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Manuscript Type
Article
Abstract (For book reviews see instructions below)
In this article I examine the paratextual features of the ninth- century four-Gospel manuscript Codex Koridethi (Θ 038). I argue that a thorough study of this manuscript’s paratextual features gives fascinating insight into its history. There are thirty-three marginal notes contained within this manuscript, nine of which are in Greek, and twenty-four in Georgian. These notes are unusual because they do not relate to the biblical text. Instead, they attest to various prayers, endowments, and laws which the community found important enough to record in this holy book. The notes are broken down into three categories. First, several give historical data which makes it possible to trace the history of the codex. Based on these notes, I argue against Beermann and Gregory (1913), who claimed that some marginal notations date to the ninth century. Instead, the earliest objectively dated inscription comes from the eleventh century. Next, I discuss the pietistic notes within the manuscript, which show how the Koridethi community used the manuscript to communicate with God. Finally, I highlight how several legal documents copied into the manuscript should cause us to rethink how Christians in medieval times understood holy books.
Recommended Citation
Campbell, Jonathan.
"HISTORY IN THE MARGINS: PARATEXTUAL NOTES IN CODEX KORIDETHI (Θ 038)."
Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)
60.1
(2023):
41-55.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/auss/vol60/iss1/28
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