Minuscule 697 (in the Gregory-Aland numbering), ε1389 (von Soden),[1] [2] is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 13th century. The manuscript has complex contents.[3] [4] Scrivener labelled it as 601e.[5]
The codex contains the text of the four Gospels on 350 parchment leaves (size).[3] The text is written in one column per page, 25 lines per page.[3] [6]
The text is divided according to the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κεφαλαια (chapters), the numbers appearing at the margin; the Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: τιτλοι (titles) are given at the top. There is also a division according to the Ammonian Sections (in gold), but there are no references to the Eusebian Canons. It contains a portrait of John, the Evangelist.[5] [6]
According to Scrivener it is "beautifully written in very black ink, the first page of each Gospel being in gold".[5]
Kurt Aland the Greek text of the codex did not place in any Category.[7]
According to the Claremont Profile Method it represents textual group 22a in Luke 1, Luke 10, and Luke 20.[8]
Scrivener dated the manuscript to the 14th century. Gregory dated it to the 13th or 14th century.[6] [5] Currently the manuscript is dated by the INTF to the 13th century.[4]
The manuscript was found in a village near Corinth, and bought by C. L. Merlin, British vice-consul in Athens, in 1865.[6]
It was added to the list of New Testament manuscripts by Scrivener (his 601) and Gregory (his 697).[5] It was examined and described by S. T. Bloomfield, and Dean Burgon. Gregory saw the manuscript in 1883.[6]
The manuscript is currently housed at the British Library (Add MS 26103) in London.[3] [4]