{"id":45153,"date":"2025-10-27T09:24:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/the-miroslav-gospel-is-not-a-croatian-codex-created-near-ston"},"modified":"2025-10-27T09:24:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T08:24:39","slug":"the-miroslav-gospel-is-not-a-croatian-codex-created-near-ston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/the-miroslav-gospel-is-not-a-croatian-codex-created-near-ston","title":{"rendered":"The Miroslav Gospel Is Not a \u201cCroatian Codex\u201d Created near Ston"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a recent appearance on Podcast Velebit, Slobodan Prosperov Novak<\/strong>, literary historian and retired university professor, alongside a number of controversial interpretations concerning the Second World War and its aftermath, extensively discussed the historical development and interrelations of the Croatian and Serbian literary languages (the episode titled \u201cProsperov: The Serbian language does not exist \u2013 Serbs speak Croatian\u201d is available here<\/a>).
During the discussion, Prosperov Novak made several claims about the history of language, presenting them as undisputed and widely known facts, even though they differ from the conclusions of mainstream historiography and philology. One such claim concerns the Miroslav Gospel, a famous illuminated manuscript from the 12th century. Novak stated: <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Miroslav Gospel is not a Serbian codex at all; it is a Croatian codex created in the territory of today\u2019s Croatia, around Ston, and it has nothing to do with the Serbs. The fact that it is called Miroslav\u2019s is purely coincidental \u2014 it was merely in that man\u2019s possession, and later, in Hilandar, it was given to a Serbian minister, who then gave it to the Russians to publish.\u201d
He further added that the Serbs claim their literature begins with this work, although, in his words, it is \u201ca stolen Croatian gospel.\u201d (available here<\/a> 13:46\u201314:31) <\/p>\n

However, relevant literature on this subject provides information entirely contrary to that presented by Prosperov Novak.
Firstly, within the text of the Gospel itself \u2014 on its final, 181st folio \u2014 there are details about the circumstances of its creation,[1]<\/g> stating that it was commissioned by Miroslav Zavidovi\u0107, Prince of Hum (ca. 1133\u20131196\/1199), the elder brother of Stefan Nemanja (1166\u20131196), the Serbian Grand \u017dupan and founder of the Nemanji\u0107 dynasty. [2]<\/g> According to later datings and analyses,[3]<\/g> the codex was created for the purpose of adorning Miroslav\u2019s endowment \u2014 the episcopal Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Bijelo Polje (modern-day Montenegro) \u2014 and it is often assumed that the Gospel was actually written there. [4]<\/a> The identity of its main scribe remains uncertain; what is known is that the titles and hymns in red ink were written by the deacon Gligorije, who signed his name on the last page,[5]<\/a> while the main body of the text was likely penned by the principal church scribe, whose name has not been preserved. [6]<\/a><\/p>\n

Therefore, contrary to Novak\u2019s assertion, the Gospel did not happen to be in Prince Miroslav\u2019s possession by chance; it was created at his commission. Likewise, the claim that it was written near Ston \u2014 that is, in present-day Croatia \u2014 rather than in present-day Montenegro, has no credible basis. More importantly, Miroslav\u2019s rule over Hum was marked by joint diplomatic and military campaigns with his brother Stefan Nemanja,[7]<\/a> who in the second half of the 12th century expanded his territory westward to the Adriatic coast, surrounding the city of Dubrovnik. During this period, the lands of Nemanja and Miroslav functioned practically as a unified political entity[8]<\/g> often engaged in hostilities against Dubrovnik and its surrounding areas \u2014 territories that now largely fall within modern Croatia. The wars of Nemanja and his brothers (including Stracimir)[9] <\/g>further disprove the possibility that the Miroslav Gospel could, at the time of its creation, have been in any way associated with Croatian rulers or Croatian lands.
Novak\u2019s attempt to link the Gospel with Ston likely stems from the fact that Ston \u2014 specifically the Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Ston \u2014 long served as the seat of the Diocese of Hum, until the mid-13th century when the episcopal seat was moved to the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Bijelo Polje, where the Miroslav Gospel was still being kept.[10]<\/a> Although it is not entirely clear when the Gospel was transferred from Bijelo Polje to the Hilandar Monastery,[11]<\/a> there are no records indicating that it was taken unlawfully or by force \u2014 certainly not \u201cstolen from the Croats by the Serbs.\u201d From the 19th century onward, when the manuscript\u2019s cultural value was first recognized and it began to be studied systematically, the Miroslav Gospel changed hands several times, but it was never stolen,[12]<\/a> Until roughly two decades ago, it had not been a subject of interest in either Croatian diplomacy or Croatian scholarship. <\/p>\n

In conclusion, Slobodan Prosperov Novak\u2019s claim that the Miroslav Gospel is \u201ca Croatian codex created in the territory of present-day Croatia, around Ston\u201d is not based on historical fact and lacks any foundation in relevant historiographical and philological literature.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[1] Original and transcribed text of the Gospel available at: https:\/\/milos.io\/miroslavljevo-jevandelje-u-pdf-u-i-minijature\/<\/a> (accessed 26 Oct 2025).<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> For the history of the Nemanji\u0107 family and their ancestors, see: Bogdanovi\u0107, Dimitrije (ed.). Sveti Sava: Collected Works<\/em> (Belgrade: Prosveta, 1986); Andreji\u0107, \u017divojin. \u201cOlder and More Recent Searches for the Origins of Grand \u017dupan Stefan Nemanja and the Complete Reversal with New Results\u201d (in: Mythological Collection<\/em> 21 \u2013 2009): 131\u2013170; and Marjanovi\u0107-Du\u0161ani\u0107, Smilja. \u201cRuler\u2019s Symbols of Stefan Nemanja\u201d (in: Stefan Nemanja \u2013 Saint Simeon the Myrrh-Streaming: History and Tradition <\/em>\u2013 2000): 77\u201387. <\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> See also: Kova\u010devi\u0107, Jovan. \u201cOn the Miroslav Gospel\u201d (Istorijski \u010dasopis 2 \u2013 1951): 90\u2013102;
Trifunovi\u0107, \u0110or\u0111e. Lexicon of Medieval Serbian Literary Terms<\/em> (Belgrade: Nolit, 1974);
and Mr\u0111enovi\u0107, Du\u0161an (ed.). The Miroslav Gospel: History and Commentary<\/em> (Belgrade: Dosije, 2002). <\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> According to: https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160305010042\/http:\/\/www.narodnimuzej.rs\/zanimljivosti\/price-iz-srednjeg-veka\/miroslavljevo-jevandjelje\/ (accessed 26 Oct 2025);
https:\/\/www.unesco.org\/en\/memory-world\/miroslav-gospel-manuscript-1180<\/a> (accessed 26 Oct 2025); and Mr\u0111enovi\u0107, Du\u0161an (ed.). The Miroslav Gospel: History and Commentary<\/em> (Belgrade: Dosije, 2002).<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Original and transcribed text of the Gospel available at: https:\/\/milos.io\/miroslavljevo-jevandelje-u-pdf-u-i-minijature\/ (accessed 26 Oct 2025).<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Mr\u0111enovi\u0107, Du\u0161an (ed.). The Miroslav Gospel: History and Commentary (Belgrade: Dosije, 2002): 16.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Blagojevi\u0107, Milo\u0161. Serbia in the Time of the Nemanji\u0107 Dynasty: From Principality to Empire 1168\u20131371 (Belgrade: Vajat, 1989): 131. 131.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Bubalo, \u0110or\u0111e. The Serbian Land and the Coast during the Rule of the Nemanji\u0107 Dynasty, Vol. 1 (Novi Sad: SANU, 2000) 213. and Marjanovi\u0107-Du\u0161ani\u0107, Smilja. The Ruling Ideology of the Nemanji\u0107 Dynasty: A Diplomatic Study (Belgrade: Srpska knji\u017eevna zadruga, 1997): 78. 78.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Kali\u0107, Jovanka. \u201cThe Struggles and Achievements of Grand \u017dupan Stefan Nemanja.\u201d In: History of the Serbian People, Vol. 1 (Belgrade: Srpska knji\u017eevna zadruga, 1981): 251\u2013262. 251-262.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> See in more detail: Blagojevi\u0107, Milo\u0161. The Diocese and Metropolis of Zahumlje and Herzegovina from Its Foundation to the End of the 19th Century <\/em> (Belgrade: Svet knjige, 2009).<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> For further details, see: Mr\u0111enovi\u0107, Du\u0161an (ed.). The Miroslav Gospel: History and Commentary (Belgrade: Dosije, 2002).<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> See further in: ibid.; and https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170731100925\/http:\/\/lat.rtrs.tv\/vijesti\/vijest.php?id=70839<\/a> (accessed 26 Oct 2025). <\/p>\n

Funded by the European Union \u2013 NextGenerationEU.<\/em><\/p>\n

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission, nor the positions of the Agency for Electronic Media. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission, nor the Agency for Electronic Media can be held responsible for them. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to historical sources, the Miroslav Gospel was commissioned by Miroslav, Prince of Hum, and written in the territory of present-day Montenegro. Claims by Slobodan Prosperov Novak that the manuscript originated near Ston and represents a \u201cCroatian codex\u201d are not supported by relevant historiographical or philological literature.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":45154,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[392],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fact-check-en","infinite-scroll-item","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Miroslavljevo-jevandjelje.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Miroslavljevo-jevandjelje.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Leon \u0106evani\u0107","author_link":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/author\/leon"},"rbea_author_info":{"display_name":"Leon \u0106evani\u0107","author_link":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/author\/leon"},"rbea_excerpt_info":"According to historical sources, the Miroslav Gospel was commissioned by Miroslav, Prince of Hum, and written in the territory of present-day Montenegro. Claims by Slobodan Prosperov Novak that the manuscript originated near Ston and represents a \u201cCroatian codex\u201d are not supported by relevant historiographical or philological literature.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/p-portal.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}