THE FEAST OF POKROV, ITS BYZANTINE ORIGIN, AND THE CULT OF GREGORY THE ILLUMINATOR AND ISAAC THE PARTHIAN (SAHAK PARTcEV) IN BYZANTIUM
“Part One: Byzantino-Slavica 1
1.1. Introduction 1
1.2. The Theoretical Impossibility of the “Russian” Approach 3
1.3. Wortley’s Hypothesis 5
1.4. The Christian Community in Kiev in the Time of Patriarch Euthymius 5
1.5. A South Slavic Alternative 6
1.6. The Original Meaning of the Feast of Pokrov According to Pachomius Logothetos 7
1.7. BHG 1136d: a Greek Homily on Pokrov 8
1.7.1. The Greek Original and Its Pseudepigraphic Authorship 9
1.7.2. Liturgical Setting and Contents: Pokrov Vigil 9
1.7.3. Author: Patriarch Euthymius 11
1.8. The Prolog sermon on Pokrov 11
1.8.1. Contents 12
1.8.2. Relation to the Life of Andrew the Salos 13
1.8.3. Author 14
1.9. Conclusion to the Byzantino-Russian Dossier 14
Part Two: Armeno-Byzantina 15
2.1. Introduction 15
2.2. The Discovery of the Relics of St Gregory during the Patriarchate of Photius 16
2.2.1. Historical Context 16
2.2.2. Precise Place: τὰ Καριανοῦ monastery near Blachernae 17
Note 1: van Esbroeck’s identification of the monastery τὰ Καριανοῦ with the monastery of Staurakios 19
2.2.3. Date: between 862 and 867 19
2.2.4. The Date of the Liturgical Commemoration 20
2.3. Gregory the Illuminator and Isaac the Parthian as the Saints of the Macedonian Dynasty 23
2.3.1. Isaac the Parthian in Photius’ Cult of St Gregory the Illuminator 23
2.3.2. St Gregory the Illuminator in the Cult of St Patriarch Stephen 25
2.3.3. The Cult of St Gregory the Illuminator under Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos 27
2.3.4. An Alternative to the Vision of St Sahak: the Apocalypse of Andrew the Salos 27
2.4. The Veneration of “Pokrov” before the Feast of Pokrov 29
2.4.1. Photius, 860: the Discovery of “Pokrov” 29
2.4.2. When “Pokrov” Becomes “Omophorion/Maphorion” 31
2.4.3. A Secondary “Pokrov” Cult: The Maphorion of St Theophano 32
2.4.4. How “Pokrov” Becomes “Omophorion/Maphorion” 34
2.4.5. The Bishop’s “Maphorion” of St Gregory the Illuminator 35
2.4.6. Why “Pokrov” Becomes “Omophorion/Maphorion” 36
2.5. Conclusion to the Armeno-Byzantine Dossier 37
Note 2: A Tentative Reconstruction of a Liturgical Cycle Possibly Related to the Vision of St Andrew within the Life of Andrew the Salos 38
Part Three: the Feast of Pokrov within the Cycle of St Gregory the Illuminator 39
3.1. The Marian Relics and the Wives of Leo the Wise 39
3.2. The Symbolic Nature of the Date 1 October 41
3.3. The Autumn Commemorations of St Gregory the Illuminator and His Companions in Constantinople 42
3.4. The Choice of 1 October for the Pokrov Feast 43
Excursus: St Gregory the Illuminator’s Feast on 30 September 44
1. Peeters’ Hypothesis 44
2. The Dormition of the Theotokos and the Dedication of the Cathedral of Etchmiadzin 46
3. The Dates of the Baptism of Armenia in the Agathangelos 47
4. Two Remnants of Earlier Commemorations of St Gregory: 20 Sahmi and 20 Hoṙi 47
5. The Pentecost after the Dormition of the Theotokos 48
6. The New Year on 1 Navasard and the Dormition of the Theotokos 49
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