Octoechos

A manuscript book, created in 1769.

The manuscript is in two colors; foliation is absent, with letter signatures at the bottom center. The book is decorated with initials and contains a full-color ornamental headpiece.

The cover is of dense cardboard, bound in leather with a stamped ornament on both covers: a rhombus with an inset floral motif, bordered around the perimeter by a frame of scrolling floral shoots. On the edges of the back cover are the remnants of copper clasps.

The book was acquired by the museum from V. M. Veselkov in 1989.

Note: the Octoechos (Greek Októēchos — "eight tones") is the principal liturgical book of the Orthodox and Greek Catholic Church, containing the texts of chants and prayers for each day of the week. All the chants are divided into eight tones (melodies), which change in sequence each week.