SERVICE TO THE GRAND PRINCESS OLGA ACCORDING TO THE OLDEST COPY


2015. № 2 (5), 332-367

Vinogradov Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract:

Although church worship of the Grand Princess Olga began in the pre-Mongol period, the oldest copies of the liturgical text in her honor belong to the late 15th – early 16th centuries. The article presents a critical edition of the text of the service to the Grand Princess Olga according to the oldest copy dating back to the late 15th – early 16th centuries, with variant readings from four copies of the 16th century. The publication is preceded by brief information on the origin and history of the text. It indicates the place of the published copy among the service’s sources, provides a brief textological description of the copies used in the article (they belong to various textological groups of the written monument), justifies the choice of the basic copy of the critical publication. It also provides an overview of the collection of liturgical texts that includes the oldest copy of the service to Princess Olga, determines the type of service provided in it, describes paleographic and linguistic features of the copy. Particular attention is paid to the critical analysis of the first edition of the oldest copy issued at the beginning of the 20th century and repeatedly used as a source in research works on various problems. The article explains the need for republishing of the text as well as the principles of publication.