THE GROWTH OF THE MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY OF PHILOTHEOU MONASTERY IN THE BYZANTINE PERIOD

© Robert W. Allison
Bates College
Lewiston, Maine, U.S.A.

TABLE 1: PROBABLE OCCASIONS FOR EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE BOOKS AT PHILOTHEOU MONASTERY

1. The original founding of the hesychasterion of Philotheou (last decade of 10th c. & early 11th c.)
2. The refoundation of Philotheou as a monastery under Arsenios, about 1141
3. The beginning of the 13th c. when imperial connections are first evidenced
4. The revival of monastic life at Philotheou at the end of the 13th c. and the early 14th c, during the dontions of Andronikos II and his family. The revival continued under the ahbot Theodosios and was contemporary with the 14th c. Philotheite scriptorium of the monks Gerasimos and Ignatios.
5. The rehellenization under Dionysios in Olympos, 1505-18, when the monasterv was atronized by the Georgian philhellene kings, Levon (Leon) and Alexander.
6. The period of activity of the 16th c. Philtheite scribes from Gallipoli, Maximos, Gabriel, Gabriel's brother, Makarios, and their numerous colleagues. During this period a calligrapher, Kallinikos, came from Dionysiou to become abbot at Philotheou, and there was a concerted effort to preserve the orthodox liturgical books and produce copies for missionaries.
Created and © by Robert W. Allison
Dept. of Philosophy & Religion, Bates College
Lewiston, Maine 04240

Responses may be addressed electronically by e-mail to
rallison@bates.edu Last Updated: September 30, 1995