Author:

Keywords:

Peter Mogila of Kiev, Eastern Orthodox Confessions

Abstract:

In this study the author makes an attempt to uncover the intriguing history of the first edition of The Orthodox Confession by Metropolitan Peter Mogila of Kiev. Putting an emphasis on the most important developments of modern historiography with regards to this particular theme, the study clearly shows that, unfortunately, since the late 19th century, the same opinions on the data and background of this edition are stated, even though since as long as forty years ago the Dutch historiography (based on the Royal Dutch archives) brought a major contribution (yet rather unknown abroad) for the knowledge of the true coordinates and history of this particular edition. The Hellenist Émile Legrand, an authority in the field of post-Byzantine literature affirmed that Peter Mohyla's work was first published in 1667 in Amsterdam. This affirmation was taken over by the overwhelming majority of the researchers dealing with this issue. It is shown that the work was published, following the insistence of Panaiotis Nicusos, great interpreter of the Ottoman Porte, by the printer Joan Blaeu from Amsterdam. Joris Crook, the new resident for Constantinople, was assigned with the mission to carry several copies of the Confession to Constantinople. After a uniquely dramatic journey - in which Crook himself lost his life in an earthquake in Ragusa, on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, his books were taken over by the Consul Van Dam. From Venice, where they were stored, the same copies of the Confession finally reached Constantinople, in 1667, with the new resident, Justinus Colier. Being aware now of the entire sequence of the events, we must agree that the year of the printing of the Orthodox Confession of Faith was not 1667, but 1666. The study contains also a description of the printing (extremely rare).