ON THE ORIGINS OF THE STORY OF THE SYNOD OF DALMA
ON THE ORIGINS OF THE STORY OF THE SYNOD OF DALMA

Summary/Abstract: The article presents a re-examination of the story of the Synod of Dalma, which is primarily found in the chronicle Gesta regum Sclavorum (GRS). The author argues that GRS is a medieval compilation of diverse texts that were revised and adapted to fulfill the objectives of the chronicle’s author. Through an examination of the presumed prior source of the story, or “hypotext”, the article scrutinizes its potential content, date, and purpose. This examination of the Synod of Dalma’s story allows for the re-establishment of the relationship between GRS on the one hand, and the Cyrillic-Methodian tradition, the formation of Christian Moravia, and the reign of the Great Moravian ruler Svatopluk on the other hand. The study concludes that this narrative from GRS could potentially offer valuable insights into the history of the Slavs in both the Balkans and north of the (Middle) Danube. Ultimately, a re-evaluation of the credibility of the entire text of GRS is suggested.

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