FROM THE HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY OF THE IMPERIAL ORTHODOX PALESTINE SOCIETY IN THE FUNDS OF THE SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY OF THE STATE MUSEUM OF HISTORY OF RELIGION

Abstract

Th e Scientifi c library of the State Museum of History of Religion is currently the largest branch library on the history of religions, numbering about 180 000 items. It is composed of thematic collections, personal libraries, and many rare books. Its collection of literature from the library of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society is considered to be its most valuable part. Th is is a well-matched collection of books, periodicals, prints, brochures, newspaper clippings, atlases, albums. Th e collection includes research in Th eological Studies: church archeology, history, studies of Palestine, Biblical studies, pilgrimages, paleography, philosophy, linguistics, history, arts, and more. In the article the complex story of the Palestine library: its movement, oblivion and fi ght to preserve the integrity is represented for the fi rst time on a large archival material. Eventually, the eff orts of the Museum’s Director V. D. Bonch- Bruyevich managed to bring the collection to the scientifi c library of GMIR, and fi nally it became available to researchers. Refs 11.

Keywords:

The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, The library of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, The State Museum of History of Religion, The history of the Scientific library of The State, Museum of History of Religion, V. D. Bonch-Bruyevich, the history of the librarian collection