History of the yearbook

In the early 90s of the 19th century, academician V.G. Vasilevsky and his assistant, privatdozent of St. Petersburg University V.E. Regel, initiated the establishment of a special periodical at the Imperial Academy of Sciences to publish works on the history of Byzantium. They also became his first and second editors. The first volume of Vizantiyskiiy vremennik was published in 1894 in St. Petersburg in 4 issues. Subsequently, the yearbook volumes were published regularly and distributed in Russia and abroad by subscription. From vol . VII . With the death of V.G. Vasilevsky in May 1899, the publication of the magazine was supervised by V.E. Regel. During these years, the Vizantiyskiiy vremennik became the center of unification of Russian Byzantine studies and earned the recognition and respect of scientists all over the world. Among the authors of the magazine were prominent Russian and foreign historians. With the outbreak of the First World War, after the publication of the XXI volume in the early days of 1915, V.E. Regel transferred it to the jurisdiction of academician F.I. Uspensky, who tried to preserve the publication in such an unfavorable environment for science. After the publication of the XXII volume in 1916, its release was interrupted for a long time by revolutionary events. In the most difficult post-revolutionary years, thanks to the efforts of F.I. Ouspensky manages to release 3 more volumes (XXIII – 1923, XXIV – 1926, XXV – 1928), as well as the delayed XVI volume index (1922). With the death of F.I. Uspensky in October 1928, the publication ceased, which was facilitated by the unfavorable attitude of the authorities towards Byzantine studies, the gradual decline of professional scientists and financial difficulties.

 

On the eve and during the Great Patriotic War, the Soviet government reassessed the role of historical traditions, which was reflected, in particular, in the "rehabilitation" of Byzantine studies. In the summer of 1941 The Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR has prepared for publication the "Byzantine Collection" under the editorship of academician E.A. Kosminsky (published only in 1945). In the spring of 1947, after an almost 20-year hiatus, the first volume of the revived Vizantiyskiiy vremennik was published, which demonstrated continuity with the tradition of the interrupted "old series". The preparation of the "new series" was led by a collective body — the editorial board, which included leading representatives of the Moscow and Leningrad groups of Byzantine studies. The editorial board was headed by academician E.A. Kosminsky, who led the publication until volume 17. Further management of the journal was carried out by: from the 18th to the 26th volume (1959–1965) — academican M.N. Tikhomirov, from the 27th to the 49th volume (1967–1988) — corresponding member Z.V. Udaltsova, from the 50th to the 69th volume (1989–2010) — academician G.G. Litavrin.

 

At the moment, Vizantiyskiiy vremennik is being released under the leadership of akademican RAS S.P. Karpov.