On the Textual History of the “Tale about the Prophecy of Iona’s Archbishopric”

Abstract

The Novgorod archbishop Iona was one of the most important Russian church personalities of the 15th century; he was canonized after his death. Information about his life is contained in different literary monuments of the 15th–16th centuries. One of them was the brief “Tale about the Prophecy of Iona’s Archbishopric.” Researchers believe that this monument became the source of the “Life of Iona.” This article focuses on the history of the text of the “Tale.” First, the article considers the history of research about the “Tale.” Second, the author gives an overview and description of copies of the work, and examines new copies of the “Tale.” Third, the researcher analyzes the editions of the “Tale,” revealing their new features. In conclusion, the investigator considers the question of the influence of the “Tale” on the text of the “Life of Iona.” The author tries to establish the copy of the “Tale” that was used in the “Life.”

Keywords

• житие
• летопись
• Новгород
• архиепископ Иона
• Михаил Клопский