Огласительные поучения Кирилла Иерусалимского в древнеболгарском переводе и древнейшей славянской рукописи: маргиналии к первому изданию
The Catechetical Lectures of Cyril of Jerusalem in the Old Bulgarian Translation and the Oldest Slavic Manuscript: Marginalia for the First Edition

Summary/Abstract: One of the most extensive codices of early Slavic writing, the 540-page Old Russian copy of the Old Bulgarian translation of the Catechetical Lectures of Cyril of Jerusalem, has repeatedly attracted the attention of researchers since the middle of the 19th century. However, the publication of this monumental source was carried out only in 2017, when Eckhard Weiher published a diplomatic reproduction of the manuscript, but without a systematic comparison with the Greek original and accompanied by only few references to variant readings in later manuscripts. Unfortunately, this publication has not yet found a response in the scholarly literature. Meanwhile, the examination of the manuscriptaccording to the book prepared by Weiher certainly testifies to the enormous importance that a critical edition of one of the oldest Cyrillic codices could have for the study of the early period of Slavic writing. First of all, the extraordinarily diverse vocabulary of the Lectures attracts attention, demonstrating, on the one hand, the richness of the Old Bulgarian language of the early period, on the other, the vivid word-making abilities of the translator. The vocabulary of the Lectures has not yet found its proper place on the pages of historical dictionaries, and the list of lexicographically undescribed words from the codex includes about 130 units. The grammar of the Lectures also provides exceptionally rich material. The article analyzes some non-banal archaisms that are not widely used in early Slavic writing, and innovations that may at least partially reflect the language development in the East Slavic territory, from where the oldest copy of the monument originates. Up to the present, the study of the Lectures has been largely based on their assessment by the first researchers, according to which the translation was distinguished by correctness, purity and clarity. However, for an adequate perception of the Slavic text of the Lectures, it is necessary to read it en regard with the original Greek text. The oldest manuscript is by no means one of the most inaccurate copies, but exactly the inherent mystery of many passages turns it into a real touchstone for researchers, setting them sometimes difficult tasks in the field of textual criticism. A huge array of distortions of the oldest manuscript (or its antigraph or even protograph) needs to be corrected. Among these lapses are classical errata (repetition, anticipation, etc.), the consequences of erroneous correlation with neighboring forms, and the results of creative reinterpretation of the text. Many distortions affecting not only the graphic level, but also forms and entire constructions require textological commentary. The constant distortions of the original text in the manuscript cannot always be distinguished from the distortions, unfortunately, committed in the edition itself. There are obvious typos in the book, as well as the consequences of misreading letters. A number of objections are raised regarding the division of words in the publication. The insufficient consideration of the Lectures’ rich material in dictionaries and grammars significantly impoverishes our understanding of the most ancient period of Slavic written history. In conclusion, the article expresses the hope that now, when photocopies of the oldest manuscript as well as many later copies have become available on the Internet, work on a critical edition of the Slavic translation of the Lectures, fully taking into account the book of Eckhard Weiher, will continue.

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