Secretive collection of manuscripts of the bishop of Veliky Ustyug and Totem Bogolep (Adamov)

Abstract

The research of secretive collection of manuscripts sheds light upon the historical views, cultural interests, and life circumstances of Bogolep Adamov (the second half of the XVII century – January 13, 1727). The sources contain some information on the activity of the bishop in his new eparchy, created by the Tsar Feodor III Alexeyevich according to the plan of religious education of his subjects. The rest of the facts about Bogolep Adamov, from his last name and his life path in the Chudov Monastery and Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Moscow and St. Petersburg respectively, to his episcopal consecration on January 25, 1719, are known from his books and manuscripts. One of them, which in the author’s opinion is most personal, and thus especially valuable, was the subject of this research. From methodical perspective, the work indicates the norm that is advisable to observe in describing a manuscript of the XVII century. It is demonstrated how a consistent codicological analysis of the manuscript collection allows tracing the entire history of its creation, and which research methods, starting with textology, reveal its content. Having examines the reasoning of Bogolep Adamov, the author also gets familiar   with the booklore of that time. Considerable attention is given to the archeographic explorations that give an idea of the partially preserved library of the bishop, formed in the last quarter of the XVII – first quarter of the XVIII centuries. As a result of the conducted research, Bogolep appears as an educated, traditionally open-minded individual of his era, which began with the reforms of the Tsar Feodor III Alexeyevich and ended with the reforms of Peter the Great, whom in the twilight of his life, the bishop recalls with warmth.