Отново за ранните осмогласници: какво ни казват синайските гръцки ръкописи 1593 и 776
Once Again About the Early Oktoechoi: What do the Sinai Greek Manuscripts 1593 and 776 Tell Us

Summary/Abstract: The two Sinai Greek manuscripts 1593 and 776 are identified by K. W. Clark as two parts of one book. It is argued in the article that they were written in the first half of the ninth century and represent the earliest known book of the type of the Oktoechos. Sinai 1593 is preserved from mode second on. It contains katismata and stichera which follow the succession of the modes in one and the same fixed thematic groups: anastasima, kataniktika, stavrosima, apostolika, etc. Sinai 1593 is the only manuscript of the type of the Oktoechos known in which the katismata precede the stichera. It is suggested that this could reflect an earlier liturgical practice. The groups are designated for both the resurrection and the common weekly services. The question of when and where the order of the groups was fixed is raised. The second manuscript, Sinai 776, contains beautitudes for the resurrection service and two cycles of kanons. The first cycle is combined for the Resurrection and for the common weekly services. The memories for the latter are given in a hierarchical order: apostles, prophets, martyrs, etc. The second cycle of kanons is for the weekly days services. The kanons of this cycle do not follow the eight mode system. The days of the week are not given and this is the only manuscript in which the kanons are not prescribed for the concrete day of the week and do not follow the succession of the eight modes. Also, there is no author’s attribution. These facts are considered as an evidence for an early date of the compilation of the manuscript. Yet, the date could not be earlier than the ninth century because there is a memory for St. Nicolas which entered the calendar as early as this century. It is suggested in conclusion that the two manuscripts studied represent a stage of the Oktoechos from the time of the two Slavic apostles SS. Cyril and Methodios. Next stage is this one of their pupil St. Clement of Ohrid and it is documented in manuscripts from the tenth century onwards. The manuscripts of the time of St. Clement show that all the kanons are already linked to every single day of the week, they follow the succession of the eight modes and bare an author’s attribution. In all probability the oldest Bulgarian Oktoechos was compiled during this stage, i.e. the stage of the time of St. Clement, after the arrival of the pupils of SS. Cyril and Methodios to Bulgaria.

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