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Special Collection: The Four Gospels of Tsar Ivan Alexander

The Four Gospels of Tsar Ivan Alexander in Panitza Library

  • The Four Gospels of Tsar Ivan Alexander is an illustrated manuscript in the Middle Bulgarian language, transcribed in 1355-1356 by the monk Simeon for Tsar Ivan Alexander.
  • The book contains 268 parchment folios with the text of the four gospels and is decorated with 366 multicolored miniatures - considered one of the most magnificent Bulgarian written monuments.
  • The original is kept in the British Library.
  • This fine art phototype edition is a complete and faithful recreation of the manuscript Add. Ms.39627, reserved in the British Library, London.
  • On November 3, 2017, the Four Gospel of Tsar Ivan Alexander was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register.
  • This is a phototype edition in 950 copies, ours is n. 946.

                             

Digitised image 1

Digitised image 1 – f. 2v, Son-in-law and three daughters of Tsar Ivan Alexander.[1]

Digitised image 27

Digitised image 27 – f. 126v, Gospel of St Luke – Christ casts out the devils from the man called Legion; the devils possess a herd of swine, who run down to the lake and are drowned.[5]

Digitised image 2

Digitised image 2 – f. 3r, Tsar Ivan Alexander, his second wife Throdora, and two sons.[2]

Digitised image 32

Digitised image 32 – f. 213r, the headpiece of St John's Gospel: St John and the Trinity.[6]

Digitised image 3

Digitised image 3 – f. 6r, the headpiece of St Matthew's Gospel.[3]

Digitised image 33

Digitised image 33 – f. 251r, Christ washes the disciples' feet.[7]

Digitised image 24

Digitised image 24 – f. 118r, Gospel of St Mark – Christ curses the fig tree.[4]

Digitised image 34

Digitised image 34 – f. 259v, Christ prays in the Garden of Gethsemene (top) while the apostles sleep (below).[8]

Bibliography

[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Creator:Simeon [scribe].Tsar Ivan Alexander's Gospels. British Library. Created:1355-1356. Images.