Chronicles of Constantine Manasses

The new facsimile edition of the famous Chronicles of Constantine Manasses was published by Militos Editions and the Vatican Apostolic Library, with the financial support of Bulgaria's mobile operator Globul. This luxurious facsimile edition is produced with state-of-the-art technology and is an exact and detailed copy of a famous medieval Bulgarian illuminated manuscript of the Manasses' Chronicles, created in 14 century under request by Bulgarian King Ivan Alexander (1331 - 1371). This manuscript is the only preserved illuminated copy of the chronicles which is currently housed at the Vatican Apostolic Library as its Slavonic Codex 2. A copy of the facsimile edition will be presented to His Holiness Pope Benedict ХVI by a Bulgarian state delegation to Rome on May 24, the Day of Bulgarian Culture. The Chronicles is the most important work of the 12th century Byzantine historian and writer Constantine Manasses, which narrates world history from the creation to the year 1081. The Chronicle is a valuable source for the early history of Bulgaria for many modern historians. The Bulgarian version, which is the subject of the new facsimile edition, with its 69 Byzantine-style miniatures by an unknown painter (some 20 of them related to Bulgarian history) is a unique monument of art, history and culture. For more information see: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=80544

SPIEGEL INTERVIEW WITH ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN

'I Am Not Afraid of Death' - Prominent Russian writer and Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn on Russia's turbulent history, Putin's version of democracy and his attitude to life and death.

(The photo here shows Solzhenitsyn being visited at home on June 12, 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who awarded the author the State Prize for his humanitarian work. 07/23/2007 - Spiegel Online)

See complete interview below at:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,496003,00.html

The Diary of Tanya Savicheva

Twelve-year old Tanya Savicheva started her diary just before Anne Frank. They were of almost the same age and wrote about the same things – about the horrors of fascism. And, again, both these girls died without seeing victory day – Tanya died in July of 1944 and Anne in March of 1945. “The Diary of Anne Frank” was published all over the world and told the author’s story to many people. “The Diary of Tanya Savicheva” was not published at all – it contains only seven scary notes about the deaths of her family members in Leningrad at the time of the

Blockade.

(Photo from Orthodoxy and the World)

This small notebook was presented at the Nuremberg trials as a document condemning the terrors of fascism. Today “The Diary of Tanya Savicheva” is in the museum of history of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg ) and a copy is at the Piskarev cemetery where 570 thousand people who died in Leningrad during the 900-day blockade rest (1941-1943).

For additional information see: http://www.pravmir.com/article_238.html

First Conference Dedicated to the Heritage of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Spiritual Heritage Foundation and the Library-Foundation “Russkoye Zarubez’e” would like to announce the 1st Conference dedicated to a profound analysis of the heritage of Metropolitan Anthony.

The conference will be held on 28-30 September 2007 on the premises of the Library-Foundation “Russkoye Zarubez’e” A wide range of subjects are suggested for discussion:
the experience of prayer and the theological thought of Metropolitan Anthony; his contribution to the Christian aspects of psychology, medicine and sciences as well as his influence on different areas of contemporary culture.
Personal accounts about Metropolitan Anthony – the shepherd, the preacher, the spiritual Father, the priest and the bishop will be heard.

For additional information see: http://www.metropolit-anthony.orc.ru/eng/found.htm

Russian Orthodox Music Scores from the Library of the Synod Cathedral Choir, New York City

Here is where you can obtain your own copies of music scores prepared for and used by the Synod Cathedral Choir of New York City: http://www.rocm.org/e_scores.htm

The music scores on this web site are specially created engravings of works contained in the Ledkovsky family music library. This collection was gathered over the course of more than 100 years by the eminent church musicians Boris M. Ledkovsky and Alexander B. Ledkovsky.
The library also includes major works from the Divine Services of the Russian Orthodox Church, including compositions of some of Russia’s most renowned liturgical composers. Finally, in one of Alexander Ledkovsky's most painstaking efforts, the complete choral portions of most of the Church's major feast days, as well as many Lenten services, are available, as downloadable booklets. These publications include detailed instructions for the order of the services, based on the Typikon usage practiced at the Synod Cathedral.

It is hoped that this site will be useful to directors of choirs and others interested in enhancing their Russian Orthodox Church music library.