Paper: Russian machine-made paper without labels. Writing style: half-uncial script. Decoration: headings and initials with colored inks; headpieces with stencil (f. л. 1, 43, 61, 67, 77); head-pieces with geometric and schematic ornament (f. 18, 35, 83, 103, 107, 110, 114, 119, 123, 127, 131, 136); initials with floral ornament (f. 1, 18, 35, 43, 61, 67, 77, 83, 100, 103, 107, 110, 114, 119, 123, 127, 135, 136-139, 141, 142, 144-148; end-piece in the so-called style Playing Text [игра текстом] (f. 17, 43, 61, 67, 77, 83, 99, 106, 114, 119, 127, 147).
Irmologion and Octoechos – liturgical books containing hymns. Texts are notated and given with their traditional annexes – "rozniki" (chants used for some specific occasions, such as Christmas and Easter) for Christmas and 11 morning evangelic sticherons. The stolp notation was developed as a refinement of the Byzantine notation and it is not written with notes (the so-called linear notation). This notation system records transitions of the melody, rather than notes. The signs (kryuki /крюки, “hooks”) represent a mood and a gradation of how this part of melody is to be sung (tempo, strength, devotion, meekness, etc.).
Binding: 20th century, cardboard, textile. Reader’s note (prayer to the Mother of God, back endpaper). Enclosure: printed folio with “golovnye venchiki” (“golovnoi venchik” (sing.) [головной венчик], the crown – is a strip of paper or textile, it is placed upon the dead’s head and contains an image of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God and John the Baptist upon which the Trisagion is written). Laying of a “golovnoi venchik” signifies “crowning glory”, that is given to a Christian for his/her saintly living in the Kingdom of God.
2º (size of book blocks – 350 mm x 225 mm; binding size – 360 mm x 220 mm, binding height – 35 mm). Enclosure – 1 f. (205 mm x 180 mm); 148 f. 1 f. (enclosure); Condition: satisfactory. The manuscript was acquired and restored by the community of Old believers-pilgrims living in the Tomsk-Chulym taiga. The manuscript has traces of old restoration - change of binding in the middle of 20th century, place of restoration – the skit of the Old Believers–Pilgrims.
