Завещанието на мелнишкия митрополит Павел Клавдиополит – важен исторически извор от началото на ХІІІ век
The Testament оf Paul Klaudiopolites, Metropolitan Bishop оf Melnik – An Important Historical Source from the Beginning of the 13th C

Summary/Abstract: The testament of the Melnik metropolitan bishop Paul Klaudiopolites is a valuable source, dating from the beginning of the 13th century (May 1216, indiction 4th). This document contains rich information, which helps to establish few main topics and to cover different subjects in regards to Melnik’s past. Paul Klaudiopolites’s testament is among the earliest written documents concerning the history of the city and its ruler. In the first place, this is chronologically the earliest preserved written document regarding the history of Melnik Monastery of the Holy Mother of God Spelaiotissa. Together with important data about the past of this medieval cloister, the source also provides information about the Metropolitan Church of St. Nicholas. The testament also contributes to a clearer and more detailed image of Despot Alexius Slav’s personality and also of the history and development of his capital, Melnik. Last but not least, the document has a direct relation to the church history of Slav’s capital and describes the elevation of Melnik’s eparchy to metropolitan status. The source is also a proof that Paul Klaudiopolites was most likely the first abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God Spelaiotissa. The same person later became the first metropolitan bishop of Melnik.

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