The List of Medieval Serbian manuscripts (Serbian: Средњовековни српски рукописи, Srednjovekovni srpski rukopisi) belonging to a corpus of Medieval Serbian literature, including Serbian Orthodox codices, written in vernacular Serbian (Folk language, Slavic), Old Church Slavonic, using Serbian Cyrillic, and/or Glagolitic scripts. Containing important works attributed to Serbia or Serbs. The majority of works are theological, with a few biographies and constitutions.[1][2]
The number of early Serbian manuscripts, that is, those made before the end of the 14th century, is estimated at 800–1,000. The number of Serbian manuscripts dating between the 12th and 17th centuries that are located outside Serbia is estimated at 4,000–5,000. The largest number of the manuscripts are located in Europe. The largest and most important collection is housed at the Hilandar on Mount Athos. Next, the second largest collection is most likely found in Russia, where hundreds of manuscripts are held.[3] More than a thousand of medieval manuscripts held at the National Library of Serbia (NBS) were destroyed during the Nazi bombing of Belgrade (1941) ordered by Adolf Hitler himself.[4]
The Digital National Library of Serbia (NBS) has digitalized several manuscripts, included at their website.
The Digital National Library of Saint Petersburg, Russia (NLR) has digitalized several manuscripts, included at their website
11th–12th century
edit| Work | Dating | Commissioner, author, editor | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Codex Marianus  | early 11th century | Unknown | A tetraevangelion (Four Gospels) written in Glagolitic, in Serbian/Macedonian recension.[5] |
Dimitri's Psalter  | 11th century | Several scribes | Psalter, 145 parchment leaves, written in Glagolitic, partly in Serbian/Croatian recension.[6] |
| Gršković's fragment of the Acts of the Apostles (Grškovićev odlomak Apostola) | end of 11th, early 12th century | Unknown | Fragment (4 leaves) of Acts of the Apostles, written in Glagolitic script, in Pre-Serbian Church Slavic recension, originating in Bosnia or Zeta–Hum area.[7] |
| Mihanović's fragment of the Acts of the Apostles | end of 11th, early 12th century | Unknown | Orthodox-rite fragment of Acts of the Apostles, written in Glagolitic script, in Serbian Church Slavic recension.[6] |
Miroslav's Gospel  | 1180 | Grigorije the Pupil for Miroslav of Hum | Gospel Book, Illustrated manuscript. Digitalized at NBS. |
Charter of Ban Kulin  | 1189 | Scribe Radoje for Ban Kulin | Trade agreement charter between the Banate of Bosnia and city of Ragusa (Dubrovnik). |
| Charter of Hilandar | 1198 | Stefan Nemanja and Athonite monk Sava | Founding charter to the Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos. |
Karyes Typikon  | 1199 | Athonite monk Sava | Typikon |
| Short Hagiography of St. Simeon Nemanja | 1199–1200 | Athonite monk Sava | Hagiography about Stefan Nemanja (monk Symeon), written by his son monk Sava. |
13th century
edit| Work | Dating | Commissioner, author, editor | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Charter of Hilandar (II)  | 1200–01 | Stefan the First-Crowned | A charter to the Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos, a revision of the founding charter of Hilandar. |
| Prologue Hagiography of St. Symeon (Prološko žitije Svetog Simeona) | after 1200 | Unknown | Hagiography about Stefan Nemanja (monk Symeon).[8] |
Studenica Typikon  | 1208 | Archimandrite Sava | Typikon written by Archimandrite Sava. Digitalized at NBS. |
| Life of Stefan Nemanja/Hagiography of St. Symeon (Žitije svetog Simeona) | 1208 | Archimandrite Sava | Hagiographical/biographical work about Serbian monarch Stefan Nemanja, written by his son, Archimandrite Sava. Included in the introduction of the Studenica Typikon. |
Vukan's Gospel  | 1200–08 | Monk Simeon for Vukan Nemanjić | Gospel Book. |
| Psaltir Typikon | 13th century | Archbishop Sava | Typikon |
| Letter to hegumen Spiridon | 13th century | Archbishop Sava | Personal letter |
| Belgrade Prophetologion (Beogradski parimejnik) | Early 13th century | Unknown | Lectionary, a book of prophecies and readings from the Old Testament (prophetologion). Digitalized by NBS. |
| Hagiography of St. Symeon | 1216 | Stefan the First-Crowned | Hagiography about Stefan Nemanja (monk Symeon), commissioned by Stefan the First-Crowned. The autograph has not survived and the oldest copy is from the second half of the 14th century. It is held in Paris. |
Zakonopravilo (St. Sava's Nomocanon)  | 1219 | Saint Sava | Civil law and canon law (medieval constitution). |
| Bratko Menaion (Bratkov minej) | 1234 | Bratko | A liturgical calendar book (menaion) written by Orthodox monk-scribe Bratko, commissioned by magnate Obrad that served king Stefan Vladislav (r. 1234–43). Held at the National Library in Belgrade. Digitalized by NBS. |
| Hagiography of St. Symeon | 1242–43 | Domentijan | Hagiography about Stefan Nemanja (monk Symeon), written by Domentijan. The autograph has not survived and the oldest copies are from the 14th century. The oldest copy is held in the National Library of Serbia (Marko the Hilandarian's copy), while later copies are held in Odessa, Bucharest, Prague, and Vienna. |
| Life of St. Sava | 1242–43 | Domentijan | Hagiography about Saint Sava, written by Domentijan. |
| Charter of Ston | 1253 | Stefan Uroš I | Charter |
| Dragolj Code | 1259 | Monk Dragolj | Illuminated manuscript that includes the Treatise Against the Bogomils. Held at the National Library in Belgrade. |
Life of St. Sava ,_1739_transcript.jpg){kind=spacer} | 1261 | Teodosije the Hilandarian | Biography |
| The Life of St. Simeon | 1264 | Domentijan the Hilandarian | Biography |
| Belgrade Macedonian Oktoih | 13th century | ||
| Trebnik | 13th century | ||
| March menaion | 13th century | ||
| Hagiography | 13th century | Saint Sava | Hagiography |
14th century
edit| Work | Dating | Commissioner, author, editor | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visoki Dečani Tetraevangelion I (Četvorojevanđelje) | 13th–14th c. | Unknown | 241 parchment leaves. Held at Visoki Dečani. Digitalized at Visoki Dečani. | |
| Charter to Hilandar | 1302 | Stefan Milutin | Lost | |
| Časoslov | 1300–10 | |||
| Life of King Milutin (Život kralja Milutina) | 1323–26 | Danilo II | Biography about Serbian king Stefan Milutin by Archbishop Danilo II (t. 1324–1337). Included in Lives of Serbian Kings and Archbishops. | |
| Life of Stefan Dečanski (Život Stefana Dečanskog) | 1330 | Danilo II | Biography about Serbian king Stefan Dečanski (r. 1321–1331) by Archbishop Danilo II (t. 1324–1337). Included in Lives of Serbian Kings and Archbishops. | |
| Life of Archbishop Danilo II (Život arhiepiskopa Danila II) | 1337–1340 | Danilo's student | Biography about Archbishop Danilo II (t. 1324–1337) by Danilo's student (fl. 1337–1340). Included in Lives of Serbian Kings and Archbishops. | |
| Lives of Serbian Kings and Archbishops (Život kraljeva i arhiepiskopa srpskih) | 1337–40, additions after 1375 | Danilo II, Danilo's student, Danilo's continuators | Hagiographical/biographical work about Serbian monarchs and church leaders compiled by Archbishop Danilo II (t. 1324–1337), Danilo's student (fl. 1337–1340), and others dubbed "Danilo's continuators" (after 1375). | |
| Life of St. Arsenije | 1324–37 | Danilo II | Biography | |
| Rodoslov (carostavnik) | 1337 | Archbishop Nikodim | Biography | |
| Dušan's Code | 1349 | Emperor Dušan | Constitution | |
| Nikola Stanjević Gospel | 1350 | Monk Feoktist | Gospel Book written by monk Feoktist. Commissioned by magnate Nikola Stanjević (fl. 1355–1366) who donated it to Hilandar. It is held at the British Museum. | |
| Serres Gospel | 1354 | Kalist Rasoder | A tetraevangelion (Four Gospels) written by Kalist Rasoder. | |
| Charter of Hilandar | 1360 | Issued by emperor Uroš V for Hilandar. | ||
| Charter of Drenča | 1382 | Dorotej of Hilandar | charter for the monastery of Drenča | |
| Charter of Ravanica | 1381 | Prince Lazar | Charter | |
| Serbian Alexandride | 14th century | Life of Alexander the Great | ||
| Gospel of St. Nicholas (Nikoljsko jevanđelje) | 14th century | Gospel book, located in Ireland (Dublin RU 147) | ||
| Munich Serbian Psalter | 1370–1395 | Illuminated psalter | ||
| Oxford Serbian Psalter | late 14th century | Psalter | ||
| Visoki Dečani Tetraevangelion II (Četvorojevanđelje) | 14th c. | Unknown | 174 parchment leaves. Held at Visoki Dečani. Digitalized at Visoki Dečani. | |
| Visoki Dečani Tetraevangelion III (Četvorojevanđelje) | 14th c. | Unknown | 327 parchment leaves. Held at Visoki Dečani. Digitalized at Visoki Dečani. | |
| Visoki Dečani Jevanđelistar (Jevanđelistar) | 14th c. | Unknown | 158 parchment leaves. Held at Visoki Dečani. Digitalized at Visoki Dečani. | |
| Visoki Dečani 1370s Tetraevangelion (Četvorojevanđelje) | 1370s | Unknown | 264 parchment leaves. Held at Visoki Dečani. Digitalized at Visoki Dečani. |
15th century
edit| Work | Dating | Commissioner, author, editor | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gospel of St. Nicholas of Rošci (Nikoljsko jevanđelje) | End of 14th, early 15th century | Unknown | Gospel book. |
| Life of St. Stefan of Dečani | 1402–09 | Gregory Tsamblak | Biography |
| Mining Code | 1412 | Stefan Lazarević | Code of law |
| Karlovački rodoslov | 1418–27 | ||
| Radoslav's Gospel (Radoslavljevo jevanđelje) | 1429 | scribe Radoslav | Gospel Book, located at the National Library of Russia in St. Petersburg. Digitalized at NBS. |
| Charter to St. Paul Monastery | 1430 | George Brankovic | Charter |
| Life of Despot Stefan Lazarević | 1431 | Constantine of Kostenets | Biography |
| Slovo o pravopisu | 143X | Constantine of Kostenets | |
| Služabnik | 1453 | Located in the National Library of Serbia (RS 538) | |
| Varaždin Apostol | 1454 | three transcribers | Apostol (Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament epistles) |
| Dečani chronicle | second half of the 15th century | 18th-century transcription | |
| Cetinje Octoechos | 1494 | Hieromonk Makarije | Octoechos |
| Bogorodičnik | 15th century | Theotokarion held in Hilandar.[9] | |
| Goražde Psalter | 1521 | Teodor Ljubavić | Printed psalter |
Early modern period
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Savić, Viktor (2016). Српска редакција црквенословенског језика: од св. Климента, епископа словенског, до св. Саве, архиепископа српског [The Serbian Redaction of the Church Slavonic Language: from St. Clement, the Bishop of the Slavs, to St. Sava, the Serbian Archbishop]. Slověn (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). 5 (2): 231–339. hdl:21.15107/rcub_dais_14490. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ↑ Савић, Виктор (2007-01-01). Српскословенски речник Јеванђеља: огледна свеска (in Serbian). Институт за српски језик САНУ.
- ↑ Зоран Радисављевић (2014-11-21). "Хиландар чува највредније српске рукописе". Култура. Politika.
- ↑ "Сећање на 6. април у Народној библиотеци Србије". Влада Републике Србије. 5 April 2005.
Народна библиотека Србије основана је 1832. године. Располагала је фондом од приближно 300.000 књига, 1.390 рукописних књига, повеља и других списа из 12, 13. и 14. века и каснијих периода. Више од 100 рукописа било је на пергаменту. Располагала је и збиркама турских рукописа, старих штампаних књига од 15. до 17. века, старих карата, гравира, слика, новина. Ту су биле сабране и све књиге штампане у Србији од 1832. године, као и оне које су штампане у суседним земљама, комплетне библиотеке Вука Караџића, Лукијана Мушицког, Ђуре Даничића, П. М. Шафарика и других. Првог априла 1941. године целокупна библиотека била је спакована у 150 сандука, спремна за евакуацију, али је тадашњи министар просвете М. Трифуновић забранио евакуацију просветно-културних установа Београда и наредио да се драгоцености склоне у подрум, што је и учињено. Зграда је погођена запаљивим бомбама 6. априла у 16 часова, а целокупни фонд Народне библиотеке Србије, с вредним и оригиналним средњовековним рукописима, неповратно је изгубљен. Нова зграда, у којој се национална библиотека и данас налази, свечано је отворена 6. априла 1973. године.
- ↑ Jagić, Vatroslav (1960). Codex Marianus glagoliticus. Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt.[better source needed]
- 1 2 Trifunović 1990, p. ?.
- ↑ Minić, Petar (5 April 2018). "Grškovićev odlomak" Гршковићев одломак. Museum of Serbian Language (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). Students of the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ↑ Anđelković, Maja (2021). "NEPOZNATI STUDENIČKI PREPIS „PROLOŠKOG ŽITIJA SVETOG SIMEONA"". Nasledje. XVIII (50). University Library in Kragujevac: 181–190. doi:10.46793/naskg2150.181a. ISSN 1820-1768.
- ↑ Hilandar Slavic Manuscripts: A Checklist of the Slavic Manuscripts from the Hilandar Monastery. 1972. pp. 30, 31, 59.
Sources
edit- Cernic, L. and Bogdanovic, D., 1981. About Attribution of Medieval Serbian Cyrillic Manuscripts. Textology of Medieval South Slavic Literature.
- Čajka, František (2014). "Srbskocírkevněslovanský rukopis Modlitby sv. Řehoře" [The Serbian Church Slavonic Manuscript of the Prayer of St Gregory]. The Cyril and Methodius Mission and Europe: 1150 Years Since the Arrival of the Thessaloniki Brothers in Great Moravia (in Czech). pp. 300–303. ISBN 978-80-86023-51-9. OS LG 2023-08-18.
- Trifunović, Đorđe (1990). Azbučnik srpskih srednjevekovnih književnih pojmova (2 ed.). Belgrade: Nolit.
External links
edit- "Ћирилски рукописи". Digital National Library of Serbia. 2012. Archived from the original on 2014-10-12.
- National Library of Serbia. "Ћирилске рукописне књиге > О збирци". Збирке.
- Digital Matica srpska Library. "Index of "Ћирилске рукописне књиге"". Matica srpska.
- Brana Tomić. "Serbian manuscripts".
- "Рукописне књиге, XIII - XVIII век". Visoki Dečani Monastery.