Published on: 2026-10-07
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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Experts Moscow Main Archive They began the restoration of a rare liturgical monument — a 19th-century altar Gospel from the funds of the Sevastopol archive. The book was printed at the Moscow Synodal Printing House. This is already the second valuable edition from Sevastopol to be sent for restoration to the specialists of the Main Archive.
“Cooperation between Moscow and Sevastopol is of great importance for preserving our shared historical and cultural heritage. Our joint work not only allows us to exchange professional experience but also to revive rare documents and publications related to the history of the two cities. The restoration of the altar Gospel is another example of such collaboration. Moscow restorers have extensive experience working with highly complex liturgical books and will help preserve this valuable monument so that after completion, it returns to the collection of the Sevastopol archive. I am confident that the Gospel will be kept there for a long time and continue to tell its story to future generations,” noted the head of the Moscow Main Archive.
How the restoration will proceed
The copy that was sent for restoration requires comprehensive and meticulous work. According to experts from the Main Archive, the book block is in satisfactory condition, but the binding and decorative elements have been damaged by time and active liturgical use. The pages retain numerous traces from wax candles, and the cover is partially lost: the central image and the applique of the evangelist Mark are missing.
Specialists from the Moscow Main Archive will conduct a detailed study of the book, carefully remove wax stains and dirt, reinforce the binding structures, and restore the lost elements of the brass cover. At the same time, they will try to preserve the velvet coating and the distinctive features of the folio’s historical appearance as much as possible.
After the completion of the entire complex of restoration and conservation works, the publication will return to the storage of the Sevastopol archive.
This is not the first example of successful collaboration between two regions. Earlier, specialists from the capital’s archive completed the most complex restoration of the 1801 Menaion edition from the collections of the Sevastopol archive. During six months of work, they disassembled the fragile book block, mechanically and manually cleaned the pages, neutralized the paper’s acidity, resewed the block with linen threads on a special machine, and also restored the original leather cover with embossing.
In addition, the Moscow Main Archive not only restores printed publications and documents but also actively makes them accessible to all residents of the country. Within the framework of cooperation with the Department of Administration of the Governor and Government of Sevastopol (now the Department of Administrative and Economic Support of the Executive Bodies of the City of Sevastopol), digitized metric books of the Orthodox churches of Sevastopol from 1815 to 1919 have already been made available in open access on the Main Archive’s online service. “My Family”. Here anyone can use them to search for information about their ancestors.
Special book
The Gospel Book is an important liturgical item: the reading of the Holy Scriptures takes place during worship services. The book contains the four Gospels — of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The text is divided into pericopes — small sections specifically selected for reading at various services: the liturgy, festive matins, royal hours, and others.
Reading a passage from the Gospel is one of the oldest church traditions and an obligatory part of the liturgical order. The moment of carrying the Gospel out of the altar for reading during the liturgy is called the Little Entrance. The Gospel is also used in other solemn moments: during the Sunday matins, when it is placed on the analogion for the veneration of the faithful, and during the procession. It is also invoked in certain rites, for example in prayer services or during the sacrament of confession.
According to an ancient tradition, laypeople were not allowed to keep the altar Gospel at home — only a priest or deacon could read it. Sometimes there are several altar Gospels in a church, and a simpler one is used for weekday services, while a richly decorated one is used for solemn occasions. The altar Gospel is considered an object of church veneration — it is venerated along with the altar cross and icons. To give additional symbolic correspondence of the Gospel to the image of the Heavenly King, as well as to protect the book from wear, it was usually placed in a cover.
Sobyanin: A unique restoration of a printed edition has been completed in Moscow
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