[Menologion of Basil II] Menologium Graecorum Jussu Basillii Imperatoris, Urbini 1727. First edition. Complete: 3 volumes in one. Folio (43x30cm), pp.16,227,12 + 2,223,12 + 4,232,14. Half titles, title pages in red and black. Four hundred thirty (430) copper engravings of various religious scenes, depicting accurately the Byzantine miniatures and covering the upper half of each page. The Menologion is the detailed calendar of the Orthodox Church, describing the feasts of the Saints in daily basis. A fine Byzantine Menologium was compiled in Constantinople circa the end of the 10th century, for the personal use of the emperor Basilius II (976-1025). It contained a Synaxarion (a short collection of Saints lives) for liturgical use and 430 miniature paintings prepared by 8 different artists. This unusually rich-illustrated Menologion has never been accomplished, covering only a part of the year feasts. It is now considered as one of the most important testimonies of the Byzantine painting art of the Macedonian Dynasty. The original manuscript survived and from the 17th cent. up to now resides in Vatican Library. Impressed by this fine art piece, Pope Clemes XI gave order (early 18th) to publish it covering all year feasts and reproducing all the Byzantine miniatures. It took more than 15 years to accomplish this task, using the best artists of the time. It has been finally published in 1727, in only 200 copies, all of them given as gifts by the Pope to religious institutions and important personalities. Contemporary vellum over boards, title in red, very clean. A Fine art piece. Extremely rare.