The Charter of the Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremias II to the Rohatyn Orthodox Brotherhood of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (from the collection of Metropolitan Andrii Sheptytskyi preserved in the Institute of Manuscript of V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine)

Abstract

The aim of the research is to consider the structure, contents and textual specifics of additional notes of the Charter issued by the Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremias II for the Rohatyn Orthodox Brotherhood of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1589 as well as to provide the translation and review of the original text. The methodology of the research predefines complex application of comparative and empirical analysis of historical documents as well as use of specific methods of codicology and palaeography. The scientific novelty. The paper shows the results of the pilot profound research of the Greek Charter text. The data proving tempering with the document is presented and the personality of the person who altered the Charter is defined. The probable causes for editing the document are stipulated; the commentary on the additional notes is given; the illustrations, original text quotes and translations are provided. Conclusions. The Foundation Charter, that in 1589 was granted by The Ecumenical Patriarch Jeremias II to the Rohatyn Orthodox Brotherhood of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was signed and validated by the majority of Orthodox hierarches of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Later in 1616–1617 the Charter was used as a tool for protection of the rights and freedoms of the members of the Brotherhood of Rohatyn within the new political agenda. That entailed the tempering with the document with introduction of new regulations by Joasaph, the Metropolitan of Monemvasia, who left his signature on the altered Charter. The latter altered version of the Charter was later endorsed by Petro Mohyla, the Metropolitan of Kyiv.