The Three Divine Liturgies, in Greek, decorated manuscript on vellum [eastern Mediterranean (perhaps Constantinople), late fifteenth or early sixteenth century]

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

44 leaves, 170mm. by 115mm., nine quires, but side-stitching making collation impracticable, wanting a few leaves from beginning and end and single leaves after fols.2, 3, 10 and 17, else apparently complete, single column, 16 lines in dark brown ink in the scrolling bookhand of Loukas Kouvouklares (who names himself in the colophon on fol.11v), rubrics and small initials in red, seventeen elaborate coloured initials in red or blue with ornate foliate tendrils, decorated headbands and ornamental initials opening texts on fols.12r and 40r, some discolouration and small tears to edges of first and last leaves (with no damage to text), contemporary binding structures, wanting front and back boards, remnants of leather on spine

Catalogue Note

text

This small portable volume contains parts of the Divine Liturgies, the central part of service in the Eastern Church, through which the believers are united in worship with each other and with the departed saints and celestial beings. It opens with those of St. John Chrysostom (fol.1r); Basil of Caesarea (fol.12r); and ends with the Presanctified Gifts (fol.40r).