[Liturgies of Saints Basil, Saint John Chrysostom, and Saint Gregory].

Forms part of the Kenneth Willis Clark Collection of Greek Manuscripts (David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University)

Format: Manuscript codex.

Title supplied by cataloger.

Layout: Written in 1 column of 15 lines; ruled by means of a ruling board or Arabic mastara.

Script: The monk Anthimos, has signed his name and added a date, 1634. He was of the Hodegon palaeographical school that was thoroughly adopted by the Romanian Orthodox. The same scribe also wrote Mt. Athos Cod. 526 the following year. A fine, flowing minuscule hand leaning slightly to the right, in black ink. Rubrications throughout.

Decoration: Pen drawings of Saints Basil and Gregory, enclosed within borders filled with gold strapwork ornament on a colored background occupy the same position as that of the portraits of the Evangelists in the Gospel books--facing the opening of their respective books. Originally a drawing of Saint Chrysostom also appeared opposite the beginning of his liturgy. Elaborate ornamental initials with floriate designs throughout the manuscript in gilt, moderate purplish red, strong blue, dark bluish green, and silver. Flaked gilt over black ink in text and first colophon.

Title cataloged from existing description.

Binding: Bound in the style consistent with that typical of Romania in the 17th century. Brown morocco over boards, decorated with trefoil-shaped arabesque corner ornaments, gilt, and a large central oval blind-stamped arabesque medallion. With the open space between the central and the corner ornaments are four eight-petalled stamps, gilt. Fore edge clasps now wanting; one catchplate remains on the upper cover at the tail. Both metal anchor plates survive on the lower cover. Leaves of printed liturgical material in Greek were used to create the pasteboards.