Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, Sidney Sussex College, MS 65

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 77290

Contents

Introduction: This manuscript, probably produced in western Europe in the 16th century, is largely composed of the Canons of Church Councils and synods. It includes the so-called Apostolic Canons, the decrees of the seven Ecumenical Councils, and those of a number of other early synods, mostly held in the 4th century and belonging to a standard set of provincial synods. These are prefaced by an excerpt from the popular canon law compilation of the 14th-century monk and theologian Matthaios Blastares. That collection was largely organised by topics in alphabetical order, but the portion included here is drawn from an introductory section summarising the history of ecclesiastical canons and synods. The manuscript was elegantly copied by a single hand, in a western style imitating the letter-forms of early Greek printing. This is especially evident in the majuscule script used for most of the headings. The work of Blastares appears in the first quire of the manuscript, which is omitted from the sequence of leaf signatures used to order the remaining quires. This suggests that it was not part of the original plan of the manuscript, but was added not long after its completion, as it has been executed by the same scribe and decorated in the same style. It was presumably added to supply some historical context for the main content of the manuscript. The manuscript has been bound together with a printed book, the Ecclesiastical History of the 5th-century theologian Theodoret of Cyrrhus, in which the early Councils of the Church also feature prominently. Dr Christopher Wright

Language(s): Greek

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: Codex: i + 131 + i leaves. 283 × 210 mm.
Foliation: The manuscript is unfoliated.

Binding

19th-century full leather binding, with brown leather cover over millboards and plain pastedowns. There is a blind-tooled border on each board and decorative blind tooling on the spine. The titles ‘Cyri Matthaei Synopsis Canonorum M.S.’ and ‘Theodoreti Cyrensis Historia Ecclesiastica M.S.’ are tooled in gold on the spine.

294 × 221 × 35 mm.

The outer joints and endcaps are fragile.

Accompanying Material

A note pasted on the left pastedown records the gift of the manuscript from Emmanuel Barnes to Samuel Ward: ‘Samueli Wardo symmista et affini charissimo Emmanuel Barnesius amoris ergo: DD’.

Another note pasted here carries notes of manuscript and printed content, by two different hands: ‘Cyri Matthaei Synopsis canonum Apostolorum et Synodorum. Theodoriti Cyrensis Historia Ecclesiastica’. The honorofic kyr applied to the name of Blastares appears to have been misinterpreted here as a personal name.

Also pasted here is a bookplate recording the manuscript's donation to the College: ‘Liber Collegii Dominae Franciscae Sidney-Sussex, quem (unà cum aliis MSS.) plurimùm Reverndus Vir Samuel Ward, S.T.D. Professor pro Domina Margareta, dicti Collegii tertius Magister, ultimâ voluntate et testamento legavit. Anno Domini 1643’.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by Emmanuel Barnes (1561-1614) .

Given by Barnes to the theologian Samuel Ward (1572-1643) , Master of Sidney Sussex.

Bequeathed to the College by Samuel Ward (1572-1643) in 1643.

Part 1 [Cambridge, Sidney Sussex College, MS 65, ff. [1-67]]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

1. ff. [1r-7v]
Matthaios Blastares, Syntagma alphabeticum rerum omnium quae in sacris canonibus comprehenduntur

Excerpt from the prooimion: PG 144, coll. 968-992

Rubric: f. [1r] Σοφωτάτου ἐν ἱερομονάχοις κυροῦ Ματθαίου περὶ τῶν ἱερῶν καὶ θείων συνόδων, σύνοψις
Incipit: f. [1r] Πρῶτοι τοίνυν οἱ ἐπ'ὀνόματι τῶν ἁγίων ἀποστόλων
Explicit: f. [7v] καὶ οὓς ἰδία τῶν θεσπεσίων αὖθις ἀνδρῶν, ἔνιοι συνεγράψαντο

TLG 3237.001

PG 144, coll. 959-1399; PG 145, coll. 9-212

2. ff. [8r-11v]
Apostolic canons

Excerpt: Book 8, chapters 4-47

Rubric: f. [8r] Κανόνες τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν ἀποστόλων
Incipit: f. [8r] Ὁ ἐπίσκοπος χειροτονείσθω ὑπὸ ἐπισκόπων δύο ἢ τριῶν:- Πρεσβύτερος ὑπὸ ἑνὸς ἐπισκόπου χειροτονείσθω
Explicit: f. [11v] καὶ αἱ πράξεις ἡμῶν τῶν ἀποστόλων

TLG 2894.001

3. ff. [11v-14r]
Canons of the First Council of Nicaea (325)

Ed. Giuseppe Alberigo, Conciliorum Oecumenicroum generaliumque decreta, vol. 1, The oecumenical councils from Nicaea I to Nicaea II (325-787) (Turnhout 2006), pp. 19-34

Rubric: f. [11v] Κανόνες τῆς πρώτης καὶ οἰκουμενικῆς συνόδου:- κʹ
Incipit: f. [12r] Εἴ τις ἐν νόσῳ ὑπὸ ἰατρῶν ἐχειρουργήθη
Explicit: f. [14r] ἔδοξε τῇ ἁγίᾳ συνόδῳ τὰς εὐχὰς ἀποδιδόναι τῷ Θεῷ
4. ff. [14r-15r]
Canons of the First Council of Constantinople (381)

Ed. Giuseppe Alberigo, Conciliorum Oecumenicroum generaliumque decreta, vol. 1, The oecumenical councils from Nicaea I to Nicaea II (325-787) (Turnhout 2006), pp. 57-70

Rubric: f. [14r] Σύνοδος βʹ:- Κανόνες τῆς ἁγίας καὶ οἰκουμενικῆς δευτέρας συνόδου, ὁκτώ[sic]
Incipit: f. [14r] Ὥρισαν οἱ Κονσταντινουπόλει[sic] συνελθόντες ἅγιοι πατέρες
Explicit: f. [15r] καὶ ἀκροᾶσθαι τῶν γραφῶν· καὶ τότε αὐτοῖς βαπτίζομεν
5. ff. [15v-16v]
Canons of the Council of Ephesus (431)
Rubric: f. [15v] Κανόνες τῆς ἁγίας καὶ οἰκουμενικῆς τρίτης συνόδου, ὀκτὼ
Incipit: f. [15v] Ἐπειδὴ ἐχρῆν καὶ τοὺς ἀποληφθέντας[sic] τῆς ἁγίας συνόδου
Explicit: f. [15v] ἄκυρον εἶναι τοῦτον ἔδοξε τῇ ἁγίᾳ πάσῃ καὶ οἰκουμενικῇ συνόδῳ

TLG 5000.001

6. ff. [16v-19v]
Canons of the Council of Chalcedon (451)
Rubric: f. [16v] Κανόνες τῆς ἁγίας καὶ οἰκουμενικῆς τετάρτης συνόδου, λʹ
Incipit: f. [16v] Τοὺς ὑπὸ τῶν ἁγίων πατέρων καθ'ἑκάστην σύνοδον
Explicit: f. [19v] εἰ τοῦτο αὐτοις[sic] δυνατὸν, ἢ ἐξομοσία καταπιστευθήσεται

TLG 5000.003

7. ff. [19v-34r]
Canons of the Quinisext Council (691/2)
Rubric: f. [19v] Αὕτη ἡ σύνοδος γέγονεν εἰς ἀναπλήρωσιν τῆς εʹ καὶ ϛʹ συνόδου· διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο οὐδὲ ἕκτη κυρίως κατονομάζεται, ἀλλὰ πενθέκτη
Incipit: f. [19v] Τάξις ἀρίστη παντὸς ἀρχομένου καὶ λόγου καὶ πράγμαοτς
Explicit: f. [34r] καθὼς ὁ ἱερὸς ἡμᾶς ἐκδιδάσκει Βασίλειος

TLG 5000.010

8. ff. [34r-38v]
Canons of the Second Council of Nicaea (787)
Rubric: f. [34r] Κανόνες τῆς ἁγίας καὶ οἰκουμενικῆς ἑβδόμης συνόδου
Incipit: f. [34r] Τοῖς τὴν ἱερατικὴν λαχοῦσιν ἀξίαν
Explicit: f. [38v] ὥστε τῆς χρείας κατεπηγούσης μόνον εἶνα[sic] μετ'εὐλαβείας

TLG 5000.011

9. ff. [38v-42v]
Canons of the First-Second Synod of Constantinople (861)

Ed. Giuseppe Alberigo and Alberto Melloni, Conciliorum Oecumenicroum generaliumque decreta, vol. 4.1, The Great Decisions of the Orthodox Churches Decisions and Synodika (Turnhout 2016), pp. 9-22

Rubric: f. [38v] Κανόνες τῆς ἁγίας καὶ δευτέρας συνόδου τῆς ἐν τῷ ναῷ τῶν ἁγίων ἀποστόλων συστάσης, κανόνες ιζʹ
Incipit: f. [38v] Πρᾶγμα σεμνὸν ὄντως καὶ τίμιον, καὶ τοῖς μακαρίοις καὶ ὁσίοις πατράσιν
Explicit: f. [42v] ἐν ἑκάστῳ τάγματι τὸν νενομισμένον χρόνον ἀποπληρῶν
10. ff. [42v-43r]
Canons of the Synod of Constantinople (879/80)

Ed. Giuseppe Alberigo and Alberto Melloni, Conciliorum Oecumenicroum generaliumque decreta, vol. 4.1, The Great Decisions of the Orthodox Churches Decisions and Synodika (Turnhout 2016), pp. 37-39

Rubric: f. [42v] Κανόνες ἐκτεθέντες παρὰ τῆς ἁγίας συνόδου ἐν τῷ περιωνύμω καὶ ἐπωνύμω ναῶ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγου ἁγίας σοφίας συστάσης. καὶ τὴν ἑβδόμην καὶ οἰκουμενικὴν σύνοδον ἐπιβεβαιωσάσης πᾶσαν δὲ σχισματικὴν και[sic] αἱρετικὴν πλάνην ἀπελασάσης
Incipit: f. [42v] Ὡρισεν ἡ ἁγία σύνοδος , ὥστε εἴ τινες τῶν ἐξ Ἰταλίας κληρικῶν
Explicit: f. [43r] ἢ φυλάκισαι, ἢ χωρὶς αἰτίας, ἢ συμπλασάμενος αἰτίαν, ὁ τοιοῦτος ἀνάθεμα ἔστω

TLG 5000.012

11. ff. [43r-45r]
Canons of the synod of Ankyra

Ed. G.A. Rhalles and M. Potles, Σύνταγμα τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν κανόνων..., 6 vols. (Athens 1852-59), vol. 3, pp. 21-68

Rubric: f. [43r] Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Ἀγκύρᾳ συνόδου. κανόνες κεʹ
Incipit: f. [43r] Πρεσβυτέρους τοὺς ἐπιθύσαντας, εἶτα ἐπαναπαλαίσαντας
Explicit: f. [45r] εἰς τοὺς συνεστῶτας κατὰ τοὺς ὡρισμένους βαθμοὺς
12. f. [45r-45v]
Canons of the synod of Neokaisareia

Ed. G.A. Rhalles and M. Potles, Σύνταγμα τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν κανόνων..., 6 vols. (Athens 1852-59), vol. 3, pp. 70-94

Rubric: f. [45r] Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Νεοκαισαρείᾳ, δέκα καὶ πέντε
Incipit: f. [45r] Πρεσβύτερος ἐὰν γήμη, τῆς τάξεως αὐτοῦ κατατιθέσθω
Explicit: f. [45v] πεισθήσῃ δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς βίβλου τῶν πράξεων
13. ff. [45v-46v]
Canons of the synod of Gangra

Ed. G.A. Rhalles and M. Potles, Σύνταγμα τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν κανόνων..., 6 vols. (Athens 1852-59), vol. 3, pp. 100-118

Rubric: f. [45v] Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Γάγγρα συνόδου, κʹ
Incipit: f. [45v] Εἴ τις τὸν γάμον μέμφοιτο καὶ τὴν καθεύδουσαν μετὰ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς
Explicit: f. [46v] τῶν ἀποστολικῶν παραδόσεων ἐν τῆ ἐκκλησίᾳ γίνεσθαι εὐχόμεθα
14. ff. [46v-49r]
Canons of the synod of Antioch

Ed. G.A. Rhalles and M. Potles, Σύνταγμα τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν κανόνων..., 6 vols. (Athens 1852-59), vol. 3, pp. 123-168

Rubric: f. [46v] Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Αντιοχείας[sic] τῆς Συρίας, κεʹ
Incipit: f. [46v] Πάντας τοὺς τολμῶντας παραλύειν τὸν ὅρον
Explicit: f. [49r] τὸ πρέπον δοκιμαζούσης τῆς ἁγίας συνόδου
15. ff. [49v-51v]
Canons of the synod of Laodikeia

Ed. G.A. Rhalles and M. Potles, Σύνταγμα τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν κανόνων..., 6 vols. (Athens 1852-59), vol. 3, pp. 171-226

Rubric: f. [49v] Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ τῆς Καπατιανῆς Φρυγίας συγκροτηθείσης συνόδου πολλῶν ἐν αὐτῇ μακαρίων πατέρων συναθροισθέντων ἐκ διαφόρων ἐπαρχιῶν τῆς Ἀσιανῆς:- κανόνες ξʹ
Incipit: f. [49v] Περὶ τοῦ δεῖν κατὰ τὸν ἐκκλησιαστικὸν κανόνα
Explicit: f. [51v] πρὸς Τῖτον μία. πρὸς Φιλήμονα μία. καὶ πρὸς Τιμόθεον δύο
16. ff. [51v-55r]
Canons of the synod of Sardika

Ed. G.A. Rhalles and M. Potles, Σύνταγμα τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν κανόνων..., 6 vols. (Athens 1852-59), vol. 3, pp. 228-282

Rubric: f. [51v] Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Σαρδικῇ συνόδου
Incipit: f. [51v] Ὁ ὅσιος ἐπίσκοπος Κουρδούβης εἶπεν
Explicit: f. [55r] μήτε κοινωνεῖν τῷ τοιούτῳ ἅπαντες εἶπον ὁριζέσθω καὶ τοῦτο
17. ff. [55r-64r]
Canons of the synod of Carthagena

Selections: 100 canons; ed. G.A. Rhalles and M. Potles, Σύνταγμα τῶν θείων καὶ ἱερῶν κανόνων..., 6 vols. (Athens 1852-59), vol. 3, pp. 297-605

Rubric: f. [55r] Κανόνες τῆς ἐν Καρθαγένη συνόδου
Incipit: f. [55r] Αὐρήλιος ἐπίσκοπος εἶπε. ταῦτα οὕτω παρ'ἡμῖν ἔχοντα
Explicit: f. [64r] ἵνα ἢ κυρωθῶ ἡ γνώμη αὐτοῦ, ἢ ἀκυρωθῆ

ff. [65r-67v] are blank

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Western paper, folded in quarto. There are no visible watermarks.

Collation

The manuscript portion of the book consists of 9 quires, of which one is a binion and the rest are quaternia.

  • Quire 18-1 ff. [1-7] The first folio has been cancelled, without loss of text.
  • Quires 2-88 ff. [8-63]
  • Quire 94 ff. [64-67]

There are leaf signatures, in Latin letters for quires and Roman numerals for leaves, in red ink (on Quire 2 black ink), on the first folio of each bifolio, recto, lower right. They appear on Quires 2-9, but begin from Quire 2 with A.

Condition

There is extensive pest damage, most serious in the left-hand part of the manuscript and gradually dwindling towards the right, but with one hole continuing throughout. There are small areas of dirt.

Layout

A single column of 29 lines. 215 × 145 mm. Ruled in hardpoint, system Leroy 13, type similar to Leroy 10D1. Text is in a variable position relative to the lines.

Hand(s)

The manuscript was copied in a western European mixed minuscule script resembling printed text, slanting slightly to the right, in black ink, with modest variation in letter size. There is deletion by expunctuation.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent or subscript, appearing as a dot rather than a line. There is decorative use of the double dot, and nomina sacra are uncontracted. Accents are sometimes joined to letters.

Punctuation used includes the lower point, lower comma and full stop.

Headings are written in a majuscule script resembling print, in red ink, except on ff. [11v-19v], where they are in orange ink, and on f. [8r], where the heading is largely in mixed minuscule.

Decoration

The transition between sections is marked by vignettes in the same ink as the accompanying headings on ff. [11v-55r].

Canons begin with slightly enlarged initial letters in red ink, or on ff. [10v-27v] in orange ink.

The transition between sections is accompanied by line-fillers on ff. [1r-7v].

Additions

As part of the original production of the manuscript, numbers for each sequence of canons have been marked in the margins in the same ink as the other rubric. At the transitions between sections on ff. [14r], [15v] and [34r], original notes indicate the number of years between successive ecumenical councils. There are running headers identifying the current section, which are in red ink even on folios where the rest of the rubric is in orange ink (ff. [10v-27v]).

There are ση(μεῖωσ)αι marks in the margins, drawing attention to particular passages, along with other occasional annotations in Greek in different hands (e.g. ff. [17v], [18v-19r], [22r-22v]).

History

Origin: The manuscript was copied during the 16th century, probably in ; western Europe, as indicated by the style of script and the evidence of its early ownership by Emmanuel Barnes (1561-1614) , who was perhaps responsible for its production.

Part 1 [Cambridge, Sidney Sussex College, MS 65, ff. [68-131]]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

18. ff. [68r-131v]
Theodoret of Cyrrhus (c. 393-c. 466), Ἐκκλησιαστικὴ Ἱστορία Ecclesiastical History

Printed edition (Basle 1535)

Physical Description

Form: codex

Condition

Two small worm-holes run through the printed portion of the book, one of them continuing from the manuscript portion

Additional Information

Record Sources

Availability

Visitors to Sidney Sussex College who wish to consult Special Collections material are required to apply to the Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Sidney Sussex College: Special Collections.

Bibliography

    A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the library of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, James, M.R. (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1895)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

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