'Opiscula theologica', a manuscript of uncertain origin, written in Greek in the 16th-century, containing various works.

Item

Identifier: Adv.MS.18.6.14

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The contents of the manuscript are as follows:

(i) St Ephraem Syrus, on Joseph (‘Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca’ 2200; ‘Opera omnia Graece et Latine’, ii.21) (folio 1).

(ii) St John Chrysostom, on pity (‘Codices Chrysostomici Graeci’, Appendix 7) (folio 21).

(iii) Extract from ‘Chronicon’, iv.229, by Georgios Hamartolos, (‘Patrologia Graeca’, cx.836) (folio 28 verso).

(iv) On an unworthy priest (‘Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca’ 1449e, with different ending) (folio 29 verso).

(v) Catechism similar to Pseudo-Athanasius, on the parables (‘Patrologia Graeca’, xxviii.712-717), incorporating on folio 33 verso part of that attributed to Anastasius (‘Patrologia Graeca’, lxxxix.1400-1404) (folio 32 verso).

(vi) Pseudo-Athanasius, questions to Antioclius, 137 (‘Patrologia Graeca’, xxviii.684-700) (folio 41).

(vii) St John Chrysostom, on salvation (‘Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca’ 2103n; ‘Patrologia Graeca’, lx.735) (folio 50 verso).

(viii) St John Chrysostom, on Lazarus 5 (‘Patrologia Graeca’, lx.1017) (folio 55 verso).

(ix) On the soul of St Theodora (possibly related to ‘Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca’ 264d-f, beginning ‘να ὑποῦμεν να μνησθῶμεν διὰ τὴν ψυχὴν τὴν ἀθλίαν’) (folio 62 verso).

(x) Life of Alexius (‘Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca’ 51) (folio 66 verso).

Folio 73 blank.

(xi) Damascenus Studites, passion of St George (‘Θησαυρός’, number 14).

Folio 104 blank.

Dates of writing: folio 1 κυριακῆ πρὸ τῆς χυ̅̃ γεννήσεως ή̓τοι τ(ῆ) πρὸ πρω̄ν̄, folio 50 verso τῆ κυριακῆ τῆς ἀποκρέου, folio 55 verso τῶ σαββάτω τῆς ἀποκρέου. On folio 105 is a prayer.

(i)-(x) are written in a version of the traditional religious book-hand, (xi) in a normal 16th-century hand.

Dates

Creation: 16th century.

Language of Materials

Greek, Modern (1453- )

Extent

1 Volumes (i + 105 + ii folios.)

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collation 1-9⁸, 10¹², 11¹⁴ (-11¹[?]¹¹), 12⁸, 1 leaf. No signatures or catchwords. No ruling. 1 column. 22 lines in (i)-(x), 18-21 in (xi). Written area 155 x 95 millimetres in (i)-(x), 155-180 x 100 millimetres in (xi).

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Paper (watermarks: in gatherings 1-5, coat of arms surmounted by a cross, and unidentified object in a circle; in 6-8, cf.

Briquet 5922; in 9-12, cf. Briquet 481). Scottish binding of green straight-grained morocco, tooled in gilt, circa 1825.

Custodial History

An obliterated mark on folio 105 may have been a library stamp. The manuscript was acquired by the Advocates’ Library before circa 1830.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.

Existence and Location of Copies

Microfilm available: Mf.Sec.MSS.917.

Bibliography

‘Bibliotheca Hagiographica Graeca’.

Syrus, Ephraem. ‘Opera omnia Graece et Latine’ (Rome, 1732-1743).

Aubineau, M. ‘Codices Chrysostomici Graeci’, i (Paris, 1968).

‘Patrologia Graeca’.

‘Θηδαυρός’ (Venice, 1561).