Facsimile edition of the Gospel of Lutsk Presented

Ukrainian Church

On October 21, at the UNIAN news agency a facsimile edition of a unique manuscript of the mid XIV century the Lutsk Gospel was presented.

Re-print edition of one of the oldest landmarks of Ukrainian writing was performed by the DioceseVolyn of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The project is dedicated to celebrating the 925th anniversary of the city of Lutsk.

The presentation was attended by Metropolitan Nifont of Volyn and Lutsk, Secretary of the for Primate of the UOC Archbishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyy, clergymen of the Diocese of Volyn who joined the publication, head of the Synodal Department “Church and Culture” Mother Superior Seraphima (Shevchyk).

“The Lutsk Gospel is almost 2 centuries older than the Peresopnytsia Gospels. ts uniqueness is in the Ukrainian language coloring of the middle XIV century. Also, the original seven headpieces and almost 400 painted capital letters – initials. The facsimile copy of the Lutsk Gospel differs from the original size, the copy was reduced by 5 percent, “- said the head of Information Department of the Diocese of Volyn of the UOC Archpriest Valentin Marchuk.

Referring to research of the professionals, Father Valentin added that the manuscript belongs to the landmarks of Galicia-Volyn book-writing school for it represents graphics, designs, especially the language of the school. The place of writing of the Gospel is Krasnosel’skii Savior Monastery near Lutsk.

In the facsimile copy of the Lutsk Gospel the text size is preserved, the page is reproduced in its original shape, color and volume, besides all the noted are preserved.
The original copy of the Lutsk Gospel is now in Moscow in the collections of the Russian State Library.

The first edition of the Lutsk Gospel amounts to one thousand copies.

Before the presentation, Secretary for the Primate of the UOC Archbishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyy and Vyshneve, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr, conferred church awards on the initiators and organizers of the second edition of the Lutsk Gospel.

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