Vat.gr.788.pt.B

Curatorial narrative

Vat. gr. 788, which was historically a single manuscript, now consists of two parts now identified by the distinct designations, part A and part B. Both parts contain hymns for liturgical use. Part B, the initial section of the manuscript which was added after the completion of the rest, is a fragment from the paracletic canons, a collection of hymns to the Mother of God (ff. 1r-7v), dating from the late 14th or early 15th century. This is the section which recycles double palimpsest folios. The earliest layer preserves fragments from a Lectionary that that included readings of the Gospels. This text was copied in Liturgical Majuscule script probably in the tenth century. Interestingly enough, the later layer of palimpsests which dates to the 10th-11th century also contains texts from the Gospels. It is difficult to define whether or not it included the entire Gospels or only the readings. The bulk of the manuscript also includes hymns for the fifty days’ interval starting from Easter Sunday (Pentecostarion). This part of the manuscript was completed by the scribe Neilos in 1170 according to his undersigning on f. 135r.

Bibliography; Pinakes.