Eternal Orthodoxy: From ancient time to the future

By Martina Hristeva

News in Conservation, April-May 2025, Issue 107, p. 10-15

I had the honor of restoring a Gospel printed in Venice in 1746. There is no record of when it arrived in Bulgaria, but this rare book was used by St. Dimitar Church located in Plovdiv during various religious services.

St. Dimitar Church is situated on a northern terrace atop Dzhambaz Tepe, also known as the Three Hills, making it the highest altitude Christian church in the city. At the start of the 19th century, a dilapidated medieval church dedicated to St. Dimitar of Solun, the Thaumaturgus, stood on this site. In 1922, the Gospel was acquired by the Ivan Vazov Public Library in downtown Plovdiv.

The Cleaning Process Often Brings Surprises

I usually begin the restoration process with mechanical cleaning. Upon examination I noted the title page had been contaminated with wax. I carefully removed the wax with a scalpel, and beneath it I discovered the printed image of a bee. Upon further investigation, I found that this publishing logo first appeared on a silver-gilt-bound Gospel with enamel decoration from 1671 in the Collection of Archbishop Spyridon at Vellas Monastery. This logo is associated with Nikolaos Glykis, known as the First Bee of Epirus. The design surrounding the bee always includes the Greek initials Ν (for Nikolaos) and Γλ (for Glykis). Today this logo exists in various graphic forms and has become his trademark.

After the Ottoman conquest of Epirus in the 15th century, a significant number of Greeks, particularly artists and intellectuals, migrated to Italy. This migration played a crucial role in the spread of Greek culture and knowledge throughout Renaissance Europe as many Greek scholars contributed to the revival of classical learning in the West. In the mid-17th century, after moving to Venice, Nikolaos Glykis founded the Glykis Brothers trading house, which initially focused on commerce but soon expanded into the intellectual and cultural sphere.

Venice, being a major hub for Greek expatriates, provided a fertile ground for the dissemination of Greek literature and ideas. The Glykis family turned to typographic art and literature, opening a bookstore which quickly became a cultural center for Greek scholars and writers.

The Glykis family’s contribution to Greek publishing in Venice was essential in preserving and disseminating Greek literature, philosophy, and Orthodox Christian teachings. Their printing house, established in the late-17th century, became one of the most influential Greek publishing centers in Europe, producing works that were widely distributed across the Ottoman Empire and beyond. They printed numerous

liturgical texts including editions of the Psalter, the Gospels, and Orthodox theological writings. These were crucial for maintaining Orthodox Christian identity among Greek-speaking populations under Ottoman rule.

Examining and Treating the Binding and Volume

Evidence that the binding at the time of my initial examination was not original to the Gospel includes the fact that the pages were larger than the cover. The binding was in poor condition, with original endpapers missing and most of the decorative components absent. The sewing supports were cut and no longer attached to the boards, and as a result, the text block was detached from the binding. The original sewing, done with cords, had never been repaired. There were deformations along the entire length of the text block including planar distortions known also cockling.

The historiated fore-edge of the book is gilded and decorated with a repeating pattern of initials featuring a fish. The symbol of fish is mentioned several times in the Gospels and holds significant meaning in the Christian faith. As evidenced within the Gospels, several of Jesus' 12 Apostles were fishermen, and he told them, "I will make you fishers of men."

Testing is often crucial for making the best decisions and clearly understanding the condition of the object. By better understanding the causes of damage, it becomes easier to find a solution. I typically use multiple small fragments and samples to touch and compare, testing adhesives and solutions to determine their suitability for the specific restoration.

I cleaned some of the dirtier pages with dry cleaning powder (Akawipe: powder made from calcium carbonate and kaolin, both of which are natural minerals) and a hard eraser (which includes a combination of synthetic rubber, vinyl, or plastic materials, often with added abrasives like pumice).  I reduced the water stains using moistened filter paper as an absorption tool and an aqueous solution of a protein, mucin, and chelating agents. Edge damage and isolated tears were common in unbound leaves. After surface cleaning, I first attempted to open folds and creases by applying a thin line of slightly dry wheat starch paste to the back of the fold or crease, allowing it to loosen slightly before pressing it flat. I found it necessary to consolidate the weak paper with a 1% solution of methylcellulose in water and ethanol (1:4, by weight). Losses on some pages were infilled with several layers of Japanese paper followed by retouching with acrylic emulsion paints and watercolors. Parts of the folios that had separated from the book block were resewn.

Due to the short restoration deadline, I made the decision to not remove the old supporting adhesive and stitching from the spine. The goal was to create a flexible spine that would allow proper handling and better hugging. This was achieved by reinforcing the old cords with new cotton threads and using minimal adhesive. I rarely rely solely on adhesive, as it tends to age and lose its effectiveness over time. For better support, I sewed a new linen canvas screen to the original sewing stations, which will better preserve the book for years to come.

I then attached the rebuilt boards to the book block using adhesive and new endpapers. Over the years, the plush fabric spine of the book had worn out, requiring immediate reinforcement and a protective coating. The stabilization of plush materials (often a soft velvety fabric), especially in the restoration of old or damaged objects, requires a careful approach. One of the frequently used stabilizers in textile conservation is Klucel G. Unlike some adhesives, Klucel G remains flexible, preventing cracking or stiffness. It is chemically stable and does not yellow or degrade over time, preserving the integrity of delicate materials. It also forms a flexible, transparent, and non-sticky film when dried.  That is precisely why I preferred this material. Finally, I placed the Gospel under a book press for about a week. I then attached the silver-plated decorations to complete the plush fabric binding. These magnificent fittings were donated by Bachkovo Monastery.

Bachkovo Monastery is the second largest, and oldest, Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is located in the Rhodope Mountains, about 30 km south of Plovdiv. The monastery survived the Ottoman rule and remained an important spiritual and cultural center. The monastery complex includes a dining hall, museum, and library with well-preserved manuscripts and artifacts.

Preservation Beyond Benchwork

The preservation process included digitization and storage in a custom hand-made conservation box. Today, the Gospel is stored in the archives of the Special Collections department at the Ivan Vazov Library.

As time flies by, what better way to preserve history than through paper? Restoration is not just the act of returning something to good condition; it is like a form of magic, allowing us to travel back in time to inform our present and guide our future.

Author bio

Martina Hristeva holds an M.A. degree from the Department of Restoration at National Academy of Art, Sofia. She is a conservator-restorer and freelance painter. From January 2021 to September 2021, she was a paintings conservator at City Gallery of Fine Arts, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and she has been head conservator of the Public Library-Ivan Vazov since 2021. Martina is also a representative at the Bulgarian Institute for Standartization-BDS.

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