attendance included rela- our OSU record was created by Nataliya for decades. Arriving in 1964, the first tives, former colleagues, and other faculty Chrisman of the Special Collections Cata- Professor of Russian History at OSU, he members from the departments of History, was a pioneer in developing several aca- Philosophy, and Slavic and East European demic and administrative units at Ohio State. Languages and Literatures, the Slavic Cen- He was integral to the success and growth ter, as well as Sebastian D. G. Knowles, now enjoyed not only by the “Slavic” Associate Dean, Colleges of the Arts and collection of the OSU Libraries, but by all Sciences Development and Associate the Slavic and East European programs at Dean, Humanities Administration. From our University. the OSU Libraries, several colleagues were

able to honor and celebrate this gift. Among Photo by Helene Senecal them were Carol P. Diedrichs, Director of Libraries, Lisa R. Carter, Associate Editor’s Note: Michael W. Curran was a Director for Special Collection and Area graduate student of Dr. Michael Boro Studies, and Karla L. Streib, Associate Petrovich of the University of Wisconsin Director for Collections, Technical Ser- (Department of History). In 1965, when he vices & Scholarly Communication. Repre- defended his dissertation, it was only one Seated in the foreground: Dr. James senting the Special Collection Cataloging Scanlon and wife Marilyn, and of 40 “Slavic” dissertations defended that Department, which has already cataloged Dr. Carole Rogel year in the US. 8 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage June 2011 Russian Pilgrim in Alaska: Part II In Search of America’s Holy Land By Daria Safronova The first part of my adventure (see CMH 28) ended with the arrival of this Russian pilgrim on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Father John Dunlop, Dean of St. Herman Orthodox Seminary (Alaskan Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America), kindly agreed to give me shelter in a seminary dorm until weather permitted travel to nearby Spruce Island (part of the Kodiak Archipelago) to venerate the original site of St. Herman’s humble abode. For three days it stormed and no boat could dare cross the channel. I began to fear for my soul, for, as local legend had it, only the pure of heart could visit St. Herman. Perplexed, I took long walks along the shore and marina, picked up delicious salmon berries growing along Kodiak’s few roads, and visited the island’s four (!) museums. Evenings, I trans- lated the 1827 journal of the Russian priest, Ivan Veniaminov, View of Kodiak, first capital of Alaska, canonized in 1977 as St. Innocent, Equal to the Apostles and from the Fred Zharoff Bridge Enlightener of North America. This remarkable man established schools for both Russian and native Alas- kan children, translated parts of the Bible into several local languages, made scientific observations, and built churches. The more I worked at the seminary’s library, the more I was drawn to the history here. But, Father John and Daria wasn’t my dissertation on Scythianism, a Russian literary movement? Wasn’t I just a literature person? How can one change one’s life so profoundly? I needed a sign! And so I again prayed to St. Herman.

Monk’s Lagoon (Spruce Island)

The very next day the wind calmed enough to get to the Monk’s Lagoon. After rocking heavily all the way to the lagoon, the boat finally reached the black volcanic sand. Icons on the trunks of the majestic Sitka spruces marked the path to St. Herman and Sergius (of Valaam) Chapel, erected in 1977

Photos by Daria Safronova over what once was the barabara (earthen dugout) where the saint lived. Thick, emerald moss dulled the singing of birds and the sound of waves. The legacy of the simple-hearted monk who came to Alaska from Valaam in 1794 as part of the Russian Orthodox Mission to the North American continent, was felt everywhere – the spring with healing water, the Meeting of the Lord Chapel that marks the original site of the orphanage for the native children, the Kaluga Chapel built by Abba Gerasim – a Russian monk who continued St. Herman’s feats in the frozen desert in the twentieth century – and the unfinished monastery began by the St. Herman of the Alaskan brotherhood. This was the most beautiful place I Icon of St. Herman on had ever found – everything breathed of God’s beauty, peace, and solitude. a spruce tree St. Nilus Skete (Nelson Island)

I was then taken to St. Nilus Skete (Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church), a community of nuns located on Nelson Island, just off Spruce Island. It is run by four nuns – Mothers Nina, Neila, Seraphima, and Sister Julia, who live the simple life of early Christians. Their days are filled with labor and ceaseless prayer. The lack of electricity and running water helps them concentrate on their inner lives. The nuns retreat to their cells after vespers and gather for matins at 4 a.m. Their church cycle continues uninterrupted, no matter the weather. And, every day, the angelic voices of the nuns fill St. Nilus Chapel. The guest house at St. Nilus Skete St. Archangel Michael’s Skete (Spruce Island) The nuns’ brother community, St. Archangel Michael’s Skete, is located across the strait on Spruce Island. Sometimes, Father Andrew collects the nuns in the skete’s skiff to participate in the Divine Liturgy together. The three red-headed monks (Fathers Andrew, Adrian, and Martirius) inspire awe as they navigate the stormy passage with their beards flowing in the wind. The Brothers are famous for their carpentry, wood- carving, and dome-building. Mostly, they provide their own food by salmon fishing (for the nuns’ skete, as well), growing vegetables and picking mushrooms and berries. Simplicity and Christian love for one’s neigh- bor are the major governing principles of this community. Father Andrew, Daria Continued on page 9 and Mother Nina June 2011 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage 9

Pilgrimage, continued from page 8 St. Innocent’s Academy (Kodiak Island)

My pilgrimage took a different turn when I was called to teach Russian literature and language to another Christian community on the Island – St. Innocent Acad- emy for Troubled Youth (Bulgarian Ortho- dox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Aus- tralia). Under the spiritual guidance of Fa- ther Paisius (strict but loving!) and motherly care of Matushka Mary (the gentlest spirit and best cook in the world!) and the organi- zational supervision of Anna Ivanovna (the Academy’s secretary, who kindly gives shel- ter in her wonderful house to all lost pilgrims) the souls of these, often troubled, boys and girls, seem to undergo miraculous transforma- Father Paisius introduces St. Vespers at Fort Abercrombie during the visit of tion – they soon transform into teams of dedi- Innocent’s folklore band to Metropolitan Joseph (Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese guests from a cruise ship in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand) cated do-gooders that serve the whole com- munity of Kodiak, especially the elderly and the disabled. Their presence on the island is marked by, literally, a hand-made monument – a Christian Tea-House “Monk’s Rock” that the boys and girls run themselves. These young people also turned out to be exceptional, “dream” students. Never before have I encountered such interest to anything Russian. And never before have I felt as good to be a teacher. Their dedication called for three-fold dedication in return, their curiosity demanded deep knowledge of the subject, and their sincere faith humbled my spirit. Photos by Daria Safronova Kodiak College (Kodiak Island)

I had not planned my pilgrimage – I simply arrived on Kodiak Island and entrusted myself to St. Herman. For the next three weeks, I wore bor- rowed clothes, while eating and sleeping through the charity of others. Yet, throughout this time, I felt that I fit into this reality better than I had fit into any reality before – my soul felt complete in the company of these kind and spiritual people who cared more for others than for themselves. My spirit embraced the simplicity of their lives; my intellect thrived at the opportunity to do what I could do best – teach. I knew where I wanted to be for the next chapter of my life – Kodiak. How many more signs did I need? Students from St. Innocent Academy with I was already blessed with more than enough. Henk de Velde on board the world- Two months later my fate was sealed – my OSU traveling Dutch trimaran Juniper advisers allowed me to change my dissertation topic St. Herman Orthodox Seminary to “The Revival of Eastern Orthodox Christianity on Kodiak Island, Alaska.” I wrote to the Director of Kodiak College and asked whether I could teach there and learned they needed an instructor of Russian! I asked Father John whether I could teach at the seminary and organize its archive – and he was happy to welcome me! Father Paisius put it simply: “Daria, Alaska needs you and we need you, too!” The ultimate truth dawned on me – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find.” And so here I am – a happy pilgrim ready to embark on a new journey this September thanks, in part, to a one-way airline ticket provided by the Slavic Department. Some do not believe in miracles or they think that “providence” is just a word. What can I say? – I just smile because I know otherwise. Photo from the official webpage of Kodiak College 10 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage June 2011 Recent Acquisitions to the HRL Collections Recently, the Hilandar Research Library purchased a set of seven illuminated Slavic manuscript leaves, four of which are shown below. They will be researched, dated, and described, possibly as soon as our upcoming Medieval Slavic Summer Institute.

The Moneychangers in the Temple The Last Supper

The Crucifixtion Harrowing of Hell June 2011 Cyrillic Manuscript Heritage 11

Michael Malyak Archimandrite Metodije Contributions West Seneca, New York “In memory of ‘my dear wife and best friend’ HOLY MOUNT A THOS, GREECE Barbara Blackmon Malyak March 4, 1937 - To The September 26, 2010” Jerzy Ostapczuk V. Rev. Dr. Mateja Matejic and Hilandar POLAND Lyubica Matejic Endowment Fund Columbus, Ohio “In Memory of Bill Topolski, Elisa Gordienko a friend of many years” With sincerest appreciation the HRL Konstantin Novikov and RCMSS acknowledge the following RUSSIA individuals for their generous support: Predrag Matejic Dublin, Ohio Lorraine Netreti‹ Abraham Matica Srpska Milivoj Randji‹ Abingdon, Virginia Kosta and Sofia Papich Serbian Academy of Sciences & Arts Akron, Ohio Sally Malobabic Arsenovich Svetlana Tomin Buchanan, Michigan Milenko and Mitzy Radojevich SERBIA Woodhaven, Michigan John Barns Camp Hill, Pennsylvania Ann M. Salimbene Lora Taseva Columbus, Ohio Vida Matejic Bowen and SWITZERLAND Thomas Keith Bowen Jennifer Spock Reynoldsburg, Ohio Richmond, Kentucky J. Eugene Clay V. Rev. Milorad Loncˇ ar Dr. Milosh Bozanich Emilia Guergova V. Rev. Dr. Mateja Matejic St. Cloud, Minnesota William Veder Metod M. Milac Deerfield, Illinois Ljubomir Penezi‹ Timothy Pogacar Milica Matejic Brust Mirjana Vujnovich Columbus, Ohio Orinda, California Sabrina T. Ramet Carole Rogel Daniel Enright Collins Mitchell and Violet Zunich Ann M. Salimbene Columbus, Ohio Avon, Ohio William Veder UNITED STATES Bora and Draga Dragasevich Toronto, Ontario “In Honor of the 60th anniversary of the V. Rev. Mateja Matejic’s ordination into the priesthood” Recently we were saddenned to Gifts learn of the passing of two life-long William Timothy Elgin friends. Both were also supporters Columbus, Ohio In Kind of the Hilandar Research Library and the Resource Center for Medi- eval Slavic Studies, whether through Lyubomira Parpulova Gribble their gifts-in-kind, or monetary do- Powell, Ohio nations, or both. Vera Ilich May their memories be eternal! Eagle Rock, California Margaret Dmitrova “In Memory of Miloje Ilic” Shumen University † Borivoje (Bora) M. Dr. Janice Zunich Katic BULGARIA Schererville, Indiana Karapandzhich † Bill Topolski Adelina Angusheva David Kos Pickerington, Ohio GREAT BRITAIN Hilandar Research Library Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies The Ohio State University 119 Thompson Library 1858 Neil Avenue Mall Columbus, OH 43210-1286