Posts in category: Η Ιστορια ενός Χειρογραφου 2 – Καρακάλλου

Iakovos Malaspina himself explains precisely how and why Isaak's book came to be in his possession in a handwritten note – and with a much poorer spelling – which follows Isaak's at the bottom of the same page:
In the year 7000 (1492 AD)
the present holy gospel is found in the hands of Iakovos Malaspina.
He purchased it in Constantinople and for the memorial service (requiem) of the same Iakovos and Georgios
we want it to safely return to the
holy monastery and if anybody puts impediment or keeps it and does not give it, may he receive the curses of the three hundred and eight holy fathers and the anathema of the seven (ecumenical) Councils
+ Iakovos Malaspinas
his son Georgios, now deceased we are sending the present (book) so that we have our requiem in your liturgy.

Isaak assigns responsibility to the monks, saints, and apostles to safeguard the precious book he is donating to the fraternity, and forbids it to be offered, sold, exchanged, or secretly appropriated. It is customary in Byzantium that at the end of a book, the donor draws attention to the necessity of preserving it, sometimes even with threats or curses. However, despite the precautions taken by Isaak, the manuscript was removed at an unknown time and under obscure circumstances from the library of the Monastery. Surprisingly, it was later found in Konstantinople, and the Lord Iakovos Malaspina bought it in 1492 and sent it back to the Monastery, where it is still kept today. It is an example of the relationship the Monastery maintained with wealthy aristocrats, even after the end of Byzantium.