Definition
Lectionary 227 (siglum ℓ 227) is a Greek manuscript of the New Testament that contains a collection of liturgical readings (lections) from the Gospels, arranged for use in Christian worship. It is catalogued in the Gregory‑Aland numbering system, which classifies Greek New Testament lectionary manuscripts.
Overview
Lectionary 227 is a medieval codex written on parchment. Palaeographic analysis places its production in the 12th century, although the precise date has not been definitively proven. The manuscript comprises a series of pericopes (selected passages) from the four Gospels, organized according to the ecclesiastical calendar for the Byzantine rite. As an evangelistarium (a lectionary containing only Gospel readings), it was intended for public liturgical reading rather than private study.
The codex is preserved in the collection of the National Library of Greece (or another major Greek repository, depending on the current cataloguing status). Its physical layout traditionally follows the conventions of Byzantine lectionaries: the text is set in two columns per page, with a typical line count of about 20‑25 lines per column. The script is Greek minuscule, featuring the standard use of breathings, accents, and occasional ornamental initials.
Etymology / Origin
The term lectionary derives from the Latin lectionarium, meaning “a book of readings,” from lectio (“reading”). In the context of New Testament manuscripts, a lectionary is a liturgical book that arranges biblical passages for reading on specific days of the church year. The numeral “227” indicates its sequential entry in the Gregory‑Aland catalogue, a system devised by Caspar René Gregory and later expanded by Kurt Aland to provide a comprehensive listing of Greek New Testament manuscripts.
Characteristics
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Content | Gospel lections (pericopes) for the liturgical year; no continuous biblical text. |
| Script | Greek minuscule, typical of the 12th century Byzantine scriptoria. |
| Material | Parchment leaves (vellum). |
| Extent | Approximately 236 leaves (folio count varies by cataloguing source). |
| Layout | Two columns per page; roughly 20‑25 lines per column. |
| Decoration | May include ornamental headpieces, canon tables, and decorative initials; specifics not fully recorded. |
| Dating | Assigned to the 12th century on palaeographic grounds; no colophon providing a precise date. |
| Provenance | Originating from a Byzantine monastic or ecclesiastical scriptorium; current location is the National Library of Greece (or similar national repository). |
| Textual Significance | Serves as a witness to the Byzantine textual tradition of the Gospels within the lectionary tradition; not typically cited in critical editions of the New Testament, but useful for liturgical studies. |
Related Topics
- Gregory‑Aland numbering – The standard system for cataloguing Greek New Testament manuscripts, including papyri, uncials, minuscules, and lectionaries.
- Greek New Testament lectionaries – Liturgical books containing prescribed Scripture readings; classified as evangelistaria (Gospel lections) or apostoloi (Acts and Epistles lections).
- Byzantine manuscript tradition – The broader cultural and scribal context of Greek manuscripts produced in the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
- Palaeography – The study of ancient handwriting, used to date and locate manuscripts such as Lectionary 227.
- National Library of Greece – The institution that houses many important Greek manuscript collections, including New Testament lectionaries.
Note: While the general attributes of Lectionary 227 are well documented in standard catalogues of Greek New Testament manuscripts, specific details such as exact leaf count, decorative features, and precise current repository may vary between scholarly sources.