Steven Avery
Administrator
David Parker (2010)
At the same time, two letters from Count Ignatiev to Archiman-
drite Antonin Kapustin of the Russian Mission in Jerusalem reveal
that the Synaxis’ letter should be read in the light of its final
sentence. In the first letter, of May 8/20 1868, he writes
Could you not arrange for us another small matter . . . ? In other words,
could you help me put an end to the [story that the Sinai Bible was stolen
by us]?... It is necessary to obtain from the Sinai Monastery a document
certifying that the precious manuscript was offered as a gift to the
Emperor; we could give 3-4 medals instead, of different orders, maybe 10
or 12 thousand roubles over and above, as well; the less the better, and we
will be more grateful to you.... Maybe with our promise to recognize the
new archbishop of Sinai ... it will be possible to accomplish the case
cheaply, just with medals . . .
His second letter, of June 18/30, is even blunter:
As soon as the Bible has been offered as a gift to the Emperor (at less
cost to the Government), the hindrances to the solution of all the Sinai
difficulties will be lifted ... De Lex announced here and at Petersburg that
the Sinai brotherhood is ready to offer the Bible for free, since in Sinai it
is considered a Russian property, provided Kallistratos is recognized and
the Monastery is allowed to receive the money sequestrated by us. Such
a saving of money (I mean the payment of the manuscript just for our
consent to the enthronement of Kallistratos and for the donation of
someone clsc's money) pleased greatly the dignitaries in Petersburg, and
especially the Chancellor. . . . What do you think about it? For the time
being, I answered that I find it more decent to give a sum, however modest,
so that it would be possible to say that we had bought the Bible rather than
purloined it.
At the same time, two letters from Count Ignatiev to Archiman-
drite Antonin Kapustin of the Russian Mission in Jerusalem reveal
that the Synaxis’ letter should be read in the light of its final
sentence. In the first letter, of May 8/20 1868, he writes
Could you not arrange for us another small matter . . . ? In other words,
could you help me put an end to the [story that the Sinai Bible was stolen
by us]?... It is necessary to obtain from the Sinai Monastery a document
certifying that the precious manuscript was offered as a gift to the
Emperor; we could give 3-4 medals instead, of different orders, maybe 10
or 12 thousand roubles over and above, as well; the less the better, and we
will be more grateful to you.... Maybe with our promise to recognize the
new archbishop of Sinai ... it will be possible to accomplish the case
cheaply, just with medals . . .
His second letter, of June 18/30, is even blunter:
As soon as the Bible has been offered as a gift to the Emperor (at less
cost to the Government), the hindrances to the solution of all the Sinai
difficulties will be lifted ... De Lex announced here and at Petersburg that
the Sinai brotherhood is ready to offer the Bible for free, since in Sinai it
is considered a Russian property, provided Kallistratos is recognized and
the Monastery is allowed to receive the money sequestrated by us. Such
a saving of money (I mean the payment of the manuscript just for our
consent to the enthronement of Kallistratos and for the donation of
someone clsc's money) pleased greatly the dignitaries in Petersburg, and
especially the Chancellor. . . . What do you think about it? For the time
being, I answered that I find it more decent to give a sum, however modest,
so that it would be possible to say that we had bought the Bible rather than
purloined it.