Old Church Slavonic Online

There are some OCS manuscripts important for their obvious local characteristics. Among these are the following:

(i) The Ostromir Gospel, from the 11th cent. This is a Cyrillic manuscript of 294 folia containing an evangelistary. The source was presumably East Bulgarian, but the scribe's native Russian shows through in the treatment of certain sounds: ǫ > u; trŭt > tŭrt; tlŭt > tŭlt; trĭt > tĭrt; 3rd. sg. and pl. pres. ending in -tĭ.

(ii) The Prague Fragments, from the 11th cent. The two folia contain translations of liturgical material copied in the Clagolitic script. The linguistic traits are evidently Czech: CS tj, dj > c, z; vĭšěxŭ with -š- for OCS vĭsěxŭ; retention of dl; gen. sg. of ja-stems in -ě.

(iii) The Freising Texts, from the late 10th to early 11th cents. These are three texts found in a Latin codex; the orthography is based on that of Old High German. The texts are a confessional formula, a homily, and a prayer. The language is believed to be somewhere between Slovene and OCS, but has not been precisely characterized.

Reading and Textual Analysis

The following is an excerpt from the Life of Constantine (Cyril). It relates the story of the original request from the Moravian prince to the Byzantine emperor for a priest who could teach the Christian doctrine in their native language. Of course the emperor chose Constantine, and thus began the chain of events which led to the object of study in these lessons.

The following passage has several features which should be pointed out. First there are some simple orthographic conventions: ѡ is often written for о; щ is typical for шт; у may be written for ѹ; ѳ is written for ф. Second, there are important phonological shifts represented in the orthography. In particular, in the dialect of the author or scribe, ǫ was denasalized to u. Thus one finds the first person singular present form могѹ instead of the expected могѫ. Similarly there is loss of the nasal quality of ę, so that ѧ and а merge. This leads to forms such as ѹчитєлѧ for the usual genitive singular ѹчитєл҄ја, as well as јазъікъ for the usual ѩзъікъ. The third person singular and plural of the present tense also shows the ending -ть rather than -тъ, e.g. имѹть for usual имѫтъ, можєть for usual можєтъ.

Вєсєлѧщѹ жє сѧ ѡ боѕѣ филосоѳу, пакъі дрѹгаа рѣчь приспѣ и трѹдъ нє мнєи пръвъіхъ |

• вєсєлѧщѹ -- present active participle; dative singular masculine of <вєсєлити, -л҄ѭ, -лиши> entertain; (refl.) rejoice -- while... was rejoicing
• жє -- conjunction; <жє> and, but -- And
• сѧ -- reflexive pronoun; accusative of <сєбє> self -- ...
• ѡ -- preposition; <о> around, concerning; against -- in
• боѕѣ -- noun; locative singular masculine of <богъ> god -- God
• филосоѳу -- noun; dative singular masculine of <философъ> philosopher -- the Philosopher
• пакъі -- adverb; <пакъі> back, again -- ...
• дрѹгаа -- adjective; nominative singular feminine of <дрѹгъ> other -- another
• рѣчь -- noun; nominative singular feminine of <рѣчь> speech -- request
• приспѣ -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <приспѣти, -ѣѭ, -ѣѥши> happen -- came
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• трѹдъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <трѹдъ> labor -- a task
• нє -- particle; <нє> not -- no
• мнєи -- comparative adjective; nominative singular masculine of <мьнии> smaller, less -- lesser
• пръвъіхъ -- adjective used as substantive; genitive plural masculine of <прьвъ> first, primary -- than the previous

Ростиславъ бо, Моравьскъіи кнѧзь, богомъ ѹстимъ, съвѣтъ сътвори съ кнѧзи своими и с Моравлѧнъі, посла къ царю Михаилѹ, глаголѧ, людємъ нашимъ поганьства сѧ ѡтвръгшимъ, и по христіанєскъ сѧ законъ дръжащимъ, ѹчитєлѧ нє имамъ таковаго, ижє бъі нъі въ свои јазъікъ истѹю вѣрѹ христіаньскѹю сказалъ, да бъіша и инъі странъі того зрѧщє подобилисѧ намъ |

• Ростиславъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <Ростиславъ> Rostislav -- Rostislav
• бо -- conjunction; <бо> for -- for
• Моравьскъіи -- adjective; nominative singular masculine of <Моравьскъ> Moravian -- the Moravian
• кнѧзь -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <кънѧзь> prince -- prince
• богомъ -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <богъ> god -- by God
• ѹстимъ -- present passive participle; nominative singular masculine of <ѹстити, -штѫ, -стиши> exhort -- roused
• съвѣтъ -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <съвѣтъ> counsel -- counsel
• сътвори -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <сътворити, -рѭ, -риши> do, make -- took
• съ -- preposition; <съ> with -- with
• кнѧзи -- noun; instrumental plural masculine of <кънѧзь> prince -- princes
• своими -- reflexive adjective; instrumental plural masculine of <свои, своє, своја> own, one's own -- his
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• с -- preposition; <съ> with -- with
• Моравлѧнъі -- adjective used as substantive; instrumental plural masculine of <Моравлјанинъ> Moravian -- the Moravians
• посла -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <посълати, -л҄ѭ, -л҄ѥши> send, summon -- sent
• къ -- preposition; <къ> to, for -- to
• царю -- noun; dative singular masculine of <царь> emperor, tsar -- Tsar
• Михаилѹ -- noun; dative singular masculine of <Михаилъ> Michael -- Michael
• глаголѧ -- present active participle; nominative singular masculine of <глаголати, -л҄ѭ, -л҄ѥши> say, speak -- saying
• людємъ -- noun; dative plural masculine of <людъ> people -- people
• нашимъ -- possessive adjective; dative plural masculine of <нашь> our, of us -- Our
• поганьства -- noun; genitive singular neuter of <поганьство> paganism -- paganism
• сѧ -- reflexive pronoun; accusative of <сєбє> self -- ...
• ѡтвръгшимъ -- past active participle; dative plural masculine of <отъврѣшти, -врьгѫ, -врьгєши> throw away, renounce -- having cast off
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• по -- preposition; <по> after; according to -- according to
• христіанєскъ -- adjective; accusative singular masculine of <христіаньскъ> Christian -- Christian
• сѧ -- reflexive pronoun; accusative of <сєбє> self -- themselves
• законъ -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <законъ> law -- law
• дръжащимъ -- present active participle; dative singular masculine of <дрьжати, -жѫ, -жиши> hold -- conducting # # usual spelling дрьжѧщимъ
• ѹчитєлѧ -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <ѹчитєль> teacher -- teacher # # usual spelling ѹчитєлја
• нє -- particle; <нє> not -- no
• имамъ -- verb; 1st person plural present of <имѣти, имамь, имаши> have, hold -- (we) have
• таковаго -- adjective; genitive singular masculine of <таковъ> such, of that sort -- such
• ижє -- relative pronoun; genitive singular feminine of <ижє> who, which -- who
• бъі -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <бъіти, бѫдѫ, бѫдєши> be, become -- would
• нъі -- pronoun; accusative plural of <азъ> I -- us
• въ -- preposition; <въ> in, into -- in
• свои -- reflexive adjective; accusative singular masculine of <свои, своє, своја> own, one's own -- our own
• јазъікъ -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <ѩзъікъ> tongue, language, nation -- tongue
• истѹю -- adjective; accusative singular feminine of <истъ> true, real -- the true # # usual spelling истѫѭ
• вѣрѹ -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <вѣра> faith, belief -- faith # # usual spelling вѣрѫ
• христіаньскѹю -- adjective; accusative singular feminine of <христіаньскъ> Christian -- Christian # # usual spelling христіаньскѫѭ
• сказалъ -- resultative participle; nominative singular masculine of <съказати, -заѭ, -заѥши> announce, explain, make known -- explain
• да -- conjunction; <да> in order to, that; may, let; and, then -- so that
• бъіша -- verb; 3rd person plural aorist of <бъіти, бѫдѫ, бѫдєши> be, become -- might # # usual spelling бъішѧ
• и -- adverb; <и> even -- even
• инъі -- demonstrative adjective; nominative plural feminine of <инъ> this, this one here -- here
• странъі -- noun; nominative plural feminine of <страна> country; area, region; (pl) heathen -- the countries
• того -- demonstrative pronoun; genitive singular neuter of <тъ> that, that one -- this
• зрѧщє -- present active participle; nominative plural feminine of <зьрѣти, -р҄ѭ, -риши> see -- seeing
• подобилисѧ -- reflexive resultative participle; nominative plural feminine of <подобити, -бл҄ѭ, -биши> imitate -- imitate
• намъ -- pronoun; dative plural of <азъ> I -- us

То посли намъ, владъікѡ, єпископа и ѹчитєлѧ таковаго |

• то -- conjunction; <то> but, then, therefore -- So
• посли -- verb; 2nd person singular imperative of <посълати, -л҄ѭ, -л҄ѥши> send, summon -- send
• намъ -- pronoun; dative plural of <азъ> I -- us
• владъікѡ -- noun; vocative singular masculine of <владъіка> lord, master; leader -- Master
• єпископа -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <єпископъ> bishop -- a bishop
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• ѹчитєлѧ -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <ѹчитєль> teacher -- teacher # # usual spelling ѹчитєлја
• таковаго -- adjective; genitive singular masculine of <таковъ> such, of that sort -- such

Ѡтъ васъ бо на всѧ странъі въсєгда добръіи законъ исходить |

• ѡтъ -- preposition; <отъ> by, from, of -- from
• васъ -- pronoun; genitive plural of <тъі> you, thou -- you
• бо -- conjunction; <бо> for -- for
• на -- preposition; <на> in, on; at, against; for -- into
• всѧ -- adjective; accusative plural feminine of <вьсь> all, every; whole -- all
• странъі -- noun; nominative plural feminine of <страна> country; area, region; (pl) heathen -- countries
• въсєгда -- adverb; <въсєгда> always, at all times -- always
• добръіи -- adjective; nominative singular masculine of <добръ> good -- the good
• законъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <законъ> law -- law
• исходить -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <исходити, -ждѫ, -диши> exit from, go out of -- flows # # usual spelling исходитъ

Събравъ жє царь съборъ, призва Коньстантина филосѡѳа, и сътвори и слъішати рѣчь сію и рєчє, филосѡѳє, вѣмь тѧ трѹдна сѹща, но достоить тєбѣ тамо ити |

• събравъ -- past active participle; nominative singular masculine of <събьрати, -бєрѫ, -бєрєши> collect, gather -- convening
• жє -- conjunction; <жє> and, but -- ...
• царь -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <царь> emperor, tsar -- The Tsar
• съборъ -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <съборъ> counsel, meeting -- a counsel
• призва -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <призъвати, -зовѫ, -зовєши> call, summon -- summoned
• Коньстантина -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <Коньстантинъ> Constantine -- Constantine
• филосѡѳа -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <философъ> philosopher -- the Philosopher
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• сътвори -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <сътворити, -рѭ, -риши> do, make -- bade
• и -- pronoun; accusative singular masculine of <*и> he -- him
• слъішати -- verb; infinitive of <слъішати, -шѫ, -шиши> hear -- hear
• рѣчь -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <рѣчь> speech -- request
• сію -- demonstrative adjective; accusative singular feminine of <сь> this -- this # # usual spelling сьѭ
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• рєчє -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <рєшти, рєкѫ, рєчєши> say, tell -- said
• филосѡѳє -- noun; vocative singular masculine of <философъ> philosopher -- Philosopher
• вѣмь -- verb; 1st person singular present of <вѣдѣти, вѣмь, вѣси> see, know -- I see (that)
• тѧ -- pronoun; accusative singular of <тъі> you, thou -- you
• трѹдна -- adjective; genitive singular masculine of <трѹдьнъ> tired, weary -- weary
• сѹща -- present active participle; genitive singular masculine of <ѥс-, ѥсмь, ѥси> be -- are
• но -- conjunction; <нъ> but -- but
• достоить -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <достојати, -стоѭ, -стоиши> befit, be proper -- it does... suit
• тєбѣ -- pronoun; dative singular of <тъі> you, thou -- you
• тамо -- adverb; <тамо> there, to that place, thither -- there
• ити -- verb; infinitive of <ити, идѫ, идєши> go -- to go

Сіа бо рѣчи нє можєть инъ никтожє исправити, јакожє тъі |

• сіа -- demonstrative adjective; genitive singular feminine of <сь> this -- this # # usual spelling сєѩ
• бо -- conjunction; <бо> for -- But
• рѣчи -- noun; genitive singular feminine of <рѣчь> speech -- request
• нє -- particle; <нє> not -- ...
• можєть -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <мошти, могѫ, могєши> be able, can -- (there) is... so able
• инъ -- demonstrative adjective; nominative singular masculine of <инъ> this, this one here -- ...
• никтожє -- interrogative pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <никътожє> no one, nobody -- no one
• исправити -- verb; infinitive of <исправити, -вл҄ѭ, -виши> accomplish -- to fulfil
• јакожє -- conjunction; <јакожє> as, like, than, so as to -- as
• тъі -- pronoun; nominative singular of <тъі> you, thou -- you

Ѡтвѣща филосѡѳъ, и трѹдєнъ съі тѣлѡмъ и болєнъ, радъ идѹ тамо, ащє имѹть бѹкви въ јазъікъ свои |

• ѡтвѣща -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <отвѣштати, -таѭ, -таѥши> respond, answer -- answered
• филосѡѳъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <философъ> philosopher -- The Philosopher
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- ...
• трѹдєнъ -- adjective; nominative singular masculine of <трѹдьнъ> tired, weary -- tired
• съі -- present active participle; nominative singular masculine of <ѥс-, ѥсмь, ѥси> be -- ...
• тѣлѡмъ -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <тѣло> body -- in body
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• болєнъ -- adjective; nominative singular masculine of <больнъ> sick -- feeble
• радъ -- adjective; nominative singular masculine of <радъ> glad, happy -- gladly
• идѹ -- verb; 1st person singular present of <ити, идѫ, идєши> go -- I will... go # # usual spelling идѫ
• тамо -- adverb; <тамо> there, to that place, thither -- there
• ащє -- particle; <аштє> if, whether -- if
• имѹть -- verb; 3rd person plural present of <ѩти, имѫ, имєши> take, seize -- they have
• бѹкви -- noun; accusative plural feminine of <бѹкъі> letter, writing -- letters
• въ -- preposition; <въ> in, into -- for
• јазъікъ -- noun; accusative singular masculine of <ѩзъікъ> tongue, language, nation -- tongue
• свои -- reflexive adjective; accusative singular masculine of <свои, своє, своја> own, one's own -- their

И рєчє царь къ нємѹ, дѣдъ мои, и ѡтьцъ мои, и иніи мноѕи, искавшє того нє обрѣли сѹть |

• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• рєчє -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <рєшти, рєкѫ, рєчєши> say, tell -- said
• царь -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <царь> emperor, tsar -- the Tsar
• къ -- preposition; <къ> to, for -- to
• нємѹ -- pronoun; dative singular masculine of <*и> he -- him
• дѣдъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <дѣдъ> grandfather -- grandfather
• мои -- possessive adjective; nominative singular masculine of <мои> my -- My
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• ѡтьцъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <отьць> father -- father
• мои -- possessive adjective; nominative singular masculine of <мои> my -- my
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• иніи -- demonstrative adjective; nominative plural masculine of <инъ> this, this one here -- those... (others)
• мноѕи -- adjective; nominative plural masculine of <мъногъ> much, many -- many
• искавшє -- past active participle; nominative plural masculine of <искати, иштѫ, иштєши> search, seek, try -- though they sought
• того -- demonstrative pronoun; genitive singular neuter of <тъ> that, that one -- this
• нє -- particle; <нє> not -- not
• обрѣли -- resultative participle; nominative plural masculine of <обрѣшти, -рѧштѫ, -рѧштєши> find, discover -- produce
• сѹть -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <ѥс-, ѥсмь, ѥси> be -- could

То како азъ могѹ обрѣсти |

• то -- conjunction; <то> but, then, therefore -- Then
• како -- interrogative adverb; <како> how, how is it that -- how
• азъ -- pronoun; nominative singular of <азъ> I -- I
• могѹ -- verb; 1st person singular present of <мошти, могѫ, могєши> be able, can -- could # # usual spelling могѫ
• обрѣсти -- verb; infinitive of <обрѣшти, -рѧштѫ, -рѧштєши> find, discover -- produce (it)

Филосѡѳъ жє рєчє, то кто можєть на водѣ бєсѣдѹ написати |

• филосѡѳъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <философъ> philosopher -- the Philosopher
• жє -- conjunction; <жє> and, but -- But
• рєчє -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <рєшти, рєкѫ, рєчєши> say, tell -- said
• то -- conjunction; <то> but, then, therefore -- Then
• кто -- interrogative pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <къто> who -- who
• можєть -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <мошти, могѫ, могєши> be able, can -- is able
• на -- preposition; <на> in, on; at, against; for -- in
• водѣ -- noun; locative singular feminine of <вода> water -- water
• бєсѣдѹ -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <бєсѣда> conversation, word, talk -- speech # # usual spelling бєсѣдѫ
• написати -- verb; infinitive of <написати, -саѭ, -саѥши> write -- to write

или єрєтичьско имѧ сєбѣ обрѣсти |

• или -- conjunction; <или> or -- or
• єрєтичьско -- adjective; accusative singular neuter of <єрєтичьскъ> heretical, of a heretic -- of a heretic
• имѧ -- noun; accusative singular neuter of <имѧ> name -- the name
• сєбѣ -- reflexive pronoun; dative singular of <сєбє> self -- for himself
• обрѣсти -- verb; infinitive of <обрѣшти, -рѧштѫ, -рѧштєши> find, discover -- to produce

Ѡтвѣща ємѹ пакъі царь съ Вардою, ѹємъ свомъ, ащє тъі хощєши, то можєть богъ тєбѣ дати, ижє даєть всѣмъ, ижє просѧть нєсѹмнѣніємъ, и ѡтвръѕаєть тлъкѹщимъ |

• ѡтвѣща -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <отвѣштати, -таѭ, -таѥши> respond, answer -- replied
• ємѹ -- pronoun; dative singular masculine of <*и> he -- to him
• пакъі -- adverb; <пакъі> back, again -- ...
• царь -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <царь> emperor, tsar -- The Tsar
• съ -- preposition; <съ> with -- along with
• Вардою -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <Варда> Varda -- Varda # # usual spelling Вардоѭ
• ѹємъ -- noun; instrumental singular masculine of <ѹи> uncle -- uncle
• свомъ -- reflexive adjective; instrumental singular masculine of <свои, своє, своја> own, one's own -- his
• ащє -- particle; <аштє> if, whether -- If
• тъі -- pronoun; nominative singular of <тъі> you, thou -- you
• хощєши -- verb; 2nd person singular present of <хотѣти, хоштѫ, хоштєши> want, wish -- wish (it)
• то -- conjunction; <то> but, then, therefore -- then
• можєть -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <мошти, могѫ, могєши> be able, can -- may
• богъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <богъ> god -- God
• тєбѣ -- pronoun; dative singular masculine of <тъі> you, thou -- to you
• дати -- verb; infinitive of <дати, дамь, даси> give -- grant
• ижє -- relative pronoun; nominative singular masculine of <ижє> who, which -- (God) who
• даєть -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <дајати, даѭ, даѥши> give -- gives
• всѣмъ -- adjective; dative plural masculine of <вьсь> all, every; whole -- to all
• ижє -- relative pronoun; nominative plural masculine of <ижє> who, which -- who
• просѧть -- verb; 3rd person plural present of <просити, -шѫ, -сиши> ask, demand -- ask
• нєсѹмнѣніємъ -- noun; instrumental singular neuter of <нєсѹмьнѣньѥ> confidence -- with confidence
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• ѡтвръѕаєть -- verb; 3rd person singular present of <отврьзати, -аѭ, -аѥши> open -- opens (the door)
• тлъкѹщимъ -- present active participle; dative plural masculine of <тлѣшти, тлькѫ, тлькєши> strike, knock -- to those who knock # # usual spelling тлькѫщимъ

Шєдъ жє филосѡѳъ, по пръвомѹ объічаю, на молитвѹ сѧ наложи и съ инѣми съпоспѣшникъі |

• шєдъ -- past active participle; nominative singular masculine of <ити, идѫ, идєши> go -- went (and)
• жє -- conjunction; <жє> and, but -- And
• филосѡѳъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <философъ> philosopher -- the Philosopher
• по -- preposition; <по> after; according to -- according to
• пръвомѹ -- adjective; dative singular masculine of <прьвъ> first, primary -- the old
• объічаю -- noun; dative singular masculine of <объічаи> custom, habit -- custom
• на -- preposition; <на> in, on; at, against; for -- to
• молитвѹ -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <молитва> prayer -- prayer # # usual spelling молитвѫ
• сѧ -- reflexive pronoun; accusative of <сєбє> self -- himself
• наложи -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <наложити, -жѫ, -жиши> set to, begin -- set
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- ...
• съ -- preposition; <съ> with -- with
• инѣми -- demonstrative adjective; instrumental plural masculine of <инъ> this, this one here -- (his) other
• съпоспѣшникъі -- noun; instrumental plural masculine of <съпоспѣшьникъ> friend, companion -- companions

Въскорѣ жє сє ємѹ богъ јави, послѹшајаи молитвъі рабъ своихъ |

• въскорѣ -- adverb; <въскорѣ> soon -- soon
• жє -- conjunction; <жє> and, but -- And
• сє -- interjection; <сє> lo, behold -- lo
• ємѹ -- pronoun; dative singular masculine of <*и> he -- to him
• богъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <богъ> god -- God
• јави -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <јавити, -в҄ѭ, -виши> appear -- appeared
• послѹшајаи -- present active participle; nominative singular masculine of <послѹшати, -аѭ, -аѥши> hear, listen -- heeding # # usual spelling послѹшаѩи
• молитвъі -- noun; accusative plural feminine of <молитва> prayer -- the prayers
• рабъ -- noun; genitive plural masculine of <рабъ> servant -- of... servants
• своихъ -- reflexive adjective; genitive plural masculine of <свои, своє, своја> own, one's own -- his

И тогда сложи писмєна и начѧ бєсѣдѹ писати єваггєльскѹю,

• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- And
• тогда -- demonstrative adverb; <тогда> then -- thereupon
• сложи -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <съложити, -жѫ, -жиши> create -- he created
• писмєна -- noun; accusative plural neuter of <писмѧ> letter, writing -- letters
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• начѧ -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <начѧти, -чьнѫ, -чьнєши> begin -- began
• бєсѣдѹ -- noun; accusative singular feminine of <бєсѣда> conversation, word, talk -- the word # # usual spelling бєсѣдѫ
• писати -- verb; infinitive of <писати, -саѭ, -саѥши> write -- to write
• єваггєльскѹю -- adjective; accusative singular feminine of <єваггєльскъ> of the evangel, evangelic -- of the Evangel # # usual spelling єваггєльскѫѭ

искони бѣ слово и слово бѣ ѹ бога, и богъ бѣ слово, и прочѧја |

• искони -- adverb; <искони> in the beginning, from the beginning -- In the beginning
• бѣ -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <бъіти, бѫдѫ, бѫдєши> be, become -- was
• слово -- noun; nominative singular neuter of <слово> word -- the Word
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• слово -- noun; nominative singular neuter of <слово> word -- the Word
• бѣ -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <бъіти, бѫдѫ, бѫдєши> be, become -- was
• ѹ -- preposition; <ѹ> near, by; from -- with
• бога -- noun; genitive singular masculine of <богъ> god -- God
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• богъ -- noun; nominative singular masculine of <богъ> god -- God
• бѣ -- verb; 3rd person singular aorist of <бъіти, бѫдѫ, бѫдєши> be, become -- was
• слово -- noun; nominative singular neuter of <слово> word -- the Word
• и -- conjunction; <и> and -- and
• прочѧја -- adjective used as substantive; nominative plural neuter of <прочь> remaining, following -- so forth # # usual spelling прочаја

Lesson Text

Вєсєлѧщѹ жє сѧ ѡ боѕѣ филосоѳу, пакъі дрѹгаа рѣчь приспѣ и трѹдъ нє мнєи пръвъіхъ | Ростиславъ бо, Моравьскъіи кнѧзь, богомъ ѹстимъ, съвѣтъ сътвори съ кнѧзи своими и с Моравлѧнъі, посла къ царю Михаилѹ, глаголѧ, людємъ нашимъ поганьства сѧ ѡтвръгшимъ, и по христіанєскъ сѧ законъ дръжащимъ, ѹчитєлѧ нє имамъ таковаго, ижє бъі нъі въ свои јазъікъ истѹю вѣрѹ христіаньскѹю сказалъ, да бъіша и инъі странъі того зрѧщє подобилисѧ намъ | То посли намъ, владъікѡ, єпископа и ѹчитєлѧ таковаго | Ѡтъ васъ бо на всѧ странъі въсєгда добръіи законъ исходить | Събравъ жє царь съборъ, призва Коньстантина филосѡѳа, и сътвори и слъішати рѣчь сію и рєчє, филосѡѳє, вѣмь тѧ трѹдна сѹща, но достоить тєбѣ тамо ити | Сіа бо рѣчи нє можєть инъ никтожє исправити, јакожє тъі | Ѡтвѣща филосѡѳъ, и трѹдєнъ съі тѣлѡмъ и болєнъ, радъ идѹ тамо, ащє имѹть бѹкви въ јазъікъ свои | И рєчє царь къ нємѹ, дѣдъ мои, и ѡтьцъ мои, и иніи мноѕи, искавшє того нє обрѣли сѹть | То како азъ могѹ обрѣсти | Филосѡѳъ жє рєчє, то кто можєть на водѣ бєсѣдѹ написати | или єрєтичьско имѧ сєбѣ обрѣсти | Ѡтвѣща ємѹ пакъі царь съ Вардою, ѹємъ свомъ, ащє тъі хощєши, то можєть богъ тєбѣ дати, ижє даєть всѣмъ, ижє просѧть нєсѹмнѣніємъ, и ѡтвръѕаєть тлъкѹщимъ | Шєдъ жє филосѡѳъ, по пръвомѹ объічаю, на молитвѹ сѧ наложи и съ инѣми съпоспѣшникъі | Въскорѣ жє сє ємѹ богъ јави, послѹшајаи молитвъі рабъ своихъ | И тогда сложи писмєна и начѧ бєсѣдѹ писати єваггєльскѹю, искони бѣ слово и слово бѣ ѹ бога, и богъ бѣ слово, и прочѧја |

Translation

(XIV.1) And while the Philosopher was rejoicing in God, another request came, and a task no lesser than the previous. (2) For Rostislav, the Moravian prince, roused by God, took counsel with his princes and with the Moravians, and sent to Tsar Michael, saying: 'Our people, having cast off paganism and conducting themselves according to Christian law, have no such teacher who would explain the true Christian faith to us in our own tongue, so that even the countries here, seeing this, might emulate us. (3) So send us, Master, such a bishop and teacher. (4) For always, into all countries, the good law flows from you.' (5) The Tsar, convening a counsel, summoned Constantine the Philosopher, and bade him hear this request, and said: 'Philosopher, I see that you are weary, and it does not suit you to go there. (6) But there is no one so able to fulfil this request as you.' (7) The Philosopher answered: 'Though tired and feeble in body, I will gladly go there if they have letters for their tongue.' (8) And the Tsar said to him: 'My grandfather, my father, and those many others, though they sought, could not produce this. (9) Then how could I produce it?' (10) But the Philosopher said: 'Then who is able to write speech in water? (11) or to produce for himself the name of a heretic?' (12) The Tsar replied to him, along with Varda, his uncle: 'If you wish it, then God may grant it to you, God who gives to all who ask with confidence and opens the door to those who knock.' (13) And the Philosopher went and, according to the old custom, set himself to prayer with his other companions. (14) And lo God soon appeared to him, heeding the prayers of his servants. (15) And thereupon he created letters and immediately began to write the word of the Evangel: (16) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and so forth.

Grammar

46. Invariable Verbal Forms

46.1. The Infinitive and Supine

The infinitive takes the ending -ti, the supine takes -tŭ. These are added directly to the verbal root, which undergoes the same phonological changes as a result of either ending.

Stems ending in vowel + glide/sonorant replace the combination with a single vowel:

• ov > u, e.g. словєши gives слъіти, слѹтъ
• ĭj > i, ŭj > y, e.g. бьѥши gives бити, битъ and мъіѥши gives мъіти, мъітъ
• -j, -v > zero otherwise, e.g. чѹвєши > чѹти, чѹтъ and живєши > жити, житъ
• ĭ + nasal > ę, e.g. žĭnj-eši > žęti, žętŭ
• ĭr > rĭ, e.g. жьрєши > жрьти, жрьтъ

Root-final velars combine with -t to form the cluster -št, which then palatalizes a following -ŭ to -ĭ. Examples are рєкѫтъ > рєшти, рєшть; могѫтъ > мошти, мошть; врьгѫтъ > врѣшти.

Root-final labials are deleted: тєпѫтъ > тєти, тєтъ; грєбѫтъ > грєти, грєтъ.

The infinitive is a verbal complement often denoting command, desire, ability, or purpose. The subject of the infinitive, if not the same as that of the head verb, is placed in the dative. With ѥстъ the infinitive may denote possibility or necessity: отъ сєго... видѣти ѥстъ силѫ христосовѫ 'from this... (one ought) to see the power of Christ', 'from this Christ's power is to be seen'; нѣстъ намъ ѹбити 'it is not for us to kill', 'we ought not to kill'. Result may be indicated by use of јако with the infinitive: испльнишѧ оба корабл҄ја јако погрѫжати сѧ има 'they filled both ships so as for them to sink', 'they filled both ships so that they began to sink'.

The supine is used after verbs of motion to denote purpose, e.g. идѫ ръібъ лобити 'I go for the catching of fish', 'I go to catch fish'; придє видѣтъ гроба 'she came for the seeing of the sepulchre', 'she came to see the sepulchre'. Note the object of the action of the supine is in the genitive. The supine, however, could be replaced in this role of denoting purpose by an infinitive with accusative object.

46.2. The Gerund

Certain isolated forms in OCS show the early stages of what becomes a larger trend in later Slavic languages, whereby certain forms of the participial declensions are frozen and function as an invariable gerund. The masculine nominative plural form is frozen in this role: повєли ми дрєжє шєдъшє погрєти отца моєго 'suffer me first to go and bury my father', with шєдъшє instead of the expected шєдъшѹ; подоба ми ѥстъ сѣдѣти мльчѧштє 'I like to be seated in silence'; отъ Адама до Мѡѵса рєк҄шє до закона 'from Adam til Moses, namely to the Law', where рєк҄шє takes the place of the more common си рѣць.

46.3. The Verbal Form sętŭ

The form сѧтъ, сѧти is found infrequently and has an unclear origin. It has the meaning 'say', 'says', being equivalent to the aorist рєчє in its explanatory role: послѹшаі чъто сѧтъ євангєлистъ: слъішавъшє, сѧтъ, гласъ ідѫ въспѧтъ і падѫ на зємініці 'dear what the Evangelist says: after they heard the voice, he says, they went back and fell upon the earth'.

47. The Fifth Conjugation

The fifth conjugation contains the athematic verbs, of which there are only four. There is no suffix between the root and ending, the present tense stem being the same as the verbal root. The verbs are

• inf. бъі-ти 'to be', 1st. person ѥс-мь, stem ѥс-
• inf. да-ти 'to give', 1st. person да-мь, stem дад-
• inf. вѣдѣ-ти 'to know', 1st. person вѣ-мь, stem вѣд-
• inf. јас-, ѣс-ти 'to eat', 1st. person ја-мь, stem јад-

For those stems ending in the dental -d, the -d becomes -s before t-, and drops before m- or s-.

The verb имѣти 'to have' has present tense forms according to this conjugation имамь, имаши, etc., in addition to forms from the third conjugation имѣѭ, имѣѥши, etc.

The verbs conjugate as follows.