Writing and Literature, Culture

In the Middle Ages the Chilandar Monastery played a major role in spreading of writing and literature in Serbian lands, certainly in the Serbian variant of Old Slavonic language. A precondition for the flourishing of literature at Chilandar monastery was the creation of a library, which has occurred in the 13^th century. In Chilandar and Karyes typika the books are mentioned, and in some later charters. Also, each of Chilandar's kellia had to have its own library in order to satisfy the basic requirements of liturgical activity (Gospels, Apostles, Epistles, Liturgiaria, Euchologia, Psalters, Horologia, Octoechos, Triodion, Pentekostarion, Menaion for feasts), as well as typikon and synaharion with Saint's Lifes (hagiography), which was read aloud in the refectory. In Chilandar there are some parchment manuscripts from the 12^th and 13^th centuries, as they are: the Karyes typikon with St. Sava's signature, an early copy of the Chilandar typikon, and many other.

In its rich archives there are 172 Greek, 154 Serbian and two Bulgarian charters from the Middle Ages. When it is combined with other sources it is possible to reconstruct in detail the Chilandar's history in the 13^th and 14^th century. So, Chilandar may be called as the centre of medieval Serbia's spiritual life and an intermediary and representative in Serbia's relations with Byzantium.

Panagia, 10th or 11th century

Cameo with the figure of Christ the Pantocraton early 13th century

Panagia 13th or 14th century

Fresco from the chapter of the Holy Trinity skete on the saviour's water 1260-70

Cameo with the figure of St. Demetrius 13th century

Cameo with the figure of the Virgin 13th century

The manuscript copying was also one important precondition for Chilandar to become the main Serbian literary centre in the Middle Ages, which started as early as in the 13^th century, both in the Monastery and in its kellia and pyrgoi. Theodore Grammaticus was a well-known scribe of the Transfiguration Tower, who was responsible for the notable Hexaemeron of 1263, which is now in Moscow, Russia. The greatest Serbian medieval writers were working at Chilandar at that time, such as: Domentian, who was Theodor's patron and spiritual father. At the end of 13^th century Theodosius lived in Chilandar monastery. The workshop in the Karyes kellion was very well known during the 14^th century. In 1336, the elder Theodulus copied there the Theodosius's Life of St. Sava. There are also known monk-copiers: Romanus, Theoctistus, Damian, Job, Dionysius, Joseph, Mark, Athanasius, abbot Dorotheus... This copying work led to creation of a scriptorium which exerted a great influence on the morphology of Cyrillic writing in Serbia and played an important role in the development of Serbian orthography and grammar in the 14th century.

       The Fourth Gospels of the Patriach Sava IV 3th quarter of the 14th century

Roman's Gospel 1337, 1360

The text of St. Simeon's charter on 1198, and of St. Sava's Chilandar typika, served as the nucleus from which Serbian biographical writing was to develop. St. Sava was both first Serbian writer of the Nemanjic period and the first Chilandar writer. Very intensive copying and translating activity at Chilandar monastery has occurred at the end of the medieval period. The works of the contemporary theologians and hermits of that time were read and translated, as for instance the works of Gregory Palamas, Gregory of Sinai, Callistus and many others, etc.

  The Evangelistry, late 13th or early 14th century