Minuscule 539 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε 141 (in Soden's numbering),[1] is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 11th century.[2] Scrivener labeled it by number 551. The manuscript is lacunose. It was adapted for liturgical use.
The codex contains a complete text of the four Gospels, on 173 parchment leaves (size), with some lacunae (Matthew 1:1-17; Mark 1:1-14; 3:22-4:10; Luke 1:1-17; John 1:1-46). It is written in one column per page, 29 lines per page.[2]
The text is divided according to the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κεφαλαια (chapters), whose numerals are given at the margin, and the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: τιτλοι (titles of chapters) at the top of the pages. There is also a division according to the Ammonian Sections (in Mark 234 Sections, the last in 16:9), with references to the Eusebian Canons (written at the margin below Ammonian Section numbers).[3]
It contains Lectionary markings at the margin (for liturgical use), tables of the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κεφαλαια (tables of contents) before each Gospel (defective), and pictures.[3] [4]
The Greek text of the codex was not determine as the manuscript is not available. Aland did not place it in any Category.[5]
It was not examined by the Claremont Profile Method.[6]
It lacks the text of (signs of thetimes).[4]
In 1864 the manuscript was purchased from a dealer at Janina in Epeiros, by Baroness Burdett-Coutts (1814–1906), a philanthropist, together with other Greek manuscripts (among them codices 532-546). They were transported to England in 1870-1871.[4] [7]
The manuscript was presented by Burdett-Coutts to Sir Roger Cholmely's School, and was housed at the Highgate (Burdett-Coutts II. 23), in London. It was examined by Scrivener.[4] It was in Sotheby's.
It was added to the list of the New Testament minuscule manuscripts by F. H. A. Scrivener (551) and C. R. Gregory (539).[3] Gregory saw it in 1883.[4]
The present location of the codex is unknown.[2]