Spiritual verses // Духовные стихи // Dukhovnye stikhi [1962-1963]

Paper: Russian machine-made paper without labels. Writing style: half-uncial script by 2 hands. The text in f. 1-18 was written by Mel'nikova Elena Osipovna, Mavra the nun [Мельникова Елена Осиповна, инокиня Мавра]. She was a resident of the Tomsk-Chulim skit in 1961/62-1994. F. 10 contains her note “Елена Осиповна”. She might have made the note before she received the tonsure in 1962. Cyrillic numeric pagination (scribers`).

Decoration: headings and initials with purple and red inks; schematic headpieces (f. 1, 9); initials with floral ornament (f. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16); schematic end-piece in the so-called style Playing Text [игра текстом] – triangle-shaped objects (f. 5, 7, 8, 13, 15); schematic and added with the so-called style Playing Text [игра текстом] end-pieces (f. 15, 20); schematic end-pieces (f. 10, 11, 18). Spiritual verses – peoples' religious poetry, spread in the Old Believer communities. Without a cover. Folios are compiled into a notebook and not sewn together. The manuscript consists of 4 unsewn notebooks. 8° (1st notebook – 174 mm х 118 mm, 2 nd notebook – 173 mm х 108 mm, 3 rd notebook – 173 mm х 110 mm, 4 th notebook - 174 mm х 110 mm); 22 f; Condition: unsatisfactory. The manuscript was made in the community of Old believers-pilgrims living in the Tomsk-Chulym taiga.