The Synaxarion Redaction of the Life of St. Alexander Svirsky: A Reconstruction of the Early Stages of the Text History

Research reveals that the synaxarion redaction of the Life of St. Alexander Svirsky, a 16th-century hagiographic text, exists in three distinct regional variants, each originating from different areas and reflecting Herodion Kochnev's original work. Despite its rarity—only nine surviving copies—the first variant was widespread, known in Pskov, Novgorod, the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, and possibly Romanov, suggesting a strong demand for such texts during Alexander's canonization in 1547. The study employs textological, codicological, and palaeographic analysis to trace these variants' evolution, highlighting the absence of a standardized compilation method for medieval hagiographic works.

Soboleva, A. E. (2016). The Synaxarion Redaction of the Life of St. Alexander Svirsky: A Reconstruction of the Early Stages of the Text History. Slovene, 5(1), 148–183. https://doi.org/10.31168/2305-6754.2016.5.1.5