Paper: Russian machine-made paper with the filigree “the coat of arms of Moscow” with letters “КФК”, the distance between chain lines – 25 mm, 8 laid lines within 10 mm, had been made in в 1730. [ref: Лихачев Н.П. Бумага и древнейшие бумажные мельницы в Московском государстве. СПб., 1891. № 566]. Writing style: half-uncial script by several hands. Cyrillic numeric pagination (reader’s). Decoration: headings, initials with vermillion. The headpiece with floral ornament (f. 15), schematic head-pieces (f. 62, 76), end-pieces with floral ornaments (f. 6), schematic end-piece in the so-called style Playing Text [игра текстом] – triangle-shaped objects (f. 13, 62, 76, 88, 102).
The manuscript contains the Catechism. There are added extracts from the Gospel According to John, Kormchaia Book [Book of the Pilot // Кормчая], Synaxarion, The Book of the One, True, and Orthodox Faith [Книга о Вере единой истинной православной], the Kirillova Kniga [Kirill’s book // Кириллова книга], the Sobornik [Соборник], Trebnik [Book of Needs // Требник], essays of John Chrysostom, Pope Gregory I (St. Gregory the Dialogist), Saint John of Damascus, Isaac of Nineveh, St. Dionysius the archimandrite of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, and Maximus the Greek on Christian faith and heretics. The sections containing extracts are without a beginning and an ending. Binding: 2nd half of the 18th century, wooden binding, leather, fragments of 2 clasps. Readers’ notes. Enclosure: bibliographic notes. 8º (size of book block – 167 mm х 104 mm, binding size – 178 mm х 107 mm, binding height – 40 mm). Enclosure – 1 f. (124 mm х 10 mm); 107 f. 1 f. (enclosure); Condition: satisfactory.
The manuscript was acquired by the community of Old believers-pilgrims living in the Tomsk-Chulym taiga.The manuscript has traces of old restoration (binding was replaced). The date and place of restoration are unknown.
