Octoechos. (The Book Of The "Eight Tones" In Greek). -

Good. 1761. Hardcover. 16mo - 17 x 11.5 cm.; (2) - 208 - (2) pp. The text is solely in Greek with the exception of page 3 where the alphabet is printed in Greek with English below, both upper and lower case. Bound in a full calf leather with a six panel spine with gilt motifs and line work. Most probably not the original binding as the paste down end papers are of a printed white and red pattern. The first leaf present is blank on both sides with a written letter "N" on the recto. The last leaf, again blank on both sides, has a previous owner's note of 7 lines in Greek on the top third of the recto of the leaf. Illustrated title page, full page engravings on pages 6, 102, and 200 with some engaved head pieces present also. A few pages have minor chipping of the edges though not affecting any text. Rubbing and wear to the fore corners of the boards and the spine tips with the spine head being quite worn. Mild and general foxing throughout with some worming of the fore edge margins of the pages. An Orthodox liturgical text first published in 1494 in Cetinje of what is now Montenegro. The liturgical cycle required that the text be chanted daily at Vespers, Matins, Compline and (on Sunday) the Midnight office. The "eight tones" refer to the use of a different tone for each week of an eight week cycle and is sometimes called the litugical mode. The text itself as compiled by St. John Damascene (675-749) is considered a summing up of the Byzantine orthodox faith. A somewhat scarce edition. Further digital images are available upon asking. .