Кой, кога, къде в Пространното житие на св. Константин-Кирил
Vita Constantini: Who, When, Where

Author(s): Maya Ivanova, Cvetomira Danova
Subject(s): History, Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Middle Ages
Published by: Кирило-Методиевски научен център при Българска академия на науките
Keywords: Cyril and Methodius; Vita Constantini; Medieval history; Medieval literature
Summary/Abstract: The present book Vita Constantini: Who, When, Where is a handbook dedicated to the first and foremost Slavic work which was written around 880 AD in Central Europe in the then Slavic Principality of Great Moravia – the Life of Constantine-Cyril the Philosopher (Vita Constantini). Vita Constantini occupies a special place in Slavic literary history and since the very establishment of Slavic Studies as a science it has become obligatory in the university courses in Europe. Since the 19th c. the Vita has been translated in several modern languages and we could say that today almost all modern European nations have their translations of the work. Today, Vita Constantini is an integral part of the educational canon in Bulgarian schools and humanities university programs, as well as in the schools of countries such as Russia, North Macedonia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, etc. At Bulgarian schools Vita Constantini is part of the literature curriculum and the present book is aimed specifically at the teaching-learning process. By performing this function, the handbook is designed for a broader circle of readers interested in Medieval history and Medieval literature, including Bulgarian Studies scholars abroad. All classical works – and Vita Constantini is undoubtedly one such work – attract readers of different age and at different stages of their lives. And this goes far beyond school and university curricula. Vita Constantini: Who, When, Where comprises two parts. Part I is structured as a handbook where the separate entries are dedicated to personal names and by-names of actual historical figures, biblical and mythological characters, names of states, regions, rivers, mountains, and institutions (churches, monasteries, schools), names of languages, tribes and nations that appear on the pages of Vita Constantini. Besides the information of who, when and where someone lived and worked, the entries give indirect answers to the questions what and why. In this way readers have a quick and informative access to the most important points in Vita Constantini and their interpretation in Slavic studies. Part II of the book contains the text of the Vita. The purpose is to facilitate the perception of the first part (the references) through the second part (the text) and vice versa. Both parts are complemented with instructions for use. At the end of the book are included four supplements and a list of references, which is an excerpt of the vast scholarly and popular science literature dedicated to Vita Constantini.

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