Alexandria Codex of Sofia

The Alexandria Codex of Sofia is a medieval manuscript written on parchment with ink that contains narratives and detailed illustrations. The work measures approximately 21 centimeters in height and 14 centimeters in width and is now housed in the SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library.

The manuscript was created between 1430 and 1440 and initially belonged to contractor Mano Kalpakchim. It later came to the Bulgarian National Library when N. Hristov from Tzaribrod transferred it there, where it has remained since.

The manuscript blends tales of Alexander the Great with the Trojan Legend, liturgical texts, proverbs, and divination passages from Slavic literary traditions. This combination reveals what captured the imagination of medieval readers and scholars of that time.

The manuscript can be viewed in the main collection of the SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library, which maintains strict preservation standards for its holdings. Visitors should check in advance about access conditions and viewing times for historical documents.

This work represents one of the earliest Slavic transcriptions of the Serbian Alexandria and includes detailed illustrations throughout. This early translation demonstrates how quickly literary works from Eastern sources spread across the medieval Balkans.

Inception: 1430s

Height: 21 cm

Width: 14 cm

Made from material: ink, parchment

GPS coordinates: 42.69472,23.33611

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:41