Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin) and a collection of Slavic manuscripts in the library of St. Paul in Mount Athos monastery

A previously unknown chapter in the history of Serbian-Slavic manuscripts at St. Paul's monastery on Mount Athos has been uncovered, revealing Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin)'s pivotal role in their preservation. Through analysis of unpublished and published sources—including his correspondence with monks like Hieromonk Macarius (Sushkin) and librarian Azary (Poptsov)—researchers traced the fate of these manuscripts, which were ultimately burned in the early 20th century despite Leonid's efforts to acquire them for Russia's Rumyantsev Public Museum. The study also highlights the monastery library's significance as a gathering place for notable figures such as Slavicist V. I. Grigorovich and traveler Robert Curzon, offering new insights into its cultural and historical importance.

Kashcheev, A. A. (2017). Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin) and a collection of Slavic manuscripts in the library of St. Paul in Mount Athos monastery. Bibliosphere, (2), 53–58. https://doi.org/10.20913/1815-3186-2017-2-53-58