BOOKS

REVIEWS

Peresopnytsce Yevangelie Church Slavonic language. Translators also (1556-1561) - the cradles and used original Greek texts of the Scriptures and the present tense. - Kyiev : West Slavonic, very similar, Polish version. To- ADEF-Ukraine, 2011. - 1723 p. - (The day this book is a Ukrainian political symbol - National heritage of presidents of the Ukraine take the oath of Ukraine). - Text: Facsimile office on the Peresopnytsia . The ma- image of the text of Gospel, nuscript is preserved in the unique collection the parallel presentation in the modern of old manuscripts and printed books in the and the transcription. - For Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine. the 450-th Anniversary of Both the national and worldwide cultural value Peresopnytsce Yevangelie. of the Peresopnytsia Gospel and the research interest it has generated have given rise to The first issue was published in 2001, and a need for its reproduction, both for its pre- contains the results of scientific research and servation and for the expansion of access to its the transliterated text of the Peresopnytsia content. It also provides an opportunity for Gospel 1556-1561 manuscript. The last edi- the investigation of ancient book technique, tion was printed in 2011 and dedicated to the rare text forms, and decorative design. That is 450th anniversary of the establishment of the why a number of projects were initiated in the manuscript, which was commemorated that Ukraine and three versions of the rarity's year in the Ukraine. reproduction were made: transliterated text, facsimile edition, and translation. The Peresopnytsia Gospel (Peresopnitske Yevanhelije) is a prominent hand-written mo- The aim of the publishing project Peresopny- nument of the Old Ukrainian literary language tsia Gospel in 2001 was a multifaceted scien- and book craft of the 16th century; it is the first tific research into the Peresopnytsia Gospel known vernacular Old Ukrainian translation text and its digital reconstruction. The project of the Gospel. The Peresopnytsia Gospel was was carried out by the Vernadsky National translated from the Bulgarian version of the Library of Ukraine (VNLU), Institute of translation Ukrainian 191 Uncommon Culture BOOKS

REVIEWS Ukrainian Language National Academy of The presented book is a result of the afore- Sciences of Ukraine, and Ukrainian Lingua- mentioned publishing project. It contains sub- Information Fund of NAS of Ukraine. In or- stantial scientific research of the masterpiece, der to create a transliterated text of the manu- transliterated text, a complete word index, and script, special print was prepared. Its sign sys- a bibliography. Comprehensive grammatical tem corresponds to the drawing style of Old characteristic of each word-part and its locali- Church Slavonic letters. The computer type- zation in the text is enclosed. Graphic-ortho- setting of transliterated text of the manuscript graphic special features are elucidated. Ar- was carried out by specialists who investigate cheographic and codicological descriptions of Old Slavonic texts. The first print run of 500 the Peresopnytsia Gospel are provided. The copies of the book was published in 2001 at book is decorated with illustrations that recre- the VNLU printing house. ate pages of the manuscript. The whole volu- me is more than 1800 pages, and the edition The second facsimile issue of the Peresopny- comprised 200 copies. tsia Gospel of 1000 copies was made by “ADEF-Ukraine” publishing house in 2008. It In the national competition “Best Book of the was a realization of a project of facsimile re- Year,” the book was pronounced the best book production and restoration of the original of 2011. Peresopnytsia Gospel by the Ukrainian Or- thodox Church. A translation project of the Olga Barkova, Specialized Center BALI, Peresopnytsia Gospel into Russian, Byelorus- , Ukraine sian, Bulgarian, and Serbian was announced by “ADEF-Ukraine” in 2011.

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